Concrete

Decorative concrete is decorative concrete’s application as a coating over precast or poured concrete to improve the decorative qualities of the concrete while performing its original purpose and function. Decorative concrete is also used in architecture to create decorative features that complement and enhance the external design of a structure. In architectural applications, decorative concrete is typically applied to build features that are normally placed on or behind structural steel columns, slabs, or other column-mounted elements. In residential applications, decorative concrete covers pavement cracks, decorative concrete additives can be used to prevent cracking caused by weather, vehicle traffic, or other causes.

Decorative Concrete Finishes

There are many decorative concrete finishes to choose from. Some of these decorative concrete finishes include decorative concrete oil-based sealers, decorative concrete acrylic finishes, decorative concrete polyurethane finishes, decorative concrete polished finishes, decorative concrete staining solutions, decorative concrete surface coatings, decorative concrete top coatings, decorative concrete surface coatings, decorative concrete stucco finishes, and decorative concrete varnish. These finishes can be mixed to create many different colours including colours that are similar to paint. For example, a cement-based decorative concrete varnish could be blue and could be used on stamped concrete floors. Other decorative concrete finishes are used in industrial applications to create decorative concrete surfacing that resembles stained glass, is made of decorative concrete resins, or is made of highly decorative concrete.

Textured decorative concrete consists of texture that either adds to or takes away from the decorative concrete’s original appearance. There are two main options to create textured concrete including wet concrete texture and textured wet concrete. Wet textured concrete has the texture of crushed gravel or crushed stone. A textured wet concrete floor has a coarse texture, while a textured wet concrete floor has a finer texture.

As a result of the texture, a decorative concrete project can have a variety of unique visual aspects. When starting a decorative concrete project, the decorative concrete contractor will have to decide if he or she wants to include a stained concrete coating over the surface after it is stained. This coating gives an old-world feel that can match other decorative concrete surfaces. The contractor also has the option to leave the coating off of the floor after it is stained. This gives a striking contrast to the more decorative texture that is already present. It also allows the decorative concrete to be left as-is for a longer time before having the stain added to it.

Tips

One thing to keep in mind about decorative concrete floors is that they are more expensive to install than stamped concrete floors. These decorative concrete floors installation costs can add up quickly. Also, decorative concrete floors are more difficult to work with because of their irregular textures. In this case, it may be best to hire a professional decorative concrete contractor to complete this part of a decorative concrete floor project.

Many decorative concrete projects include patios and decks. If you have a large area that you would like to use for a patio or deck, you should consider using decorative concrete to create a surface for your patio or deck. There are two primary options for creating a decorative concrete surface on a patio or deck: one is to use stamped concrete and the other is to use polished concrete. Stamped concrete can be used on small patios and small decks, but it is usually not recommended for use on larger patios and larger decks.

Stamped Concrete

Stamped concrete uses tiny particles of decorative concrete. These decorative concrete particles are imprinted with decorative concrete patterns using a stamp. Stamped concrete is applied to the surface of a small tabletop and then is allowed to dry. Once it is dry, the pattern is stamped into the tabletop. This process produces a large variety of decorative concrete designs that can be used on any size surface.

Polished concrete stains are designed to resemble stained glass. The decorative concrete stains can be anything from decorative stripes to decorative geometric patterns to patterns that imitate brick or stone. Many people choose to use polished concrete stains because the patterns do not need to be sealed. Polished stains can be cleaned simply by using a mild detergent and water to clean the stains and then wiping them away. This allows homeowners to choose patterns and colours that will not harm the polished concrete surface.