Product Review - Going Beyond Basic Concrete
Why do we love innovative concrete finishes? Concrete is a durable and affordable finish for many parts of the home. Whether you have a concrete patio, concrete floors in your first floor, or just a slab in your garage, all homes need a little concrete. But there’s no reason you should be stuck with basic broom or trowel finishes! Here we explore some unique and fun ways to make your concrete shine!
Polished concrete is a popular floor finish for its durability and easy maintenance. Under normal household conditions, sealed polished floors will last up to 10 years before needing resealing, making them an affordable and long-lasting option. If your home has exceptionally heavy traffic, you may wish to consider mechanically polished concrete. Mechanically polished concrete uses a densifying technique to harden the concrete, before polishing it via abrasion. This process is more wear-resistant than a seal coat that can be worn away by traffic, but is much more labor intensive.
One major attraction of polished concrete floors is its unique finish that shows the natural variation of the concrete itself. Minor differences in aggregate and other factors cause concrete to have slight variations in tone as it is poured, similar to a natural stone product. For new home build, take advantage of integral color mixes and specialty aggregates to customize the color and pattern of the concrete itself. For an existing home, try revitalizing old concrete using an acid stain and a sealant coat to give aged concrete new color and a polish!
If you have a classic car, or do lots of maintenance on your own vehicles, using densified concrete slabs in the garage is a great choice! Densification uses a silicate solution that is applied to a ground concrete surface. The silicate bonds to calcium compounds in the concrete, closing pores and creating a dense, durable surface. Then the surface is sealed to prevent oils from seeping into it. Densified concrete is highly resistant to wear, even under heavy vehicle traffic.
Via AJH Custom Homes, Designed by Cutler Anderson Architects
If you’re looking for textured floors, acid etching is a great option that produces a low profile texture without sacrificing traction. Acid etching uses a uniform layer of acid to abrade the smooth face of a troweled concrete slab. This chemical abrasion opens up the pores of the concrete and creates a uniform, fine texture. Etching is ideal for applications with high traffic or potential for dampness, where the slight texture can provide safety against slipping on damp concrete. The texture created by acid etching is much more subtle than a traditional broom finish, but still provides grip and traction!
More bold textures can be achieved with patterned concrete, using a variety of forms and stamps to achieve the look of stone, wood, and more. Whether you utilize textured concrete in a unique walkway, a patio, or perhaps to add visual detail to a poured concrete wall, there is a wealth of options for pattern and texture. Paired with an integral color mix, the results can be quite stunning!
Concrete may be versatile, but it doesn’t have to be utilitarian! Bring a little detail into your home with some of these tips today!