Concrete Driveways – How Concrete Engraving Can Help

Concrete engraving is a great way to add character to an otherwise dull and gray driveway or patio. For freshly placed concrete many decorative treatments are applicable, such as pattern stamping, textured finishes and exposed aggregate. But the most valuable feature of concrete engraving is the ability to give new life to an existing plain gray concrete driveway, patio or sidewalk. You will be pleasantly surprised by the dramatic new makeover of your once boring driveway. Concrete engraving can achieve an unlimited array of patterns and colors and the cost for concrete engraving is reasonably low. As a result concrete engraving is becoming a more popular choice for driveway construction.

In a nutshell concrete engraving is cutting patterns and designs into existing concrete. Concrete engraving is a permanent treatment that won't wear away or lose bond because the patterns are carved into the concrete rather than applied on top of it. The decorative possibilities are truly limitless because of the ability to enhance the concrete by chemical staining.

Concrete Engraving involves the following:

• The concrete is cleaned, and acid etched if needed to provide a bond for the stain to the concrete
• Cracks maybe repaired. (The flaws in old concrete can actually contribute to the look of engraved concrete)
• The concrete is stained
• The concrete is engraved
• The job is cleaned up, a sealer is applied   

Chemical stains are a great way to accent any concrete engraving job, especially where some color is desired. Chemical Stains penetrate the concrete surface to create beautiful color tones in existing concrete. Stains react directly with the concrete's minerals and produce uneven, mottled, and variegated color effects. The colors which are acquired by chemical stains are generally limited but these colors are all natural occurring colors (earth tones) and can provide an accent or camouflaging effect for most concrete jobs.

Any brick, tile or cobblestones patterns you have engraved in the concrete will stay for the life of the concrete surface. It is not like an actual brick that may break. It has been engraved into the concrete- so it is part of the concrete itself.

The color change over time with concrete stains is hard to predict and it is not a perfect science (many times a color actually becomes darker). This is not meant to be a negative - instead it is much like worn brick or other paving materials- they age. Often this creates an even more appreciated look.

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