Concrete Finish may be defined as a final surface finish work applied to a Concrete surface after it has been poured and hardened.
The types of concrete finishes depend upon the concrete so, first know about concrete.
Concrete is a composite material that is composed of a mixture of fine and coarse aggregates bonded together with biding material which hardens over time. The binding material mostly includes fluid cement paste, lime putty, lime, etc.
In other words, when water is added to a mixture of cement, and fine and coarse aggregates, a workable paste is formed which hardens with time. The such paste is known as concrete.
The binding material such as cement reacts with the water and other constituents to form a hard matrix that binds the materials together into a durable stone-like material that has many uses. Concrete is a type of construction material used all over the world. It is often said that the present age is a concrete age.
1. Types Of Concrete Finishes
There are various types of concrete finishes that are available in market. The Concrete wall finishing Techniques which are used are as follows:
a. Float and Troweled Finish
b. Broom Finish Salt Concrete finish
c. Stamped Concrete Finish
d. Salt Concrete Finish
e. Exposed Aggregate Finish
f. Polished concrete
g. Swirl Finish
h. Colored finish concrete
i. Concrete Stain
j. Pigment
a. Float and Troweled Finish
Concrete finishers employ trowels to have a smooth and fine-level the concrete surface of the concrete after it has been tooled with a screed. This can be performed by employing either manual or mechanical methods.
Power trowels are known and are normally used on big commercial and industrial projects when manual trowels are unworkable. The blades of power trowels possess big fans, and they hold directly against the concrete.
b. Broom Finish Concrete
Broom finish concrete is also famous as brushed concrete. In this type of concrete finishing, the broom is employed to make the sleep-resistance surface of the concrete.
Broom finishes surface is majorly employed because it gives high traction surface and more durability. The broom finish surface is slip-resistant and very cheap to build.
Broom finish concrete surface is employed around the swimming pool region because it delivers a non-slip surface which is very essential from the POV of safety. Generally for driveways broom finish surface is one of the best types of concrete finishes.
The broom-finished concrete surface does not provide a decorative and aesthetic view. In the broom finish surface, use the Broom in the direction of the slope which will help to quickly drain off water from the surface.
c. Stamped Concrete Finish
The stamped concrete finish is acquired by pushing the needed patterns on the freshly leveled concrete.
This type of concrete finish after the finish of their construction peeks exactly to stones such as slates or flagstones, brick, and tile, or with the appropriate skill they can peek exactly to wood.
Strategy for Stamped Concrete Finish
The stages concerned in the installation of stamped concrete are a little diverse from other concrete procedures that are mentioned below:
Step 1: Addition of Base Color
Step 2: Addition of Accent Colors
Step 3: Stamping Patterns over the Concrete Surface
The finish of these steps will give the stamped concrete with appropriate color and shape. The final shape that is conveyed will be similar to that of natural building material.
This material is durable when compared with paved stone and will resemble natural rock.
d. Salt Concrete Finish
The salt finish concrete is an easy and cheap way to decorate floors which provides a mindblowing aesthetic beauty.
It’s done by pushing coarse rock salt into the surface of fresh concrete, permitting the concrete to be set, washing the salt away with a stream of water, and then applying sealant after drying the concrete.
Salt finish concrete is smooth and broom-finished concrete and also slip-resistant which makes it a better and ideal material for a pool deck.
Not only does it permit people to get around safely, but also helps objects like food carts, vehicles, and others to get around easier as well.
It is very necessary to seal the salt concrete with a sealant (acrylic or siliceous).
Salt Finish Concrete is majorly used in the Swimming pool area, Garden, House Backyard, and also in Parking Area.
e. Exposed Aggregate Finish
Washing the top layer of concrete away uncovers the edges of the natural stone aggregates kept into the concrete, making an uncovered finish that was commonly used in sidewalks. This outcome is in a visually attractive and slip-resistant layer.
Other materials can be kept in the mix in addition to the standard concrete materials (cement, sand, gravel, and water) to provide exposed concrete finishing with a special appearance.
Rose quartz, limestone, dark grey or black basalt, red or blue granite, tinted glass, and even seashells are instances.
Iron-containing materials should be neglected as they can discolor concrete.
f. Polished Concrete
The polished concrete surface is constructed by the method of grinding and polishing. The polished concrete surfaces are highly long-lasting and need less maintenance.
The polished concrete is prepared with the use of existing building materials and it allows to enhance the natural lighting of the buildings because it contains high reflectivity which helps to preserve energy by decreasing artificial lighting.
The polished concrete surface is majorly employed in warehouses, retail offices, buildings private residences and hotels, etc.
The polished concrete surface looks like a smooth surface of glass which is entirely safe for walking.
g. Swirl Finish
Swirl finish is one of the most unique types of concrete finish that is prepared by smearing the concrete surface in a constantly overlapping circular pattern.
It delivers an aesthetically pleasing impression to the concrete surface which is preferred for outdoor applications because not only does it puts beauty to the surface, but it also delivers a safer walk and stand in comparison with smooth surface finish, particularly during the rainy season.
h. Colored Finish Concrete
The colored finish of the concrete is completed through mix-added pigments or post-cure staining to give a pleasing look to correspond to the nearby environment.
The colored finish on a concrete surface can be performed by either pigment or strains. The pigmented-colored concrete can be achieved by adding the pigments instantly to the concrete mix prior to flowing.
The strained colored concrete can be fetched by laying stains to the concrete of any age to get a more vibrant colored finish. The application of stain is normally followed up with the installation of a seal over the concrete to cover the surface.
i. Concrete Stain
The concrete used in daily life can change its color with the employ of different staining agents. The employ of acid as a staining agent is a regular practice.
Colors are usually limited to neon-bright, somewhat delicate tones, similar to concrete pigments.
Water-based (acrylic) staining can be employed to make a considerably more comprehensive range of colors, containing black and white.
Stains can be used for any age of concrete, although the colors are majorly more intense if the stain is used soon after the concrete has been applied.
The use of stain is usually tracked by the use of a sealant to cover the concrete surface.
j. Pigments Finishes
Employing pigments to color concrete is a short procedure that contains mixing the pigments directly into the concrete mix before flowing. Pigments are supplied in liquid form or as dissolvable packets that are “ready to mix.”
In both cases, the pigments used are mixed with the other concrete materials in the mixer. The spectrum of colors obtainable is usually restricted to “earthy” browns and tans, however, greens, blues, and greys are also available.
It’s critical to protect pigmented concrete sufficiently sealed throughout its lifespan to neglect water infiltration, which can fade the pigment.
This was for the types of concrete finishes.
5. References1. Content Filter & Authenticity Checking Team, Dream Civil International (Our team checks every content & detail to maintain quality.) |
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