Concrete surfacing: Stylishly affordable flooring

Traditionally when speaking about flooring, the standard options were using hardwood, ceramic tiles or concrete. Concrete was usually a reluctant choice as it was bland and without character. Although the least expensive of the three options, concrete flooring was found mostly in large commercial spaces and would hardly ever be considered for use as flooring in a home. Since that time however, concrete flooring has been given a new lease of life by technology and advances in the types and variations of concrete use. Today, stylish concrete flooring can be created in a variety of colors and textures that are spellbinding.

Amongst the methods available for concrete surfacing includes staining. Quickly gaining popularity, this method is popular in the use of commercial spaces and by specialist designers. The end product is a colorful and textured surface that is not easily recognizable as concrete. The latest trend here is to create a play of colors on the floor that result in a polished finish that can either be plain or textured. Best used on large floor areas for effect, they are durable and can withstand high traffic volumes without damaging or fading.

The risk to using this method is the quality of the staining process and the fact that with staining, there can be no guarantee about the exact color or effect. Factors like the quality of sand or gravel used in the concrete structure can affect the staining as can any adhesive mixtures that are used. Therefore if you are planning to use this as a method of creating a polished concrete floor, be prepared to be surprised and try not to be too much of a stickler for detail. At the very least, it will be interesting.

Sand blasting is another popular method although this should only be used on fully cured concrete. Using sand blasting, it is possible to create a pattern or logo or even design on the flooring and staining can be done to enhance the effect. Using stencils that are cut outs of the intended design to be used, this can be done to a one-off section of the concrete, or repeats of the same design may be inlaid throughout the flooring. Once this is completed, the concrete needs to be polished using high quality epoxy or concrete sealant in order to ensure that it lasts and lasts.

Such a job is painstaking and should be done by a professional for best effect. It can also be time consuming depending on how much sand blasting is required and is definitely not a DIY job even for the best of them. There are a variety of other methods available for concrete surfacing and it simply depends on your budget, levels of creativity and purpose. Actually less popular in homes, it is more common to find this kind of flooring used is large commercial spaces where the impact is the greatest and the need for durable, versatile and polished finishes is more meaningful.

A great recommendation is www.rocksolidsurfacing.com which is a great concrete contractor that offers a range of services including concrete surfacing. Don’t miss out on the best in town!