Understanding the Different Types of Concrete Finishes

Concrete floorings are cost effective and versatile, and hence a favorite among home owners and architects. You can either use them indoors as polished concrete floors, or outdoors as stamped concrete patios. With a little imagination and some planning, you can achieve as many different looks as you can imagine. Common types of concrete flooring finishes include: Colored concrete: Plain concrete can be made to look attractive with some colors. This is done by mixing a liquid color on the concrete. It is a simple one step process that is done by mixing the load and then dumped on the concrete mixer truck only to be cast as a single monolith block. Boring sidewalks and drive ways can be made to look attractive without burning a hole in your pocket. There are different types of coloring methods and each has their own uses; costs too vary accordingly. Stamped concrete: This is a better version of concrete flooring where impressions can be created on the concrete by using various tools. You can use this process to make real like impressions of natural stones and other floorings. European styled cobblestone pavements that would normally cost a lot can be done at less than half the cost. They are a popular choice for outdoor kitchens, and other such places such as patios, drive ways, and pool decks. Acid Stained Flooring: Different types of colors and acids can be mixed and matched to form natural stone like finish. These are very popular for both interior as well as exterior use. You can also use this method to get wood like finish. You can also opt for polished concrete floorings that compliment the acid stained flooring color and design. Concrete dyes: Dyes are different from acids in the sense that they do not react chemically with the concrete, yet impart color by penetrating into the porous surfaces. They also do not leave a lot of residue and hence are easy to clean up. You can either choose from water or solvent based types that are available in a wide variety of colors. But the only downside to this would be that they penetrate very easily into the cement; hence the workman would have very little margin for error. They’re also nearly as permanent as acid stained flooring. You can use them to create a wide variety of designs.