Install Decorative Concrete In Your Home

Concrete is a great material to construct your floors with, either at home or in your office, because it is durable and can take a lot of wear and tear without becoming damaged or worn down like most tiles or carpet. However, when most people think of concrete, they think of the drab, gray, construction material. Decorative Concrete takes this industrial looking building material to the next level, making it completely fit for your home or office.

There are many different types of decorative concrete. You can transform the style, texture, pattern and design of concrete so that it suits your decoration scheme perfectly. Concrete can be manipulated in so many different ways that it can look like wood, tile, or marble, but it has the durability and strength of industrial concrete.

You will save so much money installing decorative concrete inside your home or office that you might even be able to use the excess money to engrave the entryway or parking lot. Stamping is one technique used to alter the texture of traditional concrete. You can have different styles, designs or shapes stamped into your freshly poured concrete to give it a unique and one-of-a-kind look. The concrete can even be manipulated to resemble cobblestone or brick flooring.

When using concrete outside of your home or office, simply stamping or engraving your concrete is sufficient. However, if installing concrete flooring indoors, it is a good idea to use some sort of dying process in order to give your concrete flooring a more homey feel. Dyes are best used on indoor flooring because when exposed to the Sun’s rays, the dye in concrete flooring can fade and become dull.

If you want to give your indoor concrete flooring a natural and varied look, opt for acid staining. This technique of staining your flooring is different than dying because the results vary from slab to slab. Each slab or tile has its own unique color, print, and pattern that look natural and casual as interior flooring. Like dying, this technique is best suited for indoor flooring, as outdoor elements such as rain and sun can cause damage to the color.

Water-based staining on your concrete flooring is another interesting alternative to acid staining and dying. The results of water-based staining are very similar to acid staining, but it generally results in an exaggerated translucence. Consulting with a professional at a company that specializes in decorating concrete will give you a good idea of what type of dying technique will produce the results you desire.

Concrete can be used for murals and walling, in addition to indoor and outdoor flooring. Whether you want a large mural in your office entryway or on the outside of your building or home, concrete can be stamped and printed to resemble a variety of designs and patters. A giant mold in the shape of whatever mural you want can be used to stamp concrete for large murals.

If you are interested in polished concrete, talk to a professional concrete layer before tearing up your existing concrete. There are ways that concrete design professionals can manipulate your preexisting concrete through engravings, to give it a stylish and decorative look. Through engravings, you can make your traditional concrete look like brick, cobblestone or tile flooring.

Looking for polished concrete or patio designs? Artevia specializes in patterned concrete and a wide range of backyard landscaping projects.