Choosing the right concrete finish can completely change the appearance, texture, and functionality of your driveway, patio, sidewalk, walkway, or pool deck.
Concrete doesn't have to be plain gray. Today's homeowners can choose from a wide variety of concrete finishes ranging from traditional broom-finished concrete to decorative stamped concrete designed to resemble natural stone.
At Solid Concrete Services LLC, we install residential and commercial concrete throughout Northern Illinois. Below are some of the most popular concrete finishes homeowners should consider for their next project.
1. Broom Finish Concrete
Broom finish concrete is one of the most common concrete finishes used for exterior surfaces.
After the concrete is placed and finished, a broom is pulled across the surface while the concrete is still workable. This creates small textured lines across the surface.
Best For:
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Driveways
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Sidewalks
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Walkways
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Patios
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Concrete steps
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Commercial flatwork
Advantages:
Broom-finished concrete is affordable, durable, practical, and provides additional traction compared with a completely smooth surface.
It's an excellent choice for Illinois properties because traction is especially important when surfaces become wet, snowy, or icy.
2. Stamped Concrete
Stamped concrete is one of the most popular decorative concrete options for patios and outdoor living spaces.
Special concrete stamps are pressed into the surface to create patterns that can resemble natural materials.
Popular stamped concrete patterns include:
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Slate
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Flagstone
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Cobblestone
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Brick
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Wood plank
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Natural stone
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Ashlar slate
Color can also be incorporated into the concrete to create a more realistic decorative appearance.
Best For:
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Patios
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Pool decks
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Walkways
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Outdoor kitchens
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Decorative driveways
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Backyard entertainment areas
Stamped concrete provides the strength of a concrete slab while creating a more upscale appearance.
3. Exposed Aggregate Concrete
Exposed aggregate concrete reveals the decorative stone and aggregate within the concrete.
The top layer of cement paste is removed or treated during the finishing process, exposing the stones underneath.
The finished surface has a textured, natural appearance.
Best For:
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Driveways
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Patios
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Walkways
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Pool decks
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Decorative sidewalks
Exposed aggregate can provide excellent visual interest while maintaining a durable exterior surface.
4. Smooth Finish Concrete
A smooth concrete finish is created using hand trowels or power trowels to produce a flatter and smoother surface.
Smooth finishes are commonly used for interior concrete but can also be incorporated into certain exterior designs.
Best For:
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Garage floors
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Basements
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Warehouses
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Interior floors
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Commercial buildings
Extremely smooth concrete may become slippery when wet, which is why textured finishes are generally preferred for many exterior applications.
5. Trowel Finish Concrete
A trowel finish is created by working the concrete surface with a hand or power trowel after it has been placed and leveled.
The amount of troweling determines how smooth and dense the finished surface becomes.
Trowel-finished concrete is especially common for garage floors, basement floors, warehouses, and other interior slabs.
6. Salt Finish Concrete
A salt finish creates small decorative indentations throughout the concrete surface.
Traditionally, coarse rock salt is pressed into fresh concrete and later removed after the concrete hardens.
This leaves behind small pits and creates a distinctive textured appearance.
Best For:
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Patios
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Pool decks
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Walkways
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Decorative outdoor areas
Salt finishes can provide a subtle decorative appearance without using a full stamped pattern.
7. Swirl Finish Concrete
A swirl finish is created by moving a finishing tool across the concrete in overlapping circular or curved patterns.
The result is a visible decorative texture across the surface.
Best For:
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Patios
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Sidewalks
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Walkways
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Decorative slabs
Swirl finishes can add character while also creating additional surface texture.
8. Sand Finish Concrete
A sand finish, sometimes called sand-wash concrete, creates a lightly textured surface where fine aggregate is visible.
It generally provides a softer and more subtle appearance than exposed aggregate.
Best For:
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Patios
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Pool decks
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Walkways
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Decorative concrete
It's a good option for homeowners who want something more decorative than traditional broom-finished concrete without the bold appearance of stamped concrete.
9. Brushed Concrete Finish
Brushed concrete is similar to broom-finished concrete.
A brush is pulled across the fresh concrete to create texture and improve traction.
The texture can range from relatively fine to more aggressive depending on the brush and finishing technique.
Brushed finishes are commonly used on sidewalks, driveways, ramps, and other areas where traction is important.
10. Stenciled Concrete
Stenciled concrete uses specialized templates to create decorative patterns in the concrete surface.
Stencils can create the appearance of:
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Brick
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Tile
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Stone
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Geometric patterns
Stenciling can be an alternative to traditional stamped concrete for certain decorative applications.
11. Colored Concrete
Concrete doesn't have to be gray.
Colored concrete can incorporate pigments to create different shades and tones.
Popular concrete colors include:
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Charcoal
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Gray
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Brown
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Tan
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Sandstone
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Red
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Earth tones
Color is commonly combined with stamped concrete to create a more realistic stone or brick appearance.
12. Stained Concrete
Concrete staining changes the appearance of cured concrete by applying products that add color to the surface.
Depending on the staining system, the finished appearance can range from subtle earth tones to more dramatic decorative colors.
Best For:
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Basement floors
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Interior floors
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Decorative patios
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Commercial spaces
Staining can also be used when updating certain existing concrete surfaces.
13. Polished Concrete
Polished concrete is mechanically ground and polished to create a smooth, reflective surface.
Different levels of polishing can create anything from a low-sheen finish to a highly reflective appearance.
Best For:
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Retail stores
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Restaurants
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Offices
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Warehouses
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Showrooms
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Modern homes
Polished concrete is primarily an interior flooring option.
14. Rock Salt and Decorative Texture Finishes
Concrete contractors can also use different tools and techniques to create custom textures.
Decorative texture finishes can give homeowners something different from traditional broom or stamped concrete while still maintaining the functionality of a concrete slab.
15. Decorative Saw-Cut Concrete
Saw cuts don't necessarily change the surface texture, but they can dramatically change the appearance of a finished concrete slab.
Decorative cuts can create patterns resembling:
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Large tiles
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Diamonds
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Squares
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Geometric designs
Saw-cut patterns can be combined with colored or stained concrete for an even more customized appearance.
16. Stamped Concrete With Decorative Borders
One of the most customizable concrete options combines a primary stamped pattern with a contrasting decorative border.
For example, a homeowner might choose a slate-style patio with a darker brick-pattern border.
Different colors, patterns, and textures can be combined to create a completely customized outdoor space.
What Is the Best Concrete Finish for a Driveway?
For most Illinois driveways, broom-finished concrete is one of the most practical options.
It provides good traction, has a clean appearance, requires relatively little maintenance, and is generally more affordable than decorative concrete.
Stamped or decorative concrete can also be incorporated into driveway borders or other accent areas.
What Is the Best Concrete Finish for a Patio?
Homeowners have considerably more design flexibility with patios.
Popular options include:
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Broom finish
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Stamped concrete
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Exposed aggregate
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Sand finish
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Colored concrete
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Decorative borders
For homeowners looking for a premium outdoor living space, stamped concrete is one of the most popular choices.
What Is the Best Concrete Finish for a Pool Deck?
Traction should be an important consideration around swimming pools.
Textured finishes such as broom, sand, exposed aggregate, or certain decorative concrete finishes may provide better traction than extremely smooth surfaces.
The final finish should balance appearance, comfort, maintenance, and slip resistance.
What Concrete Finish Is Best for Illinois Weather?
Illinois concrete is exposed to rain, snow, ice, freezing temperatures, summer heat, and repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
For exterior concrete, proper installation is just as important as the finish.
Important factors include proper excavation, a well-compacted stone base, appropriate concrete specifications, drainage, reinforcement when required, control joints, proper finishing, and curing.
The right combination helps create concrete that's prepared for Northern Illinois conditions.
Find the Right Concrete Finish for Your Project
The best concrete finish depends on where the concrete will be installed, your budget, the appearance you're trying to achieve, and how much maintenance you're comfortable with.
A basic broom-finished driveway may be perfect for one homeowner, while another may prefer a stamped concrete patio with custom colors and decorative borders.
At Solid Concrete Services LLC, we help homeowners choose concrete options that complement their homes while remaining practical for Illinois weather.
Get a Free Concrete Estimate in Northern Illinois
If you're planning a new concrete driveway, patio, stamped concrete patio, sidewalk, walkway, garage floor, pool deck, or other concrete project, contact Solid Concrete Services LLC.
We serve homeowners and businesses throughout the Chicagoland, Fox Valley, western suburban, and northwestern suburban areas.
Contact Solid Concrete Services LLC today to request a free concrete estimate and discuss which concrete finish is best for your project.