Stamped concrete, commonly referred to as patterned concrete or imprinted concrete, is concrete that is designed to resemble brick, slate, flagstone, stone, tile and even wood. In this section you will see how stamped concrete can be used to beautify pool decks, driveways, entries, courtyards, and patios.

Due to the wide array of options when it comes to concrete pattern, concrete colors, and the cost of stamped, or imprinted concrete in relation to the materials it is a substitute for, the choice of stamped concrete is becoming more popular and frequent.

It wasn't long ago when deciding on a driveway material was easy: asphalt or concrete. Today, the "concrete" choice has expanded to include an astounding array of decorative options. Sometimes referred to as a cement driveway or as painted concrete, decorative concrete is one of the most reasonable ways to spruce up the entrance to your home.

Although plain gray concrete is still installed most often, more people are catching on to the dazzling effects possible with decorative concrete—and seeing the instant curb appeal a decorative driveway can give to any home, no matter what the style. If you already have a concrete driveway, you can still give it a decorative makeover. The concrete industry has introduced many products and methods that can rejuvenate or resurface existing plain-gray driveways.

Of course, to ensure that your concrete driveway will look good for many years to come, there are important steps your contractor should follow during installation. How well your driveway looks and performs long-term is largely related to the quality of workmanship and materials that go into it. To help ensure a problem-free driveway, be sure to read our overview of driveway construction basics.

Once you become the proud owner of a concrete driveway, it won't take much effort on your part to keep it looking its best for many years to come.

Finally, if you're concerned about the environment, concrete is one of the "greenest" materials you can use to build a driveway.

One of the biggest trends in outdoor design today is a decorative concrete pool deck, a colored, textured and inviting area surrounding the pool that does more than provide a safe, slip-resistant deck for sunbathing and barbecuing. Inground pool decks are now given nearly as much attention as the interior design of the home.

Decorative concrete has opened the doors to creating pool decks that complement the exterior of the home, meld with the outdoor environment, and replicate exotic and traditionally expensive materials such as slate, stone or even wood.

Conventional wisdom holds that old concrete, with cracks, surface discoloration, or surface imperfections, must be removed and replaced if improving the look of the concrete is the goal. Many times homeowners are discouraged by their cement flooring or other concrete areas, not realizing the option available to them to resurface their already existing concrete.

Resurfacing concrete with polymer-modified overlay systems is a viable way to improve existing concrete surfaces.

Resurfacing can range from simply making the concrete look like new again, or upgrading the surface with a variety of colors and patterns. Whether it's a concrete driveway, cement floor or patio, resurfacing options let you transform your old, often ugly, concrete into a new, smooth colored concrete surface.

Staining concrete is one of the most popular applications for transforming concrete slabs. Often referred to as colored concrete, homeowners, designers and builders are drawn to stained concrete because of the unique outcome that can be achieved combining colors, application techniques, etc., on cement flooring and other substrates. The results are limited only by the creativity of those involved in the stained concrete process.

Colored concrete can make your home or office building much more elegant and inviting. With so many options to choose from for coloring concrete, designs are nearly limitless. Just imagine the possibilities and use this comprehensive list of information to help guide your choices for concrete color options.