Ways to Change Paving

Colored Sealer

• If concrete is in good condition and you only want a subtle change, applying sealer has a utilitarian and decorative value. Sealer repels water and strengthens the porous surface, but it also adds color and a glossy or matte finish. Tinted sealants come in almost every color so you can choose one to match surrounding flowers or as an accent to the house. Use an acrylic penetrating sealant to allow water to evaporate from the surface.

Pavers, Bricks and Tiles

• Covering concrete or asphalt with pavers, bricks or tiles will completely change its appearance. If you're a novice do-it-yourselfer, lay the materials over a thin layer of grit sand and fix edging restraints along the borders to hold them in place. Set the materials in a mortar if you're comfortable working quickly. Arrange the materials in a 45-degree angled pattern to create a focal point, or at a 90-degree angle to make a small patio appear larger.

Exposed Aggregate

• Laying exposed aggregate over pavement will add texture and give the surface a pebbled look. The existing pavement must be scrubbed of stains and debris. While cleaning, rough up the surface with a wire brush so the new material will adhere better. To install, fit form boards around the outside of the surface and pour a 2 inch layer of new concrete over the old surface. Once the wet mixture has set for about 15 minutes, seed the surface with decorative stones and gently press them down with a board. After two hours, accentuate the texture by using a soft brush to remove the top coating of cement paste.

Stamped Concrete

• Stamping concrete involves pouring a thin layer of new concrete over the old surface and stamping it with a textured rubber mat. Concrete stamps are formed to make a poured surface resemble brickwork, cobblestones, pebbles and other designs like a chevron pattern. The stamps must be aligned correctly so the pattern is consistent with equal pressure applied to each stamp.