Coloured concrete - pattern

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Stamped Concrete Floors

Are you looking for a floor that will last the test of time, that looks great, and that is cost effective? Concrete is the ideal choice but plain concrete can look a little drab.  Jazz up concrete and produce some spectacular effects by using stamped concrete. Here’s what you need to know.

What are Stamped Concrete Floors?

Stamped concrete floors are simply concrete floors that have had a pattern of some sort stamped into them. The process starts by pouring the concrete and adding colour (either within the concrete mix itself or by dusting the colour over the surface).  A release agent is then applied so that the “stampers” can come off without damaging the new stamped surface.  The mats, moulds or “stamps” are then laid and left for 24 hours while the concrete dries. The stamps are then removed and the release agent is pressure washed off. To protect the new stamped concrete floor, a sealant is applied to the dry concrete.  Anti slip sealers can be used for additional safety.

Advantages to Stamped Concrete

Stamped concrete is great, especially for outdoor areas, as it has a number of advantages.  Firstly, stamped concrete is a solid surface with no cracks or joints unlike bricks, pavers, or cobblestones.  The floor only looks like it has joins and this means that weeds cannot grow up through the joins.
Another advantage of stamped concrete is that it is a very strong material (especially with the steel reinforcing inside) so it is suitable for all areas – patios, pathways, and also driveways.  It is also a very versatile flooring as you can achieve a huge range of different looks in different colours. For example, you can replicate natural stone paving, cobblestones, wooden planks, bricks, and so on in the colour of your choice.
Stamped concrete flooring does need to be done by a professional as specialised tools are needed to get the best effect but the good news is that it is cheaper than many other equivalent floors (e.g real sandstone pavers).

What is Polished Concrete?

Polished concrete is essentially concrete that has been polished to create a beautiful decorative surface.  There are different ways to create polished concrete including steel trowelling, burnishing, and honing.  Steel trowelling is done by using a steel trowel to polish the floor by hand or with a powered trowelling machine. The aim is to smooth the concrete just before it sets so that it achieves an extremely smooth and “polished” appearance.  Burnishing and honing are the two more popular techniques for concrete polishing and they involve using a succession of gradually finer abrasives to grind the concrete until the desired polished effect is achieved.
Polished concrete is generally done to new concrete surfaces but it can also be done to existing concrete as a form of concrete resurfacing.
The concrete can be left as its natural grey colour but colours can be introduced in a number of ways. One way is to add a pigment to the concrete while it is being mixed so that the colour goes all the way through the concrete.  Another is to apply special chemical stains or tints to the surface. Staining and tinting are more effective where patterned finishes are required.

Benefits of Polished Concrete Floors

There are several benefits of using polished concrete as your main type of flooring.  Just some of them include:

1. The sheer beauty of the floor once it is polished
   
   
2. The ability to create all different kinds of colours, textures and patterns, depending on the method used to polish the floor
   
   
3. It is ideal for allergy or asthma sufferers as it is so easy to control dust and debris
   
   
4. It is a safe form of flooring as you can add anti slip coatings
   
   
5. Cool in summer and warm in winter (when the sunlight hits it)
   
   
6. The ability to create decorative features by inlaying items such as shells, stone, aggregates, marble, and more into the top layer of the concrete
   
   
7. The ability to have many different colours
   
   
8. It is incredibly low maintenance and long wearing

Coloured Concrete

Concrete is a great, practical flooring and building material but why settle for drab, grey concrete when there are some brilliant colours available? Here’s what you need to know!

What is Coloured Concrete?

Coloured concrete is simply concrete that has had a specific colour added to it. There are different ways to add colour to concrete. The first is to mix pigments (such as iron oxides) into the concrete so that the colour is distributed entirely throughout the concrete. Because the colour is all the way through the concrete, surface erosion over time will not affect the look or depth of the colour. The second way to add colour to concrete is to “dust” a colour hardener on top of plain concrete while it is still wet. Other options include stamped or stencilled concrete, which add not only colour but patterns, allowing you to replicate different paving designs and materials.
You can use coloured concrete for just about anything but it is particularly ideal for flooring such as interior flooring, driveways, pathways, polished concrete floors, or pavers. Why settle for plain, grey concrete when you can create something vibrant and attractive at a very economical cost?

Options in Coloured Concrete

There are many different colours for you to choose from. As well, you can combine it with other things such as aggregates and surface textures in order to create the exact look that you want. For example, you could use an aggregate that matches the concrete colour in order to create a textured look or you could contrast the concrete and aggregate colours in order to create an interesting look. One great tip is to look at the existing colours in your home and garden, and take inspiration from those.
If you do choose coloured concrete, it is a good idea to apply a sealer over the top of it. This is so that it stays looking fantastic and prevents stains from affecting the surface. It also makes it much easier to keep the concrete clean. For options see coloured concrete product brochures.