The summer season is the perfect time to take care of those outdoor projects. While many are focusing on their gardens and landscapes, it’s also worth upgrading your hardscapes. Finished concrete provides a premium appearance at a surprisingly affordable price.

Whether you’re looking to enhance your driveway, add a patio, or laydown a garden path, finished concrete has the versatility for just about any situation. Here are a few options available for finishing your exterior concrete.

Concrete Sealer

Concrete sealer is a lightweight chemical that bonds with the surface of your concrete, creating a protective barrier. With sealer, your concrete will still have the texture and feel of concrete, but it will be better protected against moisture, freezing, and stains. Depending on your preference, it can give your concrete a wet or shiny appearance.

Alternatively, sealed concrete can look exactly liked unfinished concrete.

Epoxy Coating

Unlike concrete sealer, epoxy coating creates a protective layer on top of your concrete flooring. This provides a smooth finish that better covers up cracks and chips. Epoxy coating generally protects better against moisture.

Though some see epoxy flooring as an indoor option, it also works great for pool areas, patios, garden paths, driveways, and much more. While standard epoxy coatings can be slippery when wet, additives can be included that prevent this.

Concrete Staining

Looking to add some color and vibrancy to your concrete? Concrete stain is what you need. Unlike paint, concrete stain penetrates the surface of the concrete, creating a finish that won’t chip or scratch away. With a little concrete stain, you can transform an otherwise plain slab of concrete into something unique.

Concrete stain can be combined with sealer or epoxy coating to create a beautiful finish that’s protected against foot traffic and the elements.

Stamped Concrete

If you really want to make the most of your exterior concrete, you should consider stamped concrete. Stamped concrete offers near limitless options when it comes to creating an exterior surface. You can combine styles and colors to mimic other materials such as brick, stone, tiles, pavers, and more.

Or you can create your own designs and patterns that would otherwise be impossible to create with other materials.

Hiring a Professional

Whatever you plan to do with your concrete, it’s best to use a professional. Finishing your concrete requires special tools and materials, and if something is done wrong, you can end up with quite the mess on your hands. Thankfully, even with professional installation, concrete finishing services are surprisingly affordable.

For concrete staining, sealing, stamping, and epoxy coating in Ohio, contact Select Flooring Systems today!