How to Make a Concrete Walkway Interesting

Wash the walkway using a power washer to remove any dirt or debris. Clean out any cracks in the walkway with a wire brush. Allow the walkway to dry for two hours.

Repair any cracks in the walkway by injecting them full with concrete-repair caulk. Make sure the caulk is level with the surface of the walkway by scraping away any excess with the edge of a putty knife. Fill holes in the walkway with a quick drying repair mortar. Pack the holes with a trowel, smoothing the surface with the trowel's edge. Wait overnight for the repairs to set.

Place masking tape across any expansion joints in the walkway, covering the joints but not the adjacent concrete slabs.

Mix a concrete overlay in a large bucket with an electric drill containing a paddle bit attachment. The overlay should be of a smooth consistency, about that of a thick batter.

Apply the overly to the concrete walkway using a trowel to spread it evenly. Place a layer of about ¼-inch in depth over the existing walkway.

Spread concrete dye onto the still wet surface of the overlay to color the walkway. Spread the dye evenly for a somewhat consistent coloration on the concrete. For greater color depth, use a greater concentration of the colorant powder. Use less for lighter colors. To create a mix of hues, vary the concentration of powder on the concrete as you apply it to the surface. Rub the dye into the surface by lightly rolling over the dye with a low-nap paint roller.

Stamps a pattern on the wet overlay to change the appearance of the walkway. Choose stamps that go along well with surrounding structures or the nearby environment. There are a variety of stamps available to give the look of items such as bricks, cobblestones, flagstones and wood. Apply a layer of mold release agent onto the overlay to prevent the stamps from binding to the surface. Place the first stamp onto the edge of the walkway and apply pressure to the stamp to impress the pattern into the overlay. Place the next stamp in the series tightly butted against the first and press firmly to transfer that impression as well. Continue down the walkway cycling the stamps by lifting the first from the surface and placing it on the end of the stamp row, to create a continuous pattern.

Remove the tape and wait 24 hours for the overlay material to dry.

Wash the release agent and colorant from the surface of the concrete with a water hose. Allow the walkway to dry and then spray the walkway with two layers of concrete sealant to protect the color.