Concrete Floor Finishes

Concrete is well known for its durability and affordability when it comes to using it in different areas including floors, walls, drive ways, patios and side walks. Concrete floors are commonly found in residential areas where the floor in the interior is covered with carpets and other flooring materials including vinyl. For outdoor purposes, slate, brick or granite are used as concrete floor finishes.

Nowadays people are taking the alternative of decorating their floors instead of covering them. These decorations are referred to as concrete floor finishes. The floors are treated with colorants to bring out an appealing pattern of textures and hues. Concrete floor finishes are beautiful and at the same time affordable. High quality and decorative concrete floor finishes are applicable on new and existing slabs.

The finish being durable lasts for a lifetime and is easy to clean and maintain. There are various effects, which one can apply. The treatment can be made simple to match the rest of the building only or the adjacent landscape. If you opt for the look of nature, then you can make patterns identical to slate or granite. You can also pattern your concrete floor so that certain words are made on it.

Some types of concrete floor finishes include the following. One of the most common is chemical staining, which involves reacting stains with the floor surface to create colorful designs. However, the results may be spoilt due to weathering or exposure to other chemicals. With the help of skilled artisans, you can make patterns using inert materials. Another type of concrete floor finish is the integral colored concrete. The colorant in this case is added to the concrete during mixing to give it a uniform color.

For natural concrete floor finishes, a method called concrete stamping is appropriate where the material is pressed into the fresh concrete surface. Grout can be incorporated to grooves for a more appealing appearance. Imprinting tools can be bought from manufactures who will offer a range of patterns. The other type of finish is the colored hardeners, which come in powder form. The material is broadcast onto freshly placed concrete. The colorant is usually concentrated on the top surfaces and therefore the hues are more intense.

Colored liquid or powdered materials are applied by use of the pattern stamps mainly to reduce friction and enable removal from the concrete. You should note that the pigments will not penetrate the concrete and should be protected using a sealer. You can also use thin cementations materials that spread out through the floor and increase the thickness by approximately one inch.

Some concrete floor finishes are dual functional. This is to mean that the material in use will be a colorant and at the same time function as a sealer. They will make your floor beautiful and at the same time make it water proof. However, depending on the usage of the floor, sealers are prone to get damaged and must always be renewed.