In the past, concrete was something that individuals and businesses used primarily for its functionality. However, thanks to decorative concrete, that’s all changing. With this style of concrete, and the help of a concrete company like Stephens & Smith Construction Company, you can create beautiful embellishments that enhance the appearance of your commercial or residential location, both inside and out.
What Is Decorate Concrete?
Decorative concrete involves using concrete to improve the aesthetics of structure while still serving a functional role. Many decorative concrete applications are integral to the building itself, forming parts of the walls, floors, driveways, and patios.
What Are The Benefits Of Decorative Concrete?
There are many different benefits to decorative concrete. For example, decorative concrete is durable and can last for many years. It is also easy to maintain, and it can be custom-made to fit your specific needs of any commercial or residential property. It is also affordable, making it a cost-effective option for many, making it an ideal solution to improve and upgrade your home or office location.
How Is Decorative Concrete Made?
Stamped Concrete
Stamping is the process of adding texture to concrete to make it look like something else. A concrete company with talented concrete professionals will typically use machinery to make it look like brick, slate, cobblestone, or regular paving slabs. However, it can truly take any form. Here is a fantastic example of a concrete patio that Stephens & Smith Construction Company created that looks like regular wood.
Installation of stamped concrete involves pressing various molds into the concrete while it is still hardening. Professional concrete installers may also add color using powder, liquid pigments, acid stains, and dry shakes during the curing phase too for that special look.
There really is no limit as to where you could find stamped concrete, but for the most part, you’ll typically see our high-quality work on driveways, commercial spaces, parking lots, and patios. There are also indoor applications in residential, commercial, and industrial settings.
Concrete Dyes
Regular concrete is usually a shade of gray. However, dyes can stain a variety of colors for both residential and commercial applications. Most dyes are made of regular printing inks mixed in mild alcohol solutions and then applied to the surface of the concrete. To create concrete dyes, manufacturers dissolve printing inks in high-penetration carriers. They then mix them with UV inhibitors to prevent fading in outdoor applications.
Stenciled Concrete
Overlaying
Micro-topping
Acid Staining
Acid staining is a coloration technique that depends on subjecting the surface of the concrete to a chemical reaction (not dying or pigmentation). It works by applying a small quantity of muriatic acid to the concrete surface. The acid then reacts with minerals in the concrete over a few hours, producing a new color that can penetrate the concrete up to 1/16 of an inch.
Contact Stephens & Smith Construction
Stephens & Smith Construction has an entire crew of concrete professionals dedicated to decorative concrete. The range of options is almost limitless, allowing you to use concrete in novel ways they never thought possible. Check out some more of our work in our decorative concrete photo gallery of past jobs.
We’d love to add your project to our list of successful installations, so when you’re done browsing the photos, send us an email or call us. Our talented staff would love to explore ideas on how we can help in your home or business!
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