One hot topic in Calgary nowadays is outdoor living spaces, and how to best incorporate the great outdoors into your overall home or business design.
While you can certainly paint your patio, install a deck, or add some natural stone to your landscape design, taking it a step further with decorative concrete can create the perfect balance between sophistication and practicality.
So, just in case you’re just planning to start your home garden or looking for ways to beautify the landscape you have right now, decorative concrete is a fresh and versatile material that could add value to your outdoor space.
In revamping your backyard landscapes, you are the boss—whatever yields to your comfort and satisfaction is a good design; and the news is your dream space can be achieved easier, all thanks to decorative concrete.
Skip to What You Need to Know:
What is Decorative Concrete?
Decorative concrete, while still concrete in its form, comes in different shapes, colours, and designs that could better fit your ideal landscape design. With its added texture, decorative concrete can be utilized for safety purposes—creating a non-slip finish.
Also known as stamped concrete, this type of flooring offers a ton of advantages for homeowners.
Thinking of using decorative concrete in your next home revamp in Calgary? Then you’re off to a good start! Decorative concrete is a good addition to your landscapes, adding both aesthetics and function to your space.
Stamped Concrete vs. Stone: Comparing the Pros and Cons
If you’re considering a concrete or stone finish for your home’s exterior, then stamped concrete and pavers are two of the most popular materials. Let’s compare the benefits of each:
Stamped Concrete
- It’s cost-effective and easy to maintain
- It comes in a limited range of stone or brick textures
- You can vary the surface colour with stains, but you won’t achieve as much depth or dimension as with a stone
Pavers
- Offer a wide variety of styles, shapes, colours and textures.
- Thicker and more durable. They’re better able to withstand freezing temperatures and handle greater loads.
- However, they are more expensive than stamped concrete and require occasional cleaning and resealing.
Decorative Concrete for Your Landscaping Projects
This concrete comes in a variety of shapes, colours, and functions. Yet, all these add beauty and value to your landscape designs. Here are some types of decorative concrete that you can use in your landscape revamping project:
- Stamped Concrete
These are made by pouring concrete into a mold and then stamping it with a pattern. Stamped concrete is also known to be a versatile, durable, and low-cost material that can last for years. This material can be used for driveways, patios, and countertops—a good visual element for your outdoor space. - Stamped Overlays
Looking for concrete that could imitate brick textures? Then stamped overlays are the perfect fit for that. These are made by gently pressing rubber imprinting tools on pre-mixed concrete after being poured. - Stained and Stencilled Concrete
This decorative concrete is achieved by covering certain areas of concrete before acid etching or sandblasting. - Integral Coloring
This type of concrete is not coloured with ink or dye, rather a selected pigment is added to the concrete mixture, integrating the colour into it.
Incorporating Concrete in Your Landscape Projects
There are a variety of ways to incorporate your hardscapes in perfect harmony with landscaping, without the need to sacrifice either function or aesthetics.
We’ve thought of four ways for you to elevate your landscape projects in Calgary with decorative concrete.
- Garden Pathways
Having a walkway in your garden makes it more accessible for family members who want to take a quick breather outdoors. Garden pathways made with decorative concrete not only add aesthetics but the textures also act as a safety feature, especially on rainy days. - Steps
Elevate your landscape design by adding concrete steps—a simple way to beautify your outdoor space. - Garden Edge
Concrete is a durable and more stable material to put as a border for your garden bed. - Backyard Deck or Patio
Patios make more room for entertainment and relaxation. Putting decorative concrete as an accent design adds to both the structure and beauty of your outdoor space. - Walls
Outdoor spaces are usually open, and there are homeowners who want to add security and privacy in their backyard spaces. Setting up walls made of decorative concrete can serve this purpose without sacrificing your landscape design.
Balance Your Landscape With Decorative Concrete
Your outdoor space in Calgary is made perfect when landscape design meets decorative concrete. With this material’s durability, versatility, and low-maintenance feature, your backyard space can be elevated with a simple concrete accent.
Another way to improve your landscape design is by working with a professional landscape designer. They specialize in turning your outdoor space into a beautiful abode without sacrificing safety and functionality.
For anything that involves concrete, TNA Concrete is who you can run to! We have decorative concrete you might need for your next—or upcoming—outdoor space project. Contact us today to know more!
