How to Give Concrete a Stone Finish

Select aggregate such as granite gravel or pebbles to mix in with the concrete. When you spread and smooth the concrete out, the aggregate is exposed on the surface, giving the concrete the look of a stone such as granite.

Fill sprayers with concrete stain if you prefer a smooth stone appearance. For a natural stone look, you should use more than one color of stain. Use complementary colors such as shades of brown or brown with a rust color to suggest iron in the stone.

Spray the two or more colors on the concrete. Spray one stain on the surface in various spots or wide strokes. Then repeat with the other color, applying it to the places you skipped and overlapping the other color only slightly.

Carve into the concrete to create the look of laid stone. Use a diamond blade on a small power saw to make natural stone shapes in the surface. You can do this to the concrete that you have stained or stain the concrete pieces after you carve.