Decorative concrete
Concrete is the main building material used in modern construction. Concrete takes the compression stresses developed in the structure. Steel takes the tension and together they form the most enduring, durable and desirable building material of all times .
Concrete steps
Earlier, stone was the prime building material used for ages. But with the invention of concrete, height could be achieved. It also reduced the wall thickness, thus enabling more usable floor area .
Till now, concrete was used only inside the structure. Plaster was applied to it and then paint. With further development in technology, we have now got decorative concrete as a boon .
When concrete is used in those areas of the building where it is used not strictly as a building material, but also for aesthetics, it is called as decorative concrete . It plays the role of those members which do not strictly relate to its functional elements.
Decorative concrete is used for decorative walls, floors, countertops etc . For application of this, various supporting products like stains, conditioners, hardeners etc . are used. They are mixed into regular concrete and applied to places designed for them.
Some of them are as follows
Countertops : Decorative concrete is used for countertops of tables, sinks, seating platforms etc.There is a wide range of variety to choose from which enables us to match the color as well as the design with the rest of the furniture and furnishings .
Overlays : Polymer overlays are used in the driveway or parking area, porch etc . It is nothing but a combination of cement, various aggregates and proprietary hybrid polymer resins . These increase the performance characteristics and versatility and make it as thin as a single sand grain layer .
Stamped concrete : In this process, three dimensional patterns are impressed into colored concrete with special stamping tools . After the stamping is complete, the product is then sealed; highlighting the colors and providing greater stain and weather resistance . Brick, granite, cobblestone, granite etc. are the patterns available for choice.
Stained concrete : The desired color of floor can be achieved by the use of stained concrete . Acid staining is a coloring process involving chemical reaction on a cementitious material . It can be applicable to most floors. One can thus enhance the feel of the volume of room by using stained concrete of the color coordinated with the color of the walls . This can be applied to a large sized living room, patio, walkways, verandah etc . Usually earthen colors like browns, reddish browns and greens look nice .
Stenciling is another way of making decorative use of concrete. Heavy duty paper stencils are prepared and patterns are created on freshly poured concrete . Hardener is then applied. The procedure is completed by application of a sealer.
The cost of all these procedures is not at all less then other materials, but can be safely called as cost effective, since no cladding or tiles are required and the desired aesthetic result is achieved by a string material .
Bringing it home
Thus, Decorative concrete is certainly a beautiful material to use in your home, especially if it is a farmhouse or a home set in a rustic background .
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