The Concrete Network
Concrete Contractors, Photos and Ideas
Find a Contractor
Decorative Concrete Contractors in:
Browse Decorative Concrete Contractors
ConcreteNetwork.com JUNE 2010
Concrete Source outdoor header
QUICK LINKS
What's New on The Concrete Network

Photo Gallery

Find Concrete Products

Get Jobs Leads
Advertise your company in The Concrete Network directory.

Mobile Concrete Network
Bookmark our mobile site on your smart phone.

Glass Follow Us on  Facebook
 
Twitter logo Follow Us on Twitter
SignUp Icon JOIN OUR MAILING LIST


Easily Cut Perfect Circles and Straight Lines
Mongoose 411

The Mongoose 411 decorative concrete engraving tool is precise, versatile, and accurate.

Cut tile designs, free-form curves, brick patterns, geometrical designs and more.

* Practically dust-free cutting
* Cuts accurate, precise lines
* Cuts perfect circles and arcs
* Made in the USA

Get  more info and a
free catalog at
Engrave-A-Crete.com

Engrave-A-Crete banner



(Advertisement)
Search Icon FIND SUPPLIERS OF EXTERIOR RESURFACING MATERIALS
Five Innovative Ideas for
Transforming a Front Porch



Greetings!

Front porch overlay
Front porch overlay
One of the most prominent features of a home's exterior is the front porch. Whether it's a small landing welcoming people to the door, or a wrap-around patio with room for
seating, the porch is a highly visible and important design element. Decorative concrete is the perfect solution for clients who want to install a new front porch or rejuvenate an existing one. See these five projects for innovative design ideas and techniques to use on your own front porch transformations.

Jim Peterson,
The Concrete Network
Stamped concrete porch & steps

Go for a Unified Approach
A stamped concrete porch with matching steps make a dynamic duo. Using the same color and pattern for both unifies the look and creates a seamless transition to the front door.
Diamond-patterned overlay

Give It a Facelift
If your client has a plain concrete porch that's in good condition but has no curb appeal, an easy solution is to freshen it up with a decorative overlay. This formerly drab porch was given a thin overlay with a diamond pattern enhanced by stain and dark grout lines. Learn more about this project and see before and after photos.
Engraved porch

Engrave It
This plain-gray concrete porch and sidewalk was completely transformed by engraving and staining. The stone pattern and reddish-brown stain now complement the brickwork of the home's exterior. Read more about this porch makeover.
Faux-brick look

Mimic Brick
It's easy to give a concrete porch the look of traditional hand-laid brick, and often at a lower cost. For newly placed concrete, you can imprint the brick pattern with a stamp. Or you can cover existing concrete with an overlay and use stencils for the brick pattern (see the step-by-step process). With either method, you can use any color the homeowner desires for the brick and grout lines.
Wood-plank pattern

Do a Wood Plank Fake-Out
Use stamps with a wood plank pattern to give your clients the realistic look of wood without the maintenance headaches. The plank pattern from this porch extends down the sidewalk, and then forms a border for a large driveway to tie the landscaping into a harmonious whole. See more photos of this project.
Or: