When it comes to selecting the concrete finish, people get so much confused about which one is best to use. If we talk about the concrete finish, we mean how the surface of the concrete looks and feels after it’s been poured and set. Concrete is a flexible building material widely used worldwide for various construction purposes.
As per the research of IBISWorld 2023, the concrete contractor industry employs 320,052 people in the US. From that, 96.2% of concrete finishers are men, and 3.8% of concrete finishers are women.
The choice of concrete finish types depends on how the concrete will be used, how you want it to look, and your budget. Before digging deeply into Decorative Concrete Solutions, first, let’s look at what actually concrete finishes are.
What Are Concrete Finishes?
Homes are about to be overturned because cement finishes are smooth surfaces created using tools like screeds and trowels. Concrete finishes are achieved by using a screed to level out the surfaces. Do you know concrete comprises three main things: Portland cement, aggregate ( rocks or sand), and water?
When you mix these three components, the cement and water create a paste that coats the aggregate. This paste solidifies through hydration, which makes the mixture solid and sturdy, turning it into concrete.
Using the correct proportions of these three components is essential to make strong concrete. Water is the easiest and simplest component, and you can use it broadly. Adding more water to the blend makes the mixture more liquid or fluid. Here, come with us to see the various concrete finish options with their advantages.
Different Types of Concrete Finishes
Hopefully, you understand the basic concepts of concrete finishes. Now it’s time to explore the different methods to install them in your structure. Below are some of the most adopted types of concrete finishes.
Rock Salt Finish
To create a specific texture on fresh concrete, salt crystals, ranging from 1/8″ to 3/8″ in size, are scattered over the surface. Then a roller is used above the crystals to push them into the concrete. Afterward, the surface is washed, causing the salt to dissolve and leave behind small holes.
Stained Concrete
For concrete styles, staining is a trendy way to make concrete floors look better in both commercial and residential settings. It can be used on new or existing floors, as well as on concrete overlays. Using different colors, stained concrete can resemble marble, leather, natural stone, or even wood, providing a variety of attractive finishes.
Stamped Concrete
Here’s another concrete finishes types, stamped concrete, also known as textured or imprinted concrete. This particular type of concrete finish is made to look like other materials such as bricks, natural stone like slate or flagstone, tiles, and even wood. To enhance the stamped pattern, the color hardener is often used to add a look to the concrete.
Exposed Aggregate
To create an exposed aggregate surface, pour the concrete and remove the top layer of cement paste. This reveals the coarse decorative aggregate beneath, which gives the surface a unique look. The most useful decorative aggregate is colorful natural stones like basalts, granite, quartz, or limestone.
Broom Finish
Concrete finish types are durable and visually appealing. When we look at the broom-finished concrete, it has either a smooth or rough texture, depending on the type of bristles on the broom used. It may not be the most fancy-looking finish, but it serves an essential purpose: providing a non-slip surface.
Stenciled Concrete
To upgrade the look of your concrete flooring, look at the stenciling concrete because it offers a flexible design option similar to decorative stamping. It can be an excellent alternative for adding patterns and designs to your concrete surface. Stencils are often used together with staining or resurfacing techniques.
Float & Trowel Finishes
In terms of types of concrete finishes, you can make patterns on concrete, like swirls or arcs of different sizes. The texture of the concrete can be rough, medium, or smooth, depending on the tool used. Wood floats create rough textures, while aluminum floats or steel trowels create medium or smooth finishes.
Colored Finish
If you want to elevate your space with Decorative Concrete Solutions. Go with the colored finish! Concrete can be colored in different ways, but two popular options are more complex and integral colors, especially for outdoor applications. Before pouring, integral color is added to the concrete mix and color hardener is brushed onto placed concrete and pressed into the surface.
Epoxy Coatings
Epoxy concrete from concrete finish options is people’s favorite choice. They are commonly used in various settings, such as auto shops, restaurants, salons, and retail stores. You can customize the coating by adding metallic pigments, decorative chips, or creating a mosaic-like terrazzo effect.
Polished Concrete
You’ll see a diverse range of polished concrete. It involves grinding the concrete surface to achieve a glossy finish. As polished concrete is more beneficial than other floor coverings, many homes, businesses, big-box stores, and educational and medical facilities favor it.
On a Final Note
As you see, there are a lot of cement finishes, including smoothing it out, adding texture, or giving it color. It will assist you in making your concrete surfaces look more attractive. Considering your preferences and needs, you can select the best finish for your project.
On the other hand, your one-stop shop for all decorative concrete needs is polish concrete floors in Austin Texas. Here, we are a leading provider of concrete solutions that are both durable and visually appealing.
So, don’t get stressed too much; just get the high-quality concrete finish and give your home a fresh appearance.
FAQs
What types of finishes are there for concrete?
Different types of finishes include salt finish, trowled finish, broom finish, stamped concrete finish, polished finish, swirl finish, colored finish, and many more. So, choose whatever suits your requirements and budget.
Which concrete finish is best?
Epoxy is a highly durable concrete style that can be used to fill cracks and level surfaces. It also comes in different colors, allowing you to create unique shades and designs on your floor. With epoxy, even a concrete floor can be made to look attractive.
What are the different types of concrete finishes for driveways?
You’ll see here so many concrete finishes types, including slate impression concrete, cut concrete, imprint concrete, textured, stencil concrete, concrete panels with block edges, regular brush finish concrete, and so on.
What are F1 and F2 concrete finishes?
The six classifications (F1 to F6) categorize different levels of formed finish for concrete. Basically, F1 & F2 is a rough finish. They include hidden surfaces like foundations or underwater dam faces (F1), plaster surfaces (F2), and exposed surfaces seen from a distance.
