How Decorative Concrete Adds Value to Your Home

When it comes to increasing a home’s value, most people tend to overlook the significant impact decorative concrete can have in elevating the overall appearance and functionality of a home, both indoors and out.

Concrete is a versatile and durable material that can be used in a variety of ways to enhance your home’s curb appeal, from revamping a driveway to creating stunning patios and entryways. Indoors, installing custom concrete countertops and decorative concrete floors or floor overlays can instantly upgrade a space and differentiate your home from the rest.

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In addition to its aesthetic appeal, decorative concrete is also extremely durable and long-lasting, which can be a big selling point for potential buyers while maximizing the return on your investment.

Greater Curb Appeal

Using decorative concrete to transform your outdoor spaces can really pay off when it comes time to sell your home. According to REALTOR® Magazine, homes with an attractive exterior sell on average for 7% more than comparable homes with a rundown appearance. And because concrete has the ability to be customized using colors and patterns that complement your home’s architecture, a well-designed concrete driveway, sidewalk, or entryway will set your property apart and make prospective buyers take notice. You can even give an existing concrete driveway a pick-me-up by applying a coat or two of stain.

Learn more: How to Improve Curb Appeal with Decorative Concrete

Endless Design Versatility

Unlike other building materials, decorative concrete can be customized in a myriad of ways to suit any design style, ranging from rustic to ultra-modern. Using various colors and stamped patterns, you can use concrete to mimic high-end materials like flagstone, brick, slate, and cobblestone — and often for a fraction of the cost. Indoors, you can transform a room by using stamped and stained concrete to replicate the look of real wood floors or by applying a decorative coating to make your concrete look like polished marble. Even applying a simple coat of stain to a new or existing concrete floor can be a cost-effective way to create a custom look that will add value to your home.

Increased Usable Space

Add-on features like decorative concrete patios, pool decks, and porches can increase the usable living space of a property by allowing you to create outdoor rooms that serve as extensions of your home interior. Thanks to concrete’s design versatility, you can also match the colors, textures, and style of your interior decor to create a seamless transition from indoors to out. Not only does this make your home look more spacious, it also enhances its value by expanding the area available for entertaining.

See Outdoor Living Space Ideas that Wow.

Durability and Longevity

When properly installed and maintained, decorative concrete can last for decades, giving concrete more staying power than most other building materials. Its ability to withstand heavy foot and vehicle traffic, resist water damage, and endure weather extremes means that decorative concrete rarely needs replacement and will maintain its integrity and appearance for years.

Learn more: How Long Will Your Concrete Last?

Less Maintenance

One of the greatest benefits of decorative concrete, relative to other materials, is that it doesn’t require as much effort to keep the surface looking fresh and new. This ease of maintenance not only saves time, but can also translate into cost savings over time.

Although concrete remains durable and long lasting, even with minimal effort, properly maintaining your decorative concrete can greatly extend its beauty and service life and help protect your investment.

See these how-to tips for maintaining concrete slabs, floors, and countertops.

Safety and Accessibility

Properly designed and maintained concrete driveways and walkways can provide safe and convenient routes for people to move around your property, making it more appealing to buyers who are concerned about easy accessibility.

If your home has a broken front step or a walkway with loose paving stones, that not only detracts from the appearance, it could also become a safety hazard. A new or resurfaced concrete walkway and porch will dramatically improve your home’s curb appeal while providing safer access.

Greater Long-Term Savings

While the initial installation cost of decorative concrete might be higher compared to other materials, such as asphalt (see Asphalt vs. Concrete Driveways), it's important to consider the long-term cost savings. Because of concrete’s durability, long lifespan, and low maintenance requirements, you’ll usually end up spending less money over time for repairs or replacement. And by keeping your concrete designs simple, you can realize even greater cost savings.

See six examples of economical but elegant looks you can achieve with decorative concrete.

WHAT CONCRETE UPGRADES GET THE BEST RETURNS?

If you plan to sell your home in the near future, you should always consider the return on investment that specific interior and exterior renovations offer. Here are several decorative concrete upgrades that have the potential to yield the highest returns — sometimes as much as 90% or greater depending on the housing trends in your area and the quality of the work.

• Concrete countertops, as part of a kitchen or bathroom remodel. They have a number of advantages that other materials can't match while offering a sleek, modern look. (See Concrete Countertops vs. Quartz, Granite and Other Materials.)
• Concrete patios. By increasing the functionality of an outdoor living space, a well-designed patio can significantly boost your home’s value to potential buyers who place a high priority on outdoor entertaining and relaxation. (See Concrete Patio Designs and Ideas.)
• Stamped or stained concrete driveways, sidewalks, and entryways. Any exterior decorative concrete project that boosts your home’s curb appeal will result in a higher demand for your property, and a higher profit when you sell. Just be sure not to go overboard and make poor color and pattern choices that detract from rather than enhance your home’s architecture.
• Garage floor coatings. These epoxy-based systems can turn a concrete garage floor into an extension of your living space and maximize your home’s appeal to buyers who value usable garage space. See these garage floor coating ideas.

A final word of advice: Always hire a professional to install your decorative concrete. Using an inexperienced installer — or even worse, attempting to do the work yourself — can have disastrous results, taking away from rather than adding to the value of your home.

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