Different Decorative Effects You Can Do With Concrete Flooring
This article will highlight a few of the different options that are available on the market today.
Staining is the most common technique applied to concrete flooring, acid stains are directly applied to the floor to produce deep rich colours.
The concrete also has varying degrees of absorbency with the acid giving the floor a marble effect that can look striking.
If you prefer a uniform colour across your floor with no pattern you can apply an acrylic, or water, based stain which will cover the surface completely.
You can also use stencils in conjunction with stains to produce beautiful, intricate designs that will permanently remain in the floor and will not need re-doing.
With stencils the world really is your oyster and you can get quite adventurous with the design you want in your flooring.
As well as artistic designs you can also stamp the wet concrete to add texture to your flooring.
This is particularly advantageous for patios floors and driveways where the texture can also add grip to otherwise wet and slippy surfaces.
You can also add colour to textured floors quite easily either by using a pre-mix colour or by applying a colour release powder to the wet concrete.
Once the concrete has set any remnants of the colouring powder are swept away leaving a beautiful coloured floor.
Aggregates can also be added to the concrete that will absorb different amount of stains and dyes.
When these are polished the floor will take on a unique pattern that will intensify the colours of the floor.
In the past, concrete floors were mainly used in factories, showrooms, schools and offices but due to the effects that can be achieved using dyes and stains, it's becoming more popular in modern houses.
Polished floors also have a number of advantages making them a green, affordable and practical solution for housing and apartments.
They are also beneficial for people with allergies as dust is easily swept away.
Using stencils, you can produce beautiful borders for you floors or even embed your company's logo with your office reception.
Concrete is also a practical solution for kitchens and bathroom where they are easily cleaned and are resistant to water.
They are also extremely popular in countries with warmer climates as the concrete floor remains cool during the midday heat.