Decorative concrete can be used in a variety of ways around your Canton, MI, home. From driveways and patios to the front porch, concrete is a versatile option that offers visual appeal and durability.
However, it’s important to consider more than just aesthetics when selecting a concrete pattern. The area’s functional use will determine which type of decorative concrete works best.
At D&G Cement Company, we’re one of the best decorative concrete contractors in Canton, MI, and the surrounding areas. We can help you design custom decorative concrete that suits your outdoor spaces. Contact us today to learn about working with our team.
What is The Best Decorative Concrete Pattern for Each Outdoor Space?
When it comes to decorative concrete, many Canton homeowners want to find the ideal balance between aesthetics, slip resistance, and durability.
In Michigan’s harsh winters, it’s especially important to find a concrete style that is suited to the area’s intended use. For example, a driveway will often experience more harsh weather and weight load than a front porch.
In general, the best decorative concrete for the driveway, patio, and porch are:
Driveway
For the driveway, it’s essential for decorative concrete to have the proper thickness, reinforcement, traction, and weather resistance. Driveways are a heavy-duty area, and must be able to handle the weight of multiple vehicles and equipment.
Two decorative concrete patterns for driveways are:
- Exposed Aggregate: With a natural, textured finish, exposed aggregate is great for driveways. This type of concrete reveals the stones and pebbles underneath the surface, which provides slip resistance and grip in ice, snow, and rain. If your driveway has many vehicles or a high amount of foot traffic, this is a great option.
- Ashlar Slate Stamp: Decorative concrete stamping is a great way to mimic the appearance of high-end materials, without the hefty investment. When it comes to Ashlar slate, it takes on the texture and color of slate stone slabs. It’s a great pattern for driveways because of its varied lines and texture.
Patio
Since patios are often used for relaxing and entertaining, it’s important for them to have a soft texture. Decorative concrete used for the patio should also have a stronger focus on aesthetics. Ideally, the design should be comfortable for bare feet, have strong visual appeal, and flow together with the indoor flooring.
Two of the best concrete styles for patios are:
- Wood Plank Stamp: Decorative concrete stamped like wood can replicate the look of finished wood decking, while offering more durability and smoothness. You won’t have to worry about the staining, splintering, or warping that happens to real wood, especially in Michingan’s climate.
- Seamless: A seamless design offers large-scale, subtle texture without grout lines. Too many lines can cause your patio to look smaller, whereas a large, seamless design can create a larger visual space. It also feels high-end and is easy to maintain, since less grout means less areas for moss or debris to grow in.
Porch & Front Steps
The porch and front steps are the main entryway to your house. For this reason, any decorative concrete design you use should coordinate with the overall curb appeal and architecture of the home.
Decorative concrete for the porch should be visually welcoming, and also offer slip resistance, especially on or around steps.
- Cobblestone or Brick Paver Stamp: Cobblestone and brick pavers offer traditional elegance to a front porch. However, they’re expensive and come with more upkeep. Stamped decorative concrete can mimic the appearance at a fraction of the cost, while also creating a non-slip surface.
- Contrasting Borders: Decorative concrete with contrasting borders creates visual appeal that can match your home. For example, a lightly-textured broom finishes on the main landing, with a small brick-stamped border along the edge. The broom finish creates slip resistance, while the border adds eye-catching design.
Contact Us to Design Your Concrete Driveway in Canton, MI
If you need decorative concrete contractors, look no further than our team at D&G Cement Company.
With 50+ years of experience in the industry, we’re the go-to source for decorative concrete for your home in Canton and the larger Metro Detroit area.
As a family-owned and operated company, our goal is to give you the best possible customer experience. We only use top-rated concrete materials, precise mixing, and expert design and installation techniques.
Want to learn more about working with us? Call (313) 277-2676 or contact us online today.

