Top 5 Trending Concrete Finishes

In previous years, concrete was considered an industrial material known for its durability and versatility. People commonly use it on driveways. However, you may be surprised at how concretes can be of great use to other parts of your property through modern innovations. Its presentation and use have expanded. You can now achieve aesthetically-pleasing commercial and industrial refurbishments using concrete's varied colours, designs, and finishes.

You can avail of various concrete finishes for your driveways, porch, walkways, patio, pool decks, and garage floors. It mainly depends on how elaborate you want it to be and how much you are willing to spend. With these trending concrete finishes, you can choose from specific functional and decorative purposes that will work best for you.

With the numerous uses of concrete in property improvement, there are various things to consider. Before you grab your pick, take a look at these top five trending concrete finishes.

#1: Exposed Aggregate
The exposed aggregate is a great concrete finish to provide a prominently fricative and durable surface. It is popular for driveways, pool decks, footpaths, and patios where a non-slip surface is needed.

Besides standard concrete, concreters use quartz, limestone, basalt, granite, seashells, or coloured glass. They expose these materials by washing the top layer of the standard concrete away. Exposed aggregate offers a slip-resistant and attractive finish.

#2: Coloured Concrete
Levelling up the visual appeal of your property does not always have to be elaborate and expensive. For starters, you can try coloured concrete. You can upgrade and try to choose from the coloured concrete's wide range of colours. The most popular colours are tan, brown and terracotta because it gives off a natural look.

There are two ways to add colour to concrete. It can be through pigmentation, where the concreters add the pigment to the concrete mix before laying it out. This process ensures a vibrant colour finish to the concrete. The other way is through painted concrete. The concreters wait for the concrete to settle, and then it is painted like a wall. For as long as the concrete is sealed and cured well, painted concretes can last for a long time.

#3: Stamped Concrete
With stamped concrete's various colours, patterns and textures, it can mimic the appearance of brick, stone, wood, or tile. It is one of the most popular concrete finishes because, when installed properly, stamped concrete can stay durable for a long time. It is a material that does not need replacing and resetting.

#4: Troweled Finish
Once the concrete has been poured, the concreters will flatten it with a screed. This concrete finish uses a trowel to create a smooth and fine-level concrete surface. They can opt to do it manually or by using a machine. If you plan to have a troweled finish for bigger properties, they will use power trowels.

#5: Broom Finish
A broom finish is ideal if you want to achieve a slip-resistant surface. After the concrete has been poured, levelled, and troweled, the concrete finishers will drag a broom across the surface to create small ridges. These small ridges will provide traction control, so they will be slip-resistant even when the surface is wet.

Conclusion
Now that you have a concept of the different concrete finishes you can consider, you will have various ways to turn your plain old concrete into something more individualistic and unique. If you want your property's concrete features to stand out from others, the different concrete finishes mentioned above are a sure way to do it.

To achieve your ideal concrete finish, you must hire a reliable concreter to use top-quality concreting products and ensure the project's professional execution.


Article kindly provided by meltonconcreters.com

User Anecdotes

We've solicited a number of user anecdotes on this topic, and have hand picked some of the more interesting ones below. We feel that anecdotes can give a practical, human perspective on a topic.

"I recently had my patio redone with a new concrete finish and I have to say, I am quite impressed with the results. I opted for a stamped concrete finish, which mimics the look of natural stone. The contractor did an excellent job of creating a realistic texture and the color blending made it look even more authentic. I have received several compliments on my patio from friends and neighbors and they were all surprised to learn that it is actually concrete and not natural stone. The durability and low maintenance of concrete finishes are also a big plus, especially for outdoor spaces where weather can take its toll. I previously had a wooden deck that required constant upkeep and eventually started to rot, so switching to concrete has been a great decision. Overall, I am extremely happy with my new concrete patio and I would highly recommend exploring the different finishes available to anyone looking to upgrade their outdoor living space." <br><b>Sophia K.</b><br><br> "Recently, I decided to renovate my garage and chose to go with a polished concrete finish for the floor. It has totally transformed the look and feel of the space. The glossy finish gives it a modern and sleek appearance that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. I particularly like how easy it is to clean and maintain, as spills and dirt can simply be wiped away, unlike with the previous rough concrete surface. The polished finish also reflects light, which has made the garage feel brighter and more inviting. As a car enthusiast, I spend a lot of time in my garage and having a great-looking, durable floor has made it an even more enjoyable place to work on my projects." <br><b>Arjun R.</b><br><br> "Last summer, my husband and I decided to redo our driveway and chose an exposed aggregate finish. We absolutely love the results! The small stones and pebbles in the finish add an interesting visual element and provide a slip-resistant surface, which is particularly important in our rainy climate. Additionally, the exposed aggregate has proven to be really durable - we had a few minor cracks in our previous concrete surface, but the new finish has held up exceptionally well. The installation process was also quite fascinating to watch; the contractor used a specialized technique to expose the aggregate and then sealed it with a protective coating. We've received numerous compliments on our driveway and have even noticed a few of our neighbors opting for similar finishes. Overall, we're extremely satisfied with our choice and would highly recommend it to others." <br><b>Emilia V.</b><br><br> "I recently decided to update the concrete flooring in my business, a small café, and went with a decorative concrete overlay. I wanted a unique and eye-catching floor that would contribute to the overall atmosphere of the café, and the overlay provided just that. The contractor created a beautiful design using various colors and patterns, which has been a great conversation starter among customers. The durability of the overlay has also been impressive, holding up well to the constant foot traffic and daily wear and tear. One downside is that it can be a bit more difficult to clean than a smooth surface, but this is a small price to pay for the stunning appearance and overall impact it has had on my café. I'm very happy with my decision to go with a decorative concrete overlay and would highly recommend exploring this option to add a unique touch to any commercial space." <br><b>Yasuko T.</b>"

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