Tips on How to Pick Concrete Color for Driveway

 

As you may already know, driveways are made of concrete, which can last longer than asphalt and provides great traction during the cold season. A lot of homeowners choose to replace their asphalt driveway with concrete one because of its overall advantages. However, concrete driveways come in various colors and patterns that can provide some visual appeal to your home’s exterior design, depending on how you mix them with other landscape elements such as shrubs and flower beds. 

How to Pick Concrete Color

Concrete driveways are not only good-looking but also long-lasting and durable. Thus, they make an ideal choice if you’re planning to put up a driveway on your home or office premises. But, as many buyers do, you might be confused as to which concrete color to choose for your driveway. To save yourself from making the wrong decision about the color of your concrete driveway, here are five tips that will help you pick the right color that blends well with the surroundings.

1) Choose a neutral color

If you're looking for a color that will work well with other materials and will hold up against the elements, go with something neutral. White, gray, or even black is a good choice. These colors are also great if you want to add design elements later. For example, if you decide in a few years that your house needs more green space, then painting the driveway green would be an easy way to do it without having to demolish anything. The downside of this is that it's not as eye-catching as some of the bolder colors so it won't be as striking when guests come over. One way around this is to combine two or three neutrals like dark gray and light gray with white which creates a very clean look.

2) Understand how will the concrete be used

Before we can get into the nitty gritty of colors, it's important to understand how the concrete will be used. If your driveway is a standalone project or if it's an addition to your home, you'll want a color that blends in with the look of your house. For example, if you're painting your house blue, then you might want a light blue or green color. If you have dark wood siding and brown roof shingles, then a deep brown or dark gray would work well. 

One more tip before we move on to what not to do: You don't want your driveways to contrast too much from the other landscaping around it. If the rest of your yard has lighter earth tones, opt for lighter shades on the driveways as well. These days there are concrete contractors near butler's pa that specialize in special effects such as stenciling, faux-stone finishes, and colored concrete; so keep all of these possibilities in mind when picking out a color.

3) Know what kind of soil your concrete is installed over

The type of soil your concrete is installed over will affect the color you choose, so make sure you know what it is. An example of this would be choosing a lighter color if your driveway is installed over sand because the dark color from the dirt will show through. To know what kind of soil your concrete is installed over, ask yourself these questions. 

• What does the ground feel like? 
• What does it look like? 
• Can you see any roots or rocks sticking up from the surface of the ground? 
• Can you smell anything? 

Your answers will give you clues about the type of soil.

4) Understand seasonal changes can affect color over time

Different seasons will affect the color of your concrete. The summer months will cause the color of your concrete to fade more quickly than during the winter months. This can result in a lighter shade being dominant during summer and a darker shade being dominant during winter. In addition, the thickness of the topcoat can also affect how quickly colors will change over time. Make sure you understand this so you know what type of maintenance plan to set up with your contractor. You may want to inquire about the inclusion of polyurethane as part of your contract because it is resistant to fading from sunlight. If polyurethane is not included in your contract, consider applying an additional coat yourself before winter arrives.

 

5) Consider overlays, stains, and sealants

When deciding what color will look best, take into consideration the type of concrete you are using and what color your house is. You may also want to consider overlays, stains, and sealants as these can make a concrete surface more durable, easier to clean, and more attractive. Overlays, like epoxy or polyurethane paints, provide an extra layer of protection against rust and erosion. Stains are colored liquids that seep into the top few millimeters of a concrete surface while leaving the lower levels relatively unaffected. Sealants keep dirt from sticking to surfaces by creating a barrier between them. With so many options available, it's important to do your research before making any final decisions. A stamped concrete contractor near Pittsburgh PA can be a great resource.