Color That Suits Your House and Yard
Integral color and surface stain from Golden Paw Concrete give patios, walks and driveways around Indianapolis a warmer look than plain gray.
- 3-Year Workmanship Warranty
- Woman-Owned & Locally Owned
- Free In-Person Estimates
- 0% Financing for 12 Months*
Colored & Stained Concrete Services
A stained concrete patio or a colored driveway swaps flat gray for a tone that works with your brick, siding and landscaping. Golden Paw Concrete pours custom colored concrete for outdoor spaces across Indianapolis. Color is part of our decorative concrete work, alongside stamping and textured finishes. Most searches for stained concrete are about basement floors. This page is about the outdoors: patios, walks and drives that take sun, rain and Indiana winters.
Two Ways to Add Color: Integral Color and Stain
Integral color is mixed into the concrete before it's placed, so the color runs all the way through the slab. A chip or scrape still shows color underneath. The tones tend to be soft and even: tans, buffs, browns, terra cotta, charcoal.
Stained concrete gets its color after the slab has cured. The stain goes onto the surface and soaks into the top layer. That gives a more varied, mottled look with some depth, a bit like natural stone or worn leather. Because stain lives near the surface, it leans on a good sealer to stand up to foot traffic and weather.
Color also combines with other finishes. Colored stamped concrete is the most common pairing; see stamped concrete for patterns. Color works in a broom-textured slab, too, which keeps the grip and loses the gray.
Stained Concrete Patio, Walkway and Driveway Ideas
Patios are where color earns its keep. A colored concrete patio can pick up the trim on the house or the stone in a garden wall, and a contrasting border frames the whole space. Front paths work the same way. A warmer tone on a walkway leads guests from the drive to the door.
A colored concrete driveway is a bigger canvas. On a driveway, a darker integral color can hide tire marks and everyday grime better than light gray, while a colored border dresses up a plain center. Near a pool, choose lighter shades. Dark concrete soaks up summer sun and gets hot under bare feet.
How Colored Concrete Compares
Color is a layer you add to a texture, so the comparison below is about how each finish looks and lives. Pricing depends on your project and comes with the written estimate.
| Finish | Look | Traction | Upkeep | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colored & stained | Solid or mottled earth tones in place of plain gray, smooth or textured | Matches the texture under the color | Moderate: a sealer holds the color and needs renewing now and then | Patios, walkways, borders, and paired with stamping |
| Stamped | A pattern pressed in to look like stone, brick, slate or wood, usually in two tones | Moderate; a glossy sealer can make it slick when wet | Highest of the four: needs resealing every few years to keep color and texture | Patios, front entries, driveway borders |
| Broom finish | Plain gray with fine brushed lines and crisp tooled edges | High, wet or dry | Lowest: sweep, rinse, and seal if you choose | Driveways, sidewalks, steps, garage aprons |
| Exposed aggregate | Natural stones showing across the surface, from tan to gray to brown | High; the stone texture grips well | Low to moderate: periodic sealing keeps stones bright and tight | Driveways, pool decks, patios, walks |
If grip and easy upkeep matter most, a broom finish in a light integral color is a good middle ground. If you'd rather the color come from real stone, exposed aggregate does that without any added pigment.
Keeping Custom Color Looking Rich
Sun fades everything a little. As general guidance, colored and stained surfaces are sealed once the concrete has cured, then resealed every few years. The sealer keeps the tone deep and blocks water, leaves and grime. Clean with mild soap and a stiff brush, and keep a pressure washer nozzle well back from the surface.
Winter is the real test. Rock salt and other de-icers break down the surface, and on stained concrete they can strip the color with it. Salt damage falls outside our 3-year workmanship warranty, which covers problems caused by work done incorrectly. Use sand and shovel early. Our de-icing salt guide explains why salt and new concrete don't mix.
Questions & Answers
Colored Concrete FAQs
Have another question? Visit our FAQ page or call or text (317) 672-0966.
Will colored concrete fade over time?
Some change is normal, especially in full sun. Integral color holds steady because it runs through the slab. Stained surfaces depend more on the sealer, so keeping up with resealing slows fading.
Is colored concrete more upkeep than plain gray concrete?
A little. Plain broom concrete can go unsealed, while colored and especially stained surfaces look their best with a sealer renewed every few years. The upkeep is cleaning and resealing, not repairs.
Can you match the color of my house or my old concrete?
Concrete color never matches a paint chip exactly, because the cement, sand and curing all shift the final tone. Bring photos of your brick, siding or pavers to the consultation and we'll talk about shades that work with them.
Where does colored concrete look its best?
On surfaces you see up close: patios, front walks, entries and borders. Our Fortville colored patio article compares integral color and stain on a backyard patio.
Why Choose Golden Paw
Why Homeowners and Property Managers Choose Golden Paw
3-Year Workmanship Warranty
Every service we offer carries a 3-year workmanship warranty covering problems caused by our work. Outside damage, like de-icing salt, isn't included.
A Written, Itemized Scope
Your estimate spells out what we will pour, remove and finish before any work is scheduled, so there are no surprises on pour day.
Permits Handled for You
When a project needs a permit, we apply for it. You don't have to chase down the city or county.
Woman-Owned and Local
A family business, woman-owned and locally owned, with offices in Indianapolis and Carmel.
Better Concrete, Not the Cheapest Bid
We build for the long haul. Proper base prep, forms, joints and finishing cost a little more up front and save you a tear-out later.
Free Estimates, 0% Financing
An in-person consultation and estimate at no cost, plus 0% financing for 12 months, subject to credit approval.
Let’s Get Started
Add Color to Your Next Concrete Project
Golden Paw Concrete pours colored and stained concrete across Indianapolis and the surrounding towns, including Westfield, Noblesville, Carmel and Fortville. Call or text (317) 672-0966, or request a free estimate and bring your color ideas to the consultation.