While decorative concrete may sound like an oxymoron to many, the reality is everyone has seen this type of product somewhere at some point. Concrete is mostly known for its strength but with some engineering can actually be made to look beautiful in its own right or can be made to mimic other materials such as stone, marble or granite. While it retains all the strength that makes it the choice for roads, overpasses and bridges, it can be used for many different purposes including many inside the average home.
In many homes across the country, concrete is poured to form the foundation of the home. Typically, this concrete is then covered up with carpet, vinyl or tile. However, the concrete itself can be transformed into a thing of beauty very easily.
There are companies that sell stains and finishing kits for concrete transforming a dull gray slab into decorative concrete. These stains penetrate the concrete and can transform it into any color or color combination imaginable. Imagine concrete being made to look like one single piece of dyed red marble floor for a dining room; matching perfectly with the wood of the dining table.
Instead of simply staining and sealing a concrete floor, another option is to apply an engineered concrete overlay to the existing floor. This is an especially good choice for a concrete structure that has surface cracks or wasn't completely smoothed when the slab was poured. These systems offer even more flexibility and options, including the look of true marble, granite or with the use of stencils, they can take on the look of a slate or tile floor.
The question that many ask at this point though is why go through the time and expense to put a layer of concrete down rather than the real surface? The answer is a simple two part answer. First of all, concrete staining or overlays are incredibly competitive in price compared to some of the other options and quite a bit cheaper than some of the other options.
On top of this, the concrete option is incredibly durable and offers huge benefits from being so strong and resilient. For example, a heavy pot dropped on a tile floor in a kitchen can easily crack the tile it lands on. Repairing that tile takes time and is almost a built in cost with owning a tile floor.
In contrast, a decorative concrete floor will simply absorb the blow dealt by that same pot. No repair needed. Even if the concrete were to chip, the repair would take minutes and be incredibly cheap, compared to the tile flooring repair.
We are your concrete repair and decorative concrete experts. Give us a call and see what we can do for you.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathon_Hardcastle
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