How to Give My Driveway a Natural Stone Look

Clean the driveway surface with a power washer and scrub brush to remove any embedded dirt and leaves.

Patch pits and cracks with vinyl patching compound. Use a putty knife to fill the gaps with the compound and smooth the surface. Allow it to dry fully.

Fit 2-by-4 boards against the sides of the driveway so the tops of the boards sit 2 inches over the existing driveway. Use a drill to attach the board with screws and brackets at each end.

Roll binding adhesive over the driveway with a painter’s roller brush.

Mix concrete in a mixer with water until it is pourable, but thick. Tilt the mixer and pour the new layer over the existing driveway. Spread the material into corners and edges with a gauge rake. Pull a long screed board over the top of the frame boards to spread excess into low areas.

Wait about half an hour for water to seep to the surface then reabsorb into the concrete. Scatter small decorative stones over the concrete with a shovel. Use a soft broom to spread a single layer of stones over the concrete. Set a board over the stones and press it down.

Wait two hours for the stones to set into the concrete. Expose the decorative surface by brushing off the top layer of cement until the tops of the stones show. Do not brush off too much cement, as overexposing the stones will cause them to fall out.

Throw canvas over the driveway and dampen it with water. Keep the material wet for four days so the concrete doesn’t dry out too quickly and become brittle.