Decorative concrete products penetrate the surface, so they are often permanent. As a result, you may need to hire a professional to do this job rather than do it yourself, particularly if you're not experienced.
In order to achieve your desired color, experienced contractors can adequately blend stains. In addition to this, some stains contain corrosive ingredients that should be avoided when staining concrete yourself. Attempting to work with these products without the proper protection can cause eye and skin irritation.
Is Decorative Concrete Flooring Right for You?
There are many advantages and very few drawbacks to choosing decorative concrete flooring. No matter whether you are considering them for your home, business, workshop, or other type of space. In most cases, concrete flooring is durable, long-lasting, and able to hold up to a lot of wear and tear without deteriorating.
Some people may worry that decorative concrete floors lack aesthetic appeal, especially in a home. On the contrary, you can use decorative concrete floors to create a personal space incorporating subtle colors, bold design elements, and even custom graphics, indoors or outdoors. Nearly any taste can be satisfied using these surfaces, which come in a wide array of colors, patterns, textures, and finishes.
Staining concrete gives it a glamorous, rich appearance that looks picturesque and organic, which is often why homeowners and business people stain it. Even when using a product with the same shade, no two floors will look the same due to the natural variations within each slab.
The uniqueness of these floors lies in their design. If you want to be certain that the color you want is exactly the shade you want, it is often recommended to test it in an inconspicuous spot. There are practically endless possibilities when it comes to staining a space. You can even mix and match different colors in one area.
Maintenance for Decorative Concrete Flooring
Concrete slab foundations can provide a beautiful finished product if they are exposed, leveled, and treated to provide a stained concrete floor. These surfaces are also easy to clean since they do not absorb moisture, and they do not require special maintenance.
Types of Stains for Decorative Concrete Flooring
The two types of stains are acid-based chemical stains and water-based acrylics. Stains like these can transform a space, and they are highly durable and UV resistant. You can apply these stains to a fresh slab of concrete or to an existing concrete floor.
It is customary to use acid stains on more earthy-toned items, such as terra cotta, tan, brown, and blue-green. Concrete staining produces a chemical reaction when it comes into contact with calcium hydroxide. Upon reaction between the acid and the concrete, metallic salts penetrate beneath the surface and become permanent.
There is a wide range of water-based stains on the market, allowing users to add black, white, yellow, orange, and even metallic hues to surfaces. In terms of finish, water-based stains typically consist of pigments and acrylic polymers, and they can provide either a translucent or opaque appearance.
Concrete cracks and other imperfections cannot be concealed by stains since they are designed to enhance a surface. Furthermore, concrete staining cannot conceal surface texture or disguise an existing color. The best thing to do with slabs with these kinds of blemishes is to grind the concrete prior to staining. Additionally, you should not stain concrete that already has a coating or concrete sealer since it will likely not penetrate beyond that extra layer.
Decorative concrete flooring can be used for the following purposes:
- Patios
- Walkways
- Driveways
- Kitchen Floors
- Family Rooms
- Lobbies
- Commercial Floors
- Showrooms
- Warehouses
- Residential Floors
Conclusion
Decorative concrete flooring in residential settings looks great, but it is also one of the best commercial flooring options. This makes decorative concrete flooring popular in restaurants, stores, offices, churches, schools, and more. If you operate in a high-traffic space and need hard-working and incredibly durable flooring, then decorative concrete is the option, and since for you! The appearance of decorative concrete flooring can be customized endlessly so there's no reason your concrete floors need to look industrial unless that is your initial goal.
Speak to a Pro!
Questions? We would love to hear them! To assist you with your concrete flooring project, our professionals are available to answer all your questions. Shop Online or Call (877) 958-5732 for all your concrete flooring needs
