Facts on Decorative Concrete

Varieties

• The Northern New England Concrete Promotion Association lists the three main methods of decorating concrete as stamping, coloring and staining. Artisans may employ two or more of these approaches simultaneously to achieve different effects. The final result may simulate cobblestones, brick, wood grain, marble or other surfaces.

Manufacture

• Stamped concrete gets its surface impression from plastic forms or patterns rollers pressed onto its wet surface, while coloring agents may lie on the surface or get mixed directly into the concrete itself for a more subtle effect. The acidic staining agents in stained concrete etch uneven colors and patterns onto the surface.

Considerations

• Homeowners will generally pay more for colored, stamped or stained concrete than they would for the plain version, but the enhancements cost less than the marble or other expensive surfaces they simulate, according to the Northern New England Concrete Promotion Association. A home beautified by decorative concrete may also appear more attractive to prospective buyers, raising its asking price on the market.