Six Concrete Trends Wichita Homeowners Are Choosing in 2026

Concrete used to be the gray slab nobody thought about. In 2026 it's one of the first things homeowners ask about when they plan a patio, driveway or backyard upgrade. The material is the same strong, affordable workhorse it has always been. What changed is how it looks.

Here are six styles New Image Roofing & Construction and its concrete team at Concrete Amigos see Wichita-area homeowners choosing this year, and what each one means for a home in Kansas weather.

1. Stamped concrete that passes for natural stone

Stamped concrete is having a big year. Homeowners want the look of slate, flagstone or cut stone without the cost and upkeep of individual pavers. Designers and landscapers are recommending stamped patios as the affordable alternative to pavers in 2026, and the patterns keep getting more realistic.

The pattern to watch is large-format stone. Big ashlar slate and flagstone shapes make a patio feel wider and calmer. A single slab also means no paver joints for weeds to push through and no pieces that heave and shift over time.

2. Wood-plank patterns for a warm, natural look

Wood-look stamps give you the warmth of a deck with none of the sanding, staining or splinters. Plank patterns pair especially well with covered patios and pergolas, and they help a backyard feel connected to nature, one of the strongest design themes builders are reporting for 2026.

3. Exposed aggregate and textured finishes

Exposed aggregate removes the top layer of cement paste to reveal the stones mixed into the concrete. The result is a natural, pebbled surface that hides dirt well and gives your feet something to grip.

Texture is a theme across outdoor design right now. Brushed, honed and tumbled finishes feel better underfoot and look more custom than a plain trowel finish. In a state where a driveway can go from wet to icy overnight, slip resistance is a real benefit.

4. The patio as an outdoor room

A patio used to be a slab for a grill and two chairs. Now homeowners plan it like a room, with separate zones for cooking, dining and lounging. Concrete makes zoning easy. A change in pattern, a scored line or a colored border can mark where the kitchen ends and the fire pit area begins, all in one pour.

Planning a pergola or patio cover? Think about the slab and the structure together. Footings, drainage and slope are much easier to get right when they're planned at the same time.

5. Indoor-outdoor flow

Large sliding and folding doors are blurring the line between the living room and the backyard, and homeowners want the floor to feel continuous from inside to out. Polished concrete is a popular way to get that look indoors, in sunrooms, basements, garages and shops.

Outside, the New Image team steers Kansas homeowners toward a finish with the same clean look and more grip. A very smooth, hard-troweled surface can get slick when wet and is more prone to winter scaling outdoors. A light broom, float or textured finish with a good sealer gives you the modern look and holds up to freeze-thaw winters.

6. Mixed materials and bold borders

Concrete doesn't have to stand alone. Homeowners are pairing slabs with gravel bands, strips of turf, natural stone accents or planting beds. A contrasting border frames a patio or driveway the way a mat frames a picture. These combinations look custom and can cost far less than an all-paver design.

What these trends mean in Kansas

Every one of these styles can work here. The key is building it for our climate. Exterior concrete in Kansas should be air-entrained, which means the mix holds millions of tiny air pockets that give freezing water room to expand. It should also be finished and cured properly and sealed to keep out water and deicing salts.

That's where an experienced local crew makes the difference. The look gets the compliments. The mix, the base and the finishing decide whether it still looks good after ten winters.

See what your space could become

New Image Roofing & Construction and Concrete Amigos build patios, driveways, walkways and decorative concrete across Wichita and the surrounding area. Request a free estimate from New Image at 316.201.1180, or reach Concrete Amigos directly at 316-241-2707.

Top photo: Tawhid Sadman, CC0, via the WordPress Photo Directory.