skip to main content

Building a Home

concrete porch, patio, walkway, driveway - ideas?

12 years ago

We are planning on having concrete for the front porch, back patio, front walkway leading up to the front porch, and the driveway in the back of the house. My inclination is for the exposed aggregate concrete as I think the pebbly look of it goes with our "coastal craftsman" theme of the house.

Does it seem like too much to have all that the same concrete? I like to keep things simple. I've been searching online and it seems like a lot of people mix up the concrete and do smooth in some places and aggregate in others. I guess to keep things interesting.

Our builder wants to pour the front porch and patio soon so I need to make a decision. Any ideas? Here's a photo of our house to date. It's going to be boothbay blue planks and shingles with white trim.

Comments (4)

chisue
12 years ago
We had aggregate at a prior home. It looked good until it began to break down after about ten years. Also, the wood expansion joints between sections rotted.

At our present home we have a bluestone chip driveway, bluestone slab front stoop and blue/grey paver blocks for terrace and patio (side and rear). Roof is blue/grey slate look asphalt. (If you have children who will be riding bikes or rollerskating, you'll prefer smooth concrete.)
graceshan
Original Author
12 years ago
Thank you so much for your response. I would have never thought about the smooth concrete being preferred for kids. We are actually in the middle of adopting so this is great info.
Related Discussions
Can I install pavers on top of concrete patio and walkway???
Q
Comments (3)
The contractor surely is suggesting to lay them in a mortar set over the existing concrete right? If so, it works but better be done properly or else one stone coming loose will be very difficult to repair. The surface joints too would need to be well mortared and sealed to prevent any moisture from entering, and don't forget expansion gaps. Laying a gravel base over concrete is an even worse idea IMO. Doesn't compact and creates an impermeable foundation beneath what little gravel base you may have. Furthermore it leaves your entire patio susceptible to any movement experienced by the concrete slab. Gravel bases are used in our climate in part due to their flexibility. In the end I wouldn't do it for a client and if I did I wouldn't warranty it. All that said though, you do have an opportunity to install what I consider to be one of the nicer and more underrated outdoor ground surfaces- reclaimed red brick turned on edge. One of my favorite designers James Van Sweden is big on this as it creates one of the warmest and most transitional (home to exterior) ground surfaces as well as being very amenable to patterned desings. Would need to work with your home and greater landscape though.
...See More
For Those Of You With A Stained Concrete Porch/Driveway
Q
Comments (8)
Do you mean stain or concrete coloring? We used Buff in our driveway mix. I really like it because it's not stark and blends with the house, woods and stone better than plain concrete. Down by the street, we had to do so many feet of black - which fades to gray and looks like asphalt. Very expensive to do the darker color. Here's a photo showing both.
...See More
Concrete patio, walkway and driveway - what finishes?
Q
Comments (1)
A quick follow-up: for the driveway we settled on asphalt for maintenance reasons, but for the walkway and patio we are looking at recycled composite pavers: they seem to have the same cost as basic concrete and look much better.
...See More
White or sand finished concrete for patio/walkways?
Q
Comments (6)
Wow! Not the opinions I expected! But thank you! You guys are awesome! I think you are all right...I am being talked out of white. I spoke with the landscape architect and he is worried that white concrete wont be as durable and will crack. We are talking about tile and I am planning to tile the house interior, but I am a good yr away from that. Maybe I should do the sand finish and use the difference in price towards tile when I am ready? I think the difference in price will be a wash.
...See More
sherrilea
12 years ago
We have an aggregate back patio and I love it. Luckily we don't have any break down that chisue mentioned and ours is over 10 years old. Ours has cut-in expansion joints (no wood). Would do it again in a heartbeat.

And I'll second the smooth surface for the long driveway. It was appreciated by our kids not only for skating & biking, but also for their sidewalk chalk masterpieces!
nini804
12 years ago
Ditto the smooth driveway...better for basketball, too! We actually used brick for our covered front stoop and rear covered terrace, but budget ran out for the back patio off the terrace. We did concrete and the builder suggested laying out the expansion joints in a pretty diamond pattern, it looks nice. We are also planning to stain it. You might want to see if this would work for your patio.

Sign Up to Comment

Related Stories

MATERIALS Precast Concrete Pavers Make a Versatile Surface in the Garden

By Falon Mihalic

You can use concrete pavers in a variety of shapes and colors for your patio, walkway, driveway and more

REMODELING GUIDES Concrete Driveways: Poring Over the Pros and Cons

By Erin Lang Norris

Concrete adds smooth polish to driveways and a sleek look to home exteriors, but here are the points to ponder before you re-surface

GREAT HOME PROJECTS How to Tear Down That Concrete Patio

By Christine Tusher

Clear the path for plantings or a more modern patio design by demolishing all or part of the concrete in your yard

PATIOS Landscape Paving 101: Cast-in-Place Concrete

By Falon Mihalic

A construction standard, cast-in-place concrete can be used for a wide variety of project types

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Outdoor Style: Creative Ways With Classic Concrete

By June Scott Design

Have you cast concrete aside as being too dull or crack-prone? Learn about new design options along with the basics of using it outside

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 5 Ways to Make Your Concrete Patio More Attractive

By Falon Mihalic

These design ideas can liven up your paved outdoor space

CONCRETE Why Concrete Wants to Crack

By Matt Clawson

We look at the reasons concrete has a tendency to crack — and what you can do to help control it

REMODELING GUIDES Material Choices: High Marks for Reinforced Concrete

Try poured-in-place construction for a wonderfully tactile, industrial look

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING 6 Ways to Rethink Your Patio Floor

By Laura Gaskill

Figure out the right material for your spring patio makeover with this mini guide to concrete, wood, brick and stone

REMODELING GUIDES Gravel Driveways: Crunching the Pros and Cons

By Erin Lang Norris

If you want to play rough with your driveway, put away the pavers and choose the rocky road

Sponsored

Peabody Landscape Group

8 Reviews

Franklin County's Reliable Landscape Design & Contracting

More Discussions

What stain color did you pair with your Coretec Cairo Oak floors?

5

Does this tile and slab compete?

96

Windows too close to floor

14

Do these dimensions look ok for fireplace mantel?

2

Please critique my floorplan

25