The versatility of concrete has always made it a widely used building material. Not only is it extremely durable, but it is also cost-effective and often easy to customize. For exterior spaces such as patios and concrete driveways, it is common to have traditional concrete slabs.
On the other hand, Decorative concrete can be used to create an impressive and unique look for your outdoor space. If you want to improve the aesthetic value of your outdoor spaces, you can use decorative concrete to create texture, functionality, and style.
The stamped concrete in Molalla OR can be infused with special ingredients to create a decorative look before it’s poured. In the same way,0. adding decorative layers to high-quality ready mix concrete that has already cured will yield similar results. Below you will find some decorative concrete finishing options that are popular today.
What are the 4 types of decorative concrete?
Integral Coloring
To give concrete a corresponding look to the surrounding architecture. This can be accomplished by adding pigments to the ready-mix and aggregating after it has cured.
An attractive finish is produced by mixing pigments by Oregonians with a high-quality mix or staining the concrete after it has cured to produce a color that matches the surrounding environment.
Using colored pigments or stains on concrete surfaces can give it a colored finish. In order to create colored concrete with pigments, just mix the pigment directly into the concrete mix prior to pouring.
In addition to stains, concrete can also be colored by sanding to produce a more intense finish, resulting in the appearance of stressed-colored concrete. A sealant is usually applied after applying the stain to protect the concrete surface.
Concrete Texture
The concrete surface can also be finished with a wide range of texture options. Often, the aggregates are exposed through sandblasting, chemical applications, and many other methods. Troweling can also be used to create textures that mimic natural materials such as slate and wood. The texture of the surface often helps the concrete to resist slippage with the right established concrete ready mix.
Staining
The color of concrete can be modified by using different staining agents. It is common practice to use acid as a staining agent. The colors are usually restricted to neon-bright, delicate shades, which are comparable to concrete pigments.
The water-based (acrylic) staining is utilized to create a larger range of colors, including white and black. The stain can be used on any type of concrete. However, the hues are typically more vivid when it is applied shortly after the concrete is laid. The stain’s application is usually preceded by the application of the sealant by concrete contractors in order to safeguard the concrete surface.
Stamping
Overlays made from stamped concrete or stamped concrete overlays are effective means to create an eye-catching decorative finish on your concrete surfaces. These are a perfect choice if you have a concrete slab that already exists. No demolition is necessary. In a process called stamping, instead of a thick concrete topcoat, a thin overlay will be applied to the concrete slab.
The stamped concrete will not disturb the original slab, which makes stamping a cost-effective method. There are unlimited possibilities regarding the final texture or finish of stamped overlays.
Tips for selecting the right finishing option
You can use decorative concrete for both indoor and outdoor projects, such as floors and countertops, driveways, sidewalks, and patios. The architectural design and color scheme of the property may guide the match of decorative concrete to its overall appearance.
Decorative concrete can generally last a lifetime with the right sealers, although stamped surfaces may last longer than exposed aggregates when durability is a concern. It’s ideal for residential and commercial floors to use concrete that’s completely colored and receptive to polishing.
A decorative concrete project’s cost varies depending on how much hand-finishing needs to be done. This includes finishing work such as trowelling or scoring by hand. The cost of additional steps like polishing is also affected by this.
Conclusion
The most popular building material on the planet might be concrete, but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could keep these techniques in mind as you work on your next installation for stamped concrete patio in Wilsonville OR or a concrete repair project? Northwest Concrete Design has an experienced team that can provide you with any further information you require on concrete maintenance and repair. Call us to fix an appointment.
