There is nothing that says home like a welcoming entryway or stoop. It is the focal point of a home and one of the first things you see when you pull into the driveway every evening, so it should be well-designed and add to the curb appeal of your house. It should also be able to blend flawlessly with your existing driveway, to save you time and money. Is such a thing even possible?
What Is a Stoop?
The word “stoop” comes from the Dutch word stoep. Stoops are a staircase style (or entryway) made of cement that was traditionally popular in Dutch architecture. Colonists from The Netherlands settled in New York in the 1600s, and they began to build rows and rows of houses called brownstones and tenements.
Initially, the Dutch constructed their stoops to keep their parlors safe from floodwaters, but that was not an issue in cities like New York, so stoop sitting became an outdoor culture of its own.
They also afforded the servants a helpful way to slip inside the house away from the main entrance. People kept their stoops swept daily, and children played on the home’s stoop. It was a central point of many homes.
Eventually, stoops faded in prominence in the 1920s until they experienced a resurgence in the 1950s-60s, where they have remained a significant part of family homes to this day.
Why Concrete?
Concrete is a sturdy material that is more economical when compared to steel, polymers, or other construction materials. concrete is composed primarily of cement, water, and aggregates. It is malleable and can be cast into many shapes where it will harden at ambient temperature. Cleaning and caring for it is also a breeze and can be very cost-efficient. In effect, it is the perfect material for your eye-catching stoop.
Concrete is also seriously sustainable. Many different industrial wastes can be recycled in concrete or used as an aggregate, meaning that concrete can minimize industrial waste’s environmental impacts and improve the concrete.
Now, you understand that concrete is a hardworking, cost-effective material. However, you may be wondering how to blend your stoop with your current driveway so the stoop does not stand out like a sore thumb. The answer is that it can. There are many ways to unite your new stoop with your driveway. Here are five stoop ideas and styles that will ensure the two fit:
1. Inviting Concrete Walkways
Every great stoop begins with a walkway that leads guests from your driveway to your stoop in style. Stamped or stenciled patterns, engraving, exposed-aggregates, colored concrete, and concrete staining are a handful of ways you can enrich your walkway plans. To give your entry even more pizzazz, you can flare or widen the concrete path adding visual allure.
2. Dress up Those Steps
Many people think of concrete as a cold and ascetic material. Still, there are many ways that you can embellish it with textures, stamping, or staining to coordinate matching or contrasting colors. A dramatic stoop can be a stunning focal point of your home.
3. Complement Your Driveway’s Color
Concrete is versatile and can imitate almost any material, color, or pattern. That means that you can easily create an entryway that melds with and complements your driveway. It could also draw out another distinct aspect of your home’s architecture or color palette if you decide. That is the beauty and ease of working with concrete.
4. Choose an Attractive Pattern
There are so many concrete stamp patterns to choose from for your entryway. You can select anything ranging from slate, to brick, to cobblestone to even botanical. Today’s concrete stamping mats are molded from the same materials they are meant to represent. Because of that, they deliver very realistic results. You can extend the concrete’s pattern along the path from your driveway to the stoop, creating an impressive effect.
5. Elegant Curved Edges
Deviation from a sharp 90-degree angle can be an enjoyable way to add a touch of interest to your stoop. The idea is to craft a path with charmingly curved edges, and it will become the perfect way to merge your driveway with your stoop.
6. Engravings for a Natural Look
Engraving concrete a stoop lends an element of realism that, when stained, can look like natural stone. The best part is that the look is classy, and the upkeep is minimal.
7. Expose the Aggregate
Aggregates are generally considered inert filler within a concrete mix, but you can see the aggregate plays’ critical role upon closer look. It is often more economical. There is also less water content, reducing the potential for shrinkage and cracking. Exposed aggregate also contrasts beautifully with plain concrete or other ornamental treatments such as stamping and staining. Aggregate can add a pop of color or texture to your concrete.
Your Partner in Concrete
There are many choices when it comes to design the stoop of your dreams. Richfield Concrete is here to answer all your questions. We have been in Twin Cities Metro Area since 1954, and we’ve helped thousands of customers with miles of concrete paving in the area. We are inordinately proud of the work we have done. Call us today or contact Richfield Concrete online to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation and estimate.