Concrete Finishes, Concrete Floor Finish Guide
Using concrete floors is a very popular choice amongst corporations, designers, architects, and designers due to the wide variety of designs they offer. Concrete floors can be colored or stained to match any hue, while other finishes can resemble tile, slate, and even marble. Using concrete floor finishes allow individuals to get creative and get the exact results they are looking for. There are many different styles and techniques for customizing concrete floors, but the most popular types include staining, dyeing, polishing, and decorative finishes.
Staining
Stained concrete floors are great in that they can provide a luxury look unlike any other coloring medium. The stain penetrates the concrete and infuses it with luminous, translucent tones that vary depending on the surface they are applied to and the application techniques used. Stains for concrete come in two categories: acid-based and water-based acrylics. They work by penetrating the surface and reacting chemically with the calcium hydroxide in the concrete, allowing the metallic salts to penetrate more easily. Once the stain reacts, it becomes a permanent part of the concrete and will not fade, chip, or peel away.
Dyeing
Unlike stains, dyes are much smaller in particle size and allow for easier concrete penetration and color saturation. They are offered in water- or solvent-based formulas and are nonreactive. Water-based dyes produce more of a marbling look, while solvent-based dyes tend to be more monotone and uniform in color.
Polishing
On the rise, polished concrete is becoming the ultimate no-wax flooring material. According to the Concrete Network, homeowners and concrete contractors are catching on to this trend since polished concrete floors are so smooth and shiny that they easily imitate the look of granite, tile, and linoleum. The versatility of polished concrete meets both maintenance and aesthetic requirements and is an ideal flooring material for a variety of other reasons too.
Decorative
Decorative concrete floors include the use of metallic, stencils, and other unique designs to achieve creatively astounding affects. Stencils are offered in a variety of different patterns for producing attractive texture and color combinations. On the other hand, metallic epoxy concrete floors can replicate the look of copper, silver, aged bronze, nickel and other shimmery shades.
Laying the Best Concrete Floors
There are many ways to finish concrete floors, but if they’re not leveled properly and perfectly, you’re likely to be more concerned about that than the actual stain. Luckily, Somero® has created state-of-the-art Laser Screed® machines to level concrete floors perfectly, every time.
We offer Laser Screed models that are manufactured to improve your bottom line, improve the efficiency of your team, and provide a perfectly leveled concrete floor. To learn more about our many products, contact us today.