If you stick with concrete, consider letting your concrete professional stamp a pattern in specially-colored cement to give the illusion of brick pavers or another surface. A grid stamps a pattern into hot asphalt, then a colored epoxy paint serves as a seal. Voila!

Stamped concrete can be designed to resemble brick, slate, tile and even wood. Stamped concrete can be used to beautify pool decks, driveways, and all other outdoor surfaces. Due to the wide array of pattern options, stamped concrete is becoming increasingly popular. Stamped concrete provides the perfect canvas for creating an affordable replica of more expensive materials, and yet still maintaining an authentic look. With an impenetrable sealed surface that protects against the elements, stamped concrete usually costs 30 to 50% less than slate or tile.