Textured Concrete Driveways
What are textured driveways?
Driveways2U produces textured driveways by finishing the concrete with a decorative surface. We use various methods that mark patterns into the concrete or apply patterns on top before the concrete is cured. You can have this done for new driveways. However, we can also incorporate texturing into refurbishing existing concrete. Compared with individual pavers, one of the great advantages of textured finish is that it is faster and less costly. Furthermore, any surface you choose can be sealed to make it slip-resistant, colour-fast, durable, and easy to clean.
What's The Purpose Behind A Textured Driveway
If you are installing a driveway on business premises, have you considered putting your logo on your driveway? Your visitors will see your driveway first. Hence they are impressed by your logo right away.
Otherwise, you can use texturing and colours on your driveway to make a statement that reflects your business theme and style.
If you are a residential homeowner you may not be aware of all the fun you can have designing patterns on your driveway!
You can complement your buildings and landscaping with textured driveways. Your choice of colours and styles is almost as wide as you can imagine. For example, you can either texture the driveway and leave a smooth border or vice versa. Or you can have the texturing done in contrasting sections. We can do this with two or more colours, or using just one colour with different textures.
What Concrete Textured Finishes Are Available?
We invite you to have a look at these texturing methods below. Note that with each one, considerable variations in the method are possible, therefore producing the final appearance.
Spray-on paving
You can achieve the look and colour of various sorts of cobblestone, slate, stone, tiles or bricks with spray-on paving. Our tradesmen spray a layer of coloured cement-like materials onto plain concrete. In addition they can spray it through stencils
Stenciling
For stenciling the material we use is a coloured hardener based on cement. We apply it using a stencil to outline patterns that leave the base colour in between. We can apply it to look like bricks (eg red terra cotta look with creamy joins), tiles or paving of various types (eg octagons, hexagons, French pattern, etc). Furthermore you can use this method to create mosaics, emblems, and other interesting works of art on your driveway.
Stamping
As its name suggests, we do stamping with geometric shaped stamps that are laid on the damp concrete. The stamps leave impressions like pavers in whatever pattern you've chosen. You have a wide choice of patterns that look like tiles, straight or curving bricks, crazy-stone, cobblestone, and more complex geometrics.
Brooming
We sweep over concrete with a fibre broom that roughens the damp surface in the desired pattern before it sets. You can have straight, waving, zig zag, criss-cross, checkered, spirals, tile-look, etc, textured patterns. An easy way to add interest to otherwise plain concrete.
Tining
Tining is like brooming but with a metal-pronged rake. This leaves a stronger, deeper impression, which is great for an anti-slip surface.
Dragging
In this case, we drag a tool with chains attached across the wet concrete surface. It produces lines and grooves of variable widths. Thus it's different from brooming and tining.
Wood floating
Our concreters use a flat wooden tool to smooth over the surface of concrete. However we can also sweep it around to produce subtle textures that depend on how the float is moved. You'll find it's a lovely look for level, relatively dry areas where slipperiness is not an issue.
Safety
You can use the finishes on your textured driveways to improve grip and safety while still looking great. Safety is especially a factor in steep driveways or areas that are frequently wet. For these purposes, we suggest rough aggregate or cut designs made by stencilling, coarse brooming, tining or dragging. However, if the concrete is in an area where people walk barefoot such as near swimming pools, use pebblecrete, wood floating, or light brooming. Thus the texture is not too uncomfortable for the feet! Leave smooth aggregate or stamped patterns for level, relatively dry surfaces.