Building with a concrete mixer has grown in popularity over the years. Today’s modern design trends have been inspired by concrete more than ever, producing incredible concrete finishes that are changing the way we view any concrete building. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of today’s most popular concrete finishes, from the most simple and basic, to detailed and textured designs.
We’ll give you the best inspiration for your next concrete renovation project and might even inspire a new way to incorporate concrete and a concrete mixer into your home building design.
The Popular Building Material Taking The World By Storm
You might be wondering, what makes concrete so popular in the building world, and is it only used for functional purposes? The benefits of concrete often surpass many other building materials, and it’s sought after across the world for its strength, versatility, and durability. It is also an extremely long-lasting material that can withstand even the harshest environments.
Choosing to build with a concrete mixer also offers many environmental benefits, as the concrete is mixed on-site, and reduces the need for excessive transportation. Concrete is also made using mostly natural materials, which make it easy to recycle and reuse.
Nowadays, many people have chosen concrete and a concrete mixer as their preferred building material because of its aesthetic purposes. Concrete buildings are becoming extremely popular in the world of design, and many people choose to incorporate concrete aspects into their homes. Because of concrete versatility, it gives designers a huge amount of freedom to bring their creative vision to life. It is also a material that is easy to customise to suit your vision and needs and can quickly make any building stand out as sleek, modern, and stylish.
A few ways you can use concrete and a concrete mixer to enhance a building style and aesthetic include:
Incorporate Concrete Into Floors And Walls:
Incorporating concrete tiles and flooring in home design is popular because of its easy installation and modern feel. Concrete floors are easy to clean and maintain, and your rugs and wooden furniture will be enhanced when displayed on a concrete floor. Concrete walls give your home a bold, industrial feel and a contemporary appearance.
Add Concrete Centerpieces Or Installations To Home Interior Designs:
Many people are opting for concrete centrepieces (such as a concrete fireplace, feature wall, or light fixture) to add a bold statement to their interior design. The harsh nature and cool grey colour of concrete blend well with softer materials and warm tones in your home, making it suit almost any style.
Be A Trendsetter With A Concrete Kitchen And Bathroom:
If you’re unsure where to start when incorporating concrete into your home, there’s no better place than adding concrete to your kitchen and bathroom design plan. A concrete kitchen is stylish and appealing, and it creates a feeling of tranquillity when used in the bathroom. Not only does concrete look great, but it is water resistant, scratch proof, and stain proof, making it functional in these spaces too. Another benefit is that concrete is a much cheaper building option than other traditional kitchen materials such as marble and granite.
Concrete Mixer: What Are Concrete Finishes?
When concrete is mixed and poured, it is very malleable when wet. Concrete finishes use special methods to alter the surface of the concrete, creating highly aesthetic surfaces. This is usually done with special tools such as screeds and trowels, or pigment is added to the concrete mixture. Many different designs, textures, and colours can be added to the surface of the concrete to compliment the style and design of your home or building.
Concrete Mixer: Benefits Of A Concrete Finish
Not only do concrete finishes make this material more beautiful, but they add huge benefits to its surface and function. A concrete surface that is well-finished is more durable and resistant to weathering than raw concrete. Finishing your concrete is an important step in the building process, the following are just a few benefits of well finished surfaces.
- More resistant to erosion from weathering
- Resistance to chemical damage
- They are easy to clean and maintain, reducing maintenance costs
- Long-lasting and durable
- Many finishes increase concretes resistance to fire
- The process is quick and easy
- Good finishes ensure the concrete sets correctly
- Prevents chipping and cracks forming in the concrete
Nine Types Of Concrete Finishes
There are many types of concrete finishes available today, and the type you choose depends on your aesthetic preferences, or its functional purpose. Some finishes (like smooth finishes) work best on floors, whilst others (like broom or textured finishes) are better suited for walls. Let’s delve deeper into 9 popular concrete finishes to consider in your concrete home design:
Trowel and float concrete finishes
Trowel and float finishes are very similar, and both are extremely popular because of their easy application and low cost. The trowel finish leaves a very smooth surface, and is suitable for indoor walls, ceilings, and outdoor areas that are semi-sheltered. It is best to avoid trowel finishes in an outdoor area exposed to heavy wind and rain.
Creating this finish involves pouring a thin plaster mixture over hardened concrete, and then using a flattened tool, or “trowel” to spread the mixture evenly, leaving you with a smooth surface. Once the plaster has dried, you can choose to sand, polish, or paint it to achieve your desired result. This method is also used to fix cracks, or small damage to concrete surfaces.
A float finish also creates a smooth layer of concrete, but it is much more durable than a trowel finish. Float finishes are used indoors, but also outdoors in harsh environments. You can find float finishes on sidewalks, driveways, patios, outdoor stairs and much more.
The float is a smooth rectangular tool, with a handle attached, and is usually made from aluminium, magnesium or wood. The float is used directly on freshly poured concrete to even out the surface, removing any holes or bumps, leaving you with a smooth surface. It can also be used to apply plaster evenly over hardened concrete. Some people choose a minimal design with a smooth float finish, but for a more detailed finish, the technique can leave a swirl pattern on the surface.
Broom Concrete Finish
The broom finish may be the most used concrete finish. It is mainly used on driveways and walkways and is a great option for any outdoor area. First, the concrete slab is poured and smoothed out evenly with a float. Once the concrete has dried slightly, but not fully hardened, a firm, brittle horsehair or nylon broom is dragged across the surface, leaving small grooves in the wet concrete.
This creates a wonderful texture that not only looks good but provides a slip resistant surface to outdoor areas that easily get wet in rainy weather. This finish is extremely practical, as well as cost effective, and works well over large areas.
Stamped or imprinted concrete finish
Stamped concrete, sometimes called imprinted concrete, is a very decorative type of concrete finish quickly growing in popularity. There are endless patterns, moulds, and textures created with stamped concrete that can improve the aesthetics of a concrete structure.
Once wet concrete is poured, the chosen design is then stamped into the concrete slab, leaving an imprint of the desired pattern. Stamped concrete can very successfully mimic other materials, creating the illusion of tiles, cobblestones, brick, wood and so much more. Paint and pigments are often added to the concrete to create a more realistic effect and illusion. Although stamped concrete is more expensive than a broom finish, it is still much cheaper than the cost of tiles, paving, and other materials.
Stencilled Concrete Finish
This concrete finish is easier to achieve than stamped concrete but leaves a similar result. Stencilled concrete is used to create a design on your existing concrete slab, unlike stamped concrete which must be used with wet concrete. Stencils, made from paper or cardboard are placed over a concrete slab, and then a layer of colour hardener is worked into the surface.
Once this has dried, the stencils are peeled off, leaving the effect of a contrasting grout below, and the concrete is sealed to protect the design. This textured design can achieve as much detail as stamped concrete, but the process is easier, and stencilled concrete will leave shallower grooves, and a flatter surface.
Exposed aggregate
This is one of the oldest methods of concrete finishes. Exposed aggregate finishes are beautiful, decorative concrete finishes that are washed and polished to show the aggregate mixed within. Concrete aggregate is the coarse materials mixed into the concrete mixture to strengthen it, usually this is gravel and stone, but it can also be more decorative materials like seashells, pebbles, appealing stones, coloured glass and more.
Once the concrete has been poured and hardened, the outer layer of cement is washed off, exposing the beauty of the material underneath. This is then polished for a smooth or shiny surface. Exposed aggregate also offers great non-stick qualities, making it a perfect choice for flooring, outdoor areas, pool decks, and pathways.
Polished concrete
Polished concrete is a process where special equipment is used to grind a concrete floor until it is glossy and shiny. This process uses no wax and can be done on new or old concrete slabs, making it a great way to enhance any existing concrete surfaces in your home. The aesthetic result of polished concrete is sleek and modern, and creates a clean, luxury feel to any room. You can choose the intensity of concrete polishing, from a satin finish to a high gloss finish. Polished concrete is easy to maintain, and if sealed properly, highly resistant to water infiltration. It’s also available in many colours and custom designs, so it’s easy to find something to suit your interior perfectly.
Salt Finishes
Salt finishes are produced when salt crystals are pressed into wet concrete slabs. Once the slab has cured, the salt is washed away, leaving small indents and a beautiful textured surface. This is ideal for floor surfaces that easily get wet, such as areas around pools, as the textured surface works effectively as a non-slip flooring.
Building Made Easy With BS Power
No matter what concrete structure or renovations you have in mind, with the help of a concrete mixer you can effortlessly mix large amounts of concrete in very little time. BS Power is South Africa’s leading supplier and manufacturer of professional construction equipment.
Our top-of-the-range concrete mixer will ensure you consistently produce high-quality concrete, completing building projects faster than ever. Our machines thoroughly mix concrete, to produce optimal consistency, leaving you with a concrete structure that is durable and long-lasting. Invest in your concrete mixer today.