How to Use Overlays to Revolutionise the Look of Your Driveway

Is your concrete driveway looking a little sorry for itself? You may find that it has become discoloured or picked up some damage over the years. In fact, you may be able to see blades of grass and the odd weed here or there, and the surface may have become rather uneven. Certainly, it's been a long time since you paid any attention to your drive, but it's hardly creating a good impression for those first-time guests. At this stage, you may be wondering about your options and don't particularly want to dig the whole thing up to start again. Is there any way that you can salvage what you've got?

Environmentally Friendly

Most people these days are concerned about the environment and want to do as much as they can to reduce the size of their carbon footprint. If you feel this way, then you may not be ready to schedule a complete replacement due to the amount of work and resources involved in such a task. The good news is that you can consider resurfacing concrete driveways instead as this is very efficient, quite quick, cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

Using Overlays

When you do this, you can benefit from the use of special overlays. This part of the process allows you to add a decorative layer to a newly applied surface and it can revolutionise the look and feel of your driveway.

Simple Process

To begin with, a polymer-based concrete mix is applied which will stand as a very durable overlay. The layer is relatively thin, so it won't create an unwanted step in relation to surrounding features (like a garage entrance or a front doorstep). Furthermore, it will dry relatively quickly.

Upgrading the Look

This surface is now ready for you to add a custom design or a different colour. You can use epoxy, a water-based stain or even acid stain to colour the concrete and can then apply a stencil or stamping technique to add a particular design. In so doing, you can create a tile, stone, slate or brick affect to give your driveway a much more sophisticated appearance. There are so many different options both in terms of colour and design that you should ask your contractor to fill you in on the details.

Making Plans

As you can see, you can salvage your existing drive without thinking about a full replacement. Schedule a chat with your concrete contractor to get a full list of available options.