By coordinating a patio's color with the home's interior, it becomes a valuable extension of the home, rather than an afterthought. Concrete garden walkways and retaining walls further enhance the scene. Affordability Lower Life-Cycle Costs . While concrete's initial costs can be higher than other materials, its life-cycle costs are much lower. Homeowners are well acquainted with concrete's durability, fire safety, and proven low-maintenance.
Custom Look At a Lower Cost.
It's true that decorative concrete is more expensive than plain concrete. But using actual brick or flagstone is two to ten times as expensive as using decorative concrete. Concrete creates the same custom look, and gives a better performance, for a fraction of the cost. There are plenty of concrete finishes that are ideal for homeowners on a budget. A simple rock salt finish adds an interesting mottled look, and an easy broom finish turns plain concrete into a design feature.