Any suggestions besides tiling and decking over the top that will improve the front entrance?
Hi @Diana06,
The concrete steps actually look like they could come up quite nicely without needing to tile or deck over them.
I'd start by giving the whole area a good clean with a pressure washer. This should remove the built-up dirt and grime and give you a much better idea of the condition of the concrete underneath.
Once clean and dry, I'd address the small areas of concrete that are flaking away around the base. Remove any remaining loose or crumbling material and patch the damaged areas with a suitable concrete repair mortar such as this https://www.bunnings.com.au/dingo-10kg-structural-mortar-repair-bag_p0363480 . After removing the flaking pieces of concrete and brushed the damaged area down to remove any dust, then apply a concrete primer such as BondCrete. You can then mix your repair mortar and press it into place and smooth it using a trowel. This https://www.bunnings.com.au/craftright-150mm-pointing-trowel_p0924471 would likely be a good choice for this kind of repair.
Once your repair has cured, you could apply an exterior concrete and paving paint to give the whole entrance a fresh, uniform appearance. Check out https://www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/diy-skills/painting/how-to-paint-concrete-floors for some guidance.
I'd also give the surrounding garden beds and edges a tidy-up at the same time. Some fresh mulch and neatly defined edging alongside freshly painted steps could make quite a substantial difference without requiring a major renovation.
Allow me to tag some helpful members to see if they have any ideas @prettyliving, @OurPretty_LittleHome, @Dave-1, @TedBear, @Codey.
Let me know what you think.
Jacob
Good Evening @Diana06
I am not a fan of tiling outside surfaces :) Not that you shouldn't but my head shy's away from things like slipperiness and not being able to change the look down the track easily. Clean it up as @JacobZ has suggested would be a good start.
I am thinking of something for the walls either side of the front door, it looks newly done so maybe something framed in a light grey, a mirror or artwork of some kind, something to brighten the red bricks and door. I was thinking maybe an outside mirror with a grey edge, or maybe vertical slats, Slats one side and mirror the other? The last suggestion would be to get a different light other than standard (taking a guess here :) ) a warm light coloring would soften the area.
Instead of a handrail, maybe some hedge style shrubs would be an idea to plant, something to give an edge without it being solid.
Dave
