Introduction
Concrete offers strength and durability and that is why it finds a wide range of applications in walls and floors among other places in a building. Normally, the interior floors of a building constructed with concrete are carpeted. Exterior concrete walls are usually covered with finishing materials such as slate and granite among others.
Instead of covering concrete with the above-aforementioned materials, the floors and walls of concrete can be made more decorative as well as functional by use of specialized finishes. This can be achieved by treating the concrete walls and floors with stains and colors or stamping them with patterns and designs resembling natural surfaces to make them look more beautiful. The resulting floor or wall finish is a surface that integrates durability and beauty. When concrete floors are covered with carpets and vinyl, these covers do not last long because these covers are not durable. Carpets are also easily damaged by water. They also need to be replaced every now and then and therefore more costly in the long run.
Decorative finishes can be used to coat concrete walls and floors. These form finishes usually last long, bring in beauty and are easy to maintain. There are some ways in which concrete walls and floors can be treated to match the architectural characteristics of the building. Concrete walls can be stamped with patterns to create a natural appearance and also improve surface texture. They can also be stained with colors to offer a colorful shape. For this Small low-cost housing building development, surface finish material for floors and walls recommended for the following places are:
Surface finish materials for kitchen and shower rooms (concrete)
Integrally Colored Concrete
In this approach to floor finishing, usually colorant (in form of liquid or powder) is mixed with concrete at the mixing process. During the mixing, you should ensure that the result is an even tinting. Usually colorants to be mixed with concrete are in powder form but in some cases liquid colorants are used. Admixtures are also added in the mixing process and specifically add plasticity as well as workability into the concrete. In cases where pattern slabs are applied, along workability period is required to finish the mixing process for bigger areas. Colorants to be mixed with concrete are usually offered in standard forms in that a particular amount (bag) is designated to be used for a specific quantity of concrete. When making the colored concrete you must mix colorant first with water and aggregate. Make sure that the mixture is uniform before you mix it with sand and cement. After you create patterns, you must apply integral colorants. The colorants are the base tones that are enhanced by hardeners to bring in mottled natural look.
Concrete Stamping (alternative finish)
This kind of concrete floor and walls finishing utilizes patterns that are imprinted on the outlines and surfaces of bricks, tiles or timber planks into newly cast concrete floor or wall. The imprinting instruments are available in several sizes for single stones or groups of stones. Grout is also used to create a more natural finished look. Patterns must be applied together with hardeners.
Bedrooms first floor floors, Comfortable, light traffic (heavy wear characteristic not necessary)
Surface finish materials for Bedrooms floors and walls
Oil-based finishes
This is achieved through the reaction between oil and chemicals. This kind of finish produces a very beautiful wall finish that needs to be maintained regularly. The color also fades with time and needs a regular repaint. The time to complete this process depends on the time the solvent takes to evaporate. These types of finishes have moderate smell when freshly applied. Oil-based finishes are commonly available in matte and gloss.
Solvent-based finishes (alternative finishes)
This approach employs solvent-based polyurethanes. It creates a hardened wall finish resulting in a wall that is resistant to abrasions. This kind of finish does not require a lot of maintenance. Solvent-based finishes are available in gloss.
Contractor offices
Entrance hall
Finishing materials for entrance hall’s floors
- Integrally Colored Concrete
Here, colorant (in form of liquid or powder) is mixed with concrete in the mixing process which should produce uniform tinting to create consistent end result. At this stage admixtures should be added to improve malleability in the mixture. The Colorants are first mixed with water and aggregate before mixing them with sand and cement. When patterns to be stamped are formulated, integral colorants usually act as the base tone that is improved by hardeners and agents to bring in mottled natural look.
- Colored hardeners
In this approach colored hardeners in powder form are broadcast onto the newly cast concrete floor. Moisture percolates into the hardener which facilitates bonding that results in a harder finished floor. Since the hardener is concentrated into the upper layer, the end result is integrally colored floor. For increased durability, hardeners should be applied before patterns are stamped. Chemicals may also be to bring in deeper finished colors.
Finishing materials for entrance hall’s walls
The entrance hall’s walls should be painted initially with water-based paints and then coated with oil-based paints. The color of the paints should be blue in conjunction with gray in appropriate proportions.
Boardroom
Finishing materials for Boardroom floors
Integrally Colored Concrete
Here, colorant (in form of liquid or powder) is mixed with concrete in the mixing process which should produce uniform tinting to create consistent end result. To enhance malleability in the mixture of cement and courant admixtures should be added. To get a uniform mixture, you should first mix courant with water and aggregate. The cement and sand should then be added to the mixture. You must add integrated colorants to act like base tone. The base tone is further improved by adding agents that bring in mottled natural look.
Scoring (alternative finish)
In this approach shallow cuts are made on the concrete floor to create designs and patterns in a variety of colors. These cuts are made by circular saws.
Boardroom walls
The Boardroom’s walls should be painted initially with water-based and then coated with oil-based paints. The color of the paints should be blue in conjunction with gray in appropriate. proportions