(414) 617-2317
Get a Free Estimate for
Your Next Project!
When homeowners in New Berlin, WI think about upgrading their driveways, patios, or walkways, many assume their only options are plain gray concrete or expensive pavers. But decorative concrete solutions in New Berlin, WI offer a perfect middle ground—combining durability, affordability, and stunning aesthetics that can completely transform your property's curb appeal.
At Taylors Landscape Construction, we've helped countless New Berlin homeowners discover how decorative concrete can turn ordinary outdoor spaces into beautiful, functional areas that last for decades. Whether you're tired of cracked asphalt, want to add visual interest to your backyard, or need a low-maintenance alternative to traditional hardscaping, decorative concrete might be exactly what your property needs.
Decorative concrete goes far beyond the basic gray slabs most people picture. These are specialized concrete applications that incorporate color, texture, patterns, and finishes to create surfaces that mimic high-end materials like stone, brick, or tile—at a fraction of the cost.
These techniques can be used individually or combined to create truly custom looks that reflect your personal style while standing up to Wisconsin's harsh weather conditions.
New Berlin experiences temperature swings from below zero in winter to hot, humid summers. Traditional materials like pavers can shift with freeze-thaw cycles, creating uneven surfaces and tripping hazards. Decorative concrete, when properly installed with the right base preparation and control joints, maintains its integrity through seasonal changes.
The Wisconsin climate also brings snow removal challenges. Decorative concrete surfaces handle snowplowing and shoveling better than many alternatives, and they won't be damaged by deicing salts when sealed properly.
Unlike pavers that need periodic re-leveling and joint sand replacement, or wood decks that require annual staining, decorative concrete needs minimal upkeep. A simple cleaning once or twice a year and resealing every 2-3 years keeps your surfaces looking fresh and protected.
There are no weeds growing between pavers, no individual stones to replace if one cracks, and no regular refinishing work. For busy New Berlin families, this low-maintenance aspect is a major selling point.
Your driveway is often the first thing people notice about your home. A stamped concrete driveway in a slate or cobblestone pattern immediately elevates your home's appearance. Many New Berlin homeowners choose borders or accent bands in contrasting colors to add extra visual interest.
Decorative concrete driveways also resist oil stains better than plain concrete and hide minor imperfections that would be obvious on solid gray surfaces.
New Berlin residents love spending time outdoors during our beautiful spring, summer, and fall months. A decorative concrete patio extends your living space and creates the perfect spot for grilling, entertaining, or simply relaxing after work.
Stamped concrete patios can replicate the look of expensive flagstone or travertine while providing a more level, stable surface. Add a contrasting border or integrate different patterns to define seating areas or create visual flow from your home to your yard.
If you have a pool, decorative concrete makes an excellent deck material. Textured finishes provide slip resistance when wet, and lighter colors reflect heat, keeping the surface more comfortable for bare feet on hot summer days.
Stamped concrete pool decks can be designed to look like natural stone or wood planks, creating a resort-like atmosphere right in your New Berlin backyard.
Stamped or colored concrete walkways guide visitors to your front door while adding character to your landscaping. These surfaces can curve naturally through garden beds or span straight paths with clean, modern lines.
Entryways and front stoops finished with decorative concrete create welcoming first impressions that complement your home's architecture.
The beauty of decorative concrete solutions in New Berlin, WI is the customization available. Your choices should complement your home's architectural style and your personal preferences.
Color choices range from subtle earth tones that blend naturally with Wisconsin's landscape to bolder hues that make a statement. Most homeowners find that colors matching or complementing their home's exterior create the most cohesive look.
Quality installation makes all the difference in how your decorative concrete performs and looks years down the road. Here's what professional installation involves:
Professional installers complete most residential projects in 2-4 days, depending on size and complexity. You'll typically need to stay off the surface for at least 24-48 hours, with full curing taking about a month.
Well-installed decorative concrete in New Berlin can last 20-30 years or more with basic maintenance:
The investment you make in quality installation pays dividends through decades of beautiful, functional outdoor surfaces.
Regular concrete is a plain, gray surface with a smooth or broom-finished texture. Stamped concrete uses specialized stamps and techniques to create patterns and textures that mimic materials like flagstone, slate, brick, cobblestone, or wood planks.
The stamping process happens while the concrete is still workable. Contractors press large stamp mats into the surface to create realistic textures and joint patterns. Color is typically added through integral pigments mixed into the concrete or applied as surface hardeners before stamping. Regular concrete offers basic functionality, while stamped concrete provides both function and visual appeal that can increase your property value.
Professionally installed decorative concrete solutions in New Berlin, WI can last 20-30 years or longer with proper maintenance. Wisconsin's freeze-thaw cycles and temperature extremes can be tough on outdoor surfaces, but quality decorative concrete withstands these conditions when installed correctly.
The longevity depends on several factors: proper base preparation and drainage, correct concrete mix design for cold climates, appropriate control joint placement, and regular maintenance including resealing every 2-3 years. Many New Berlin homeowners find their decorative concrete outlasts other hardscaping materials like pavers, which can shift and settle over time, or wood decks that require constant maintenance.
Yes, decorative concrete can develop cracks just like regular concrete, but proper installation techniques minimize this risk. All concrete expands and contracts with temperature changes, which is why professional installers use control joints—planned weak points that direct where cracks will form if they occur.
In New Berlin's climate, the best prevention strategies include adequate base preparation with proper compaction, correct concrete thickness for the intended use (4 inches for walkways and patios, 6 inches for driveways), appropriate spacing of control joints, proper curing time, and regular sealing to prevent moisture penetration. When these steps are followed, cracking is minimal and often confined to control joints where it's less noticeable. Any cracks that do appear can typically be repaired and resealed to prevent expansion.
Stamped concrete actually provides better traction than smooth, plain concrete when wet. The textured patterns created during stamping naturally increase slip resistance by providing more surface grip. However, the level of traction varies based on the specific pattern and finish you choose.
For areas around pools or high-traffic walkways in New Berlin where slip resistance is particularly important, we recommend deeper textures like slate or flagstone patterns rather than smooth stone looks. Additionally, choosing a non-slip sealer designed for wet areas enhances safety. Many homeowners also opt for a slightly rougher finish on stamped concrete pool decks and entries to maximize traction without sacrificing the decorative appearance.
Stamped concrete and exposed aggregate are the most popular decorative concrete solutions in New Berlin, WI for driveways. Stamped concrete in cobblestone, slate, or brick patterns provides excellent durability while dramatically improving curb appeal. These patterns hide tire marks and minor wear better than plain concrete.
Exposed aggregate is another excellent driveway choice, offering exceptional traction in all weather conditions and a naturally textured appearance that complements Wisconsin landscapes. For driveways, the concrete should be at least 6 inches thick with proper reinforcement and control joints every 8-10 feet. Many New Berlin homeowners choose borders in contrasting colors or patterns to add definition and visual interest. Both options handle snowplowing, deicing salts, and vehicle traffic better than asphalt while maintaining their appearance for decades.
Yes, sealing decorative concrete is necessary to protect your investment and maintain its appearance. Sealer creates a protective barrier against moisture penetration, freeze-thaw damage, deicing salts, stains from oil or other substances, UV fading, and surface wear.
For decorative concrete solutions in New Berlin, WI, we recommend applying the initial seal immediately after installation (once the concrete has properly cured) and resealing every 2-3 years depending on traffic and weather exposure. High-traffic areas like driveways may need more frequent resealing than patios or walkways. Proper sealing enhances the color of your decorative concrete, gives it a slight sheen (matte to glossy depending on the sealer type), and makes cleaning much easier. Think of sealing like changing the oil in your car—it's simple maintenance that extends the life of your investment significantly.
Yes, you can apply decorative concrete overlays over existing concrete surfaces if the base is structurally sound. Concrete overlays are thin layers (typically 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick) of specially formulated concrete that bond to existing slabs, allowing you to refresh worn surfaces without the expense of complete removal and replacement.
However, the existing concrete must meet certain conditions: it should be structurally sound without major cracking or movement, have adequate drainage to prevent water pooling, and be properly cleaned and prepared for overlay adhesion. Overlays can be stamped, stained, or textured just like new concrete, making them a cost-effective way to update old patios, driveways, or walkways in New Berlin. If your existing concrete has significant damage, settlement issues, or poor drainage, complete replacement is usually the better long-term solution.
Decorative concrete comes in virtually unlimited color options, from natural earth tones to bold contemporary hues. The most popular colors for New Berlin homes include various shades of gray, tan, brown, terra cotta, buff, sandstone, and slate tones that complement Wisconsin's natural landscape and traditional home styles.
Color can be achieved through two main methods: integral color mixed throughout the concrete provides consistent color that won't wear off, while color hardeners and stains applied to the surface offer more vibrant, varied appearances. Many homeowners choose multiple colors to create realistic stone or brick patterns. For example, a stamped slate patio might combine charcoal gray with lighter silver tones and rust accents to mimic natural stone variation. During your consultation with Taylors Landscape Construction, we'll show you color samples and discuss which options best complement your home's exterior and landscape design.
Winter maintenance for decorative concrete solutions in New Berlin, WI is straightforward but important for long-term performance. Use plastic shovels or snowblowers with rubber-edged augers rather than metal blades to avoid scratching the surface. Avoid harsh rock salt (sodium chloride), which can damage concrete and decorative finishes—instead, use calcium magnesium acetate, sand, or kitty litter for traction.
Remove snow and ice promptly to prevent repeated freeze-thaw cycles on the surface. Never use chemical deicers during the first winter after installation, as new concrete needs a full season to cure completely. Keep your concrete properly sealed before winter arrives—this is your best defense against moisture penetration and freeze-thaw damage. After winter, inspect your decorative concrete for any minor issues and address them promptly before they become larger problems. With these simple precautions, your decorative concrete will weather Wisconsin winters beautifully year after year.
Yes, professionally installed decorative concrete can increase your home's value and appeal to potential buyers. Quality hardscaping improvements typically return 50-80% of their cost in increased home value, and decorative concrete often outperforms this average because it combines visual appeal with lasting durability.
For New Berlin homeowners, decorative concrete driveways and patios create strong first impressions and expand usable outdoor living space—two factors that significantly influence buyer decisions. Real estate agents consistently note that homes with attractive, well-maintained hardscaping sell faster and command higher prices than comparable properties with basic concrete or worn surfaces. Beyond resale value, decorative concrete solutions in New Berlin, WI enhance your daily enjoyment of your property, making them valuable whether you plan to sell soon or stay for decades.
Exposed aggregate concrete is a decorative finish that reveals the natural stones (aggregate) within the concrete mix. After the concrete is poured and leveled, installers remove the top layer of cement paste before it fully hardens, exposing the decorative stones underneath. The result is a naturally textured, slip-resistant surface with excellent visual appeal.
Popular aggregate options include river rock, granite, quartz, and recycled glass in various sizes and colors. Exposed aggregate works beautifully for New Berlin driveways, patios, pool decks, and walkways because it provides superior traction, hides dirt and wear patterns, resists damage from deicing salts and snowplowing, and offers a timeless natural appearance that complements any architectural style. The surface is also cooler underfoot than smooth concrete on hot days, making it comfortable for pool areas and patios.
You can typically walk on newly installed decorative concrete within 24-48 hours, but full curing takes much longer. Light foot traffic is generally safe after 24 hours, though you should still be careful and avoid dragging heavy objects or wearing high heels that could damage the surface.
For driveways, wait at least 7 days before parking vehicles on the concrete, and avoid heavy trucks or equipment for at least 28 days. The concrete continues gaining strength for about a month after installation. During this curing period, keep the surface moist and avoid using deicing chemicals. Your contractor will provide specific guidance based on weather conditions and the particular decorative concrete solution installed. Patience during the curing process pays off with a stronger, longer-lasting surface. Taylors Landscape Construction provides detailed care instructions after every installation to help you protect your investment during this important initial period.
Have more questions about decorative concrete solutions in New Berlin, WI? The team at Taylors Landscape Construction is here to help. We'll answer all your questions, show you samples of different patterns and colors, and provide a free, no-obligation quote for your project.
Call us or fill out our online form to get started.
BUSINESS ADDRESS
Taylors Landscape Construction, LLC
New Berlin & Milwaukee, WI
and Southeastern Wisconsin
CONTACT INFORMATION
HOURS OF OPERATION
Mon: 8am-7pm
Tue: 8am-7pm
Wed: 8am-7pm
Thu: 8am-7pm
Fri: 8am-7pm
Sat: Appointments Available
Sun: Closed
CERTIFICATION & LICENSING
Dwelling Contractor: DC-012100029 / DCQ-011800063
Taylor's Landscape Construction, LLC specializes in Decorative Concrete, Colored Concrete & Stamped Concrete, Stained Concrete, and Polished Concrete for Patios, Driveways & more. We service cities such as: Brookfield WI, Chenequa WI, Delafield WI, East Troy WI, Elkhorn WI, Elm Grove WI, Fox Point WI, Franklin WI, Greendale WI, Greenfield WI, Hales Corners WI, Hartland WI, Kenosha WI, Lake Geneva WI, Merton WI, Mequon WI, Milwaukee WI, Mukwonago WI, Muskego WI, New Berlin WI, Pewaukee WI, Racine WI, River Hills WI, Shorewood WI, Sussex WI, Wales WI, Waukesha WI, Wauwatosa WI, Whitefish Bay WI, Wind Lake WI, and the surrounding areas in Southeastern Wisconsin.
Copyright © Taylors Landscape Construction, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Website by Badgerland Marketing
