Decorative Concrete: Everything You Need to Know

Want to learn more about your decorative concrete floor coating options? Then we have the ultimate guide for you.

Below is a list of the most impressive interior/exterior concrete finishes there are. Many of these finishes give your concrete the appearance of expensive flooring, like marble or granite without the cost. Additives can be added to color your concrete to complement the style of your business by adding a “Business Logo” directly into the new flooring.

 

 

They can also give your home’s concrete a lustrous, polished sheen and/or a slip-resistant, textured surface. You can even embed sports logos, car logos, coats of arms, or other meaningful or desirable symbols directly into a garage epoxy flooring design for example.

 

 

To learn all about the elegant world of decorative concrete, read on.

 

Smooth & Glossy Epoxy Surface

 

An epoxy finish is the strongest and most protective finishing option there is. It’s highly resistant to all forms of wear-and-tear, and has many advantages over standard concrete including:

• Foot traffic
• Chemical spills
• Moisture
• Sunlight
• Scratches and scuffs

There are a lot of colors and other visual variations to choose from. Many epoxies have added flake materials that completely change the look and feel of your concrete. Or, you can use a standard, clear epoxy that appears about the same as a basic glossy sealant. We have an infinite number of colour combinations for your new epoxy flooring. The following examples are great darker tones that work well for outdoor epoxy patios & walkways. The anti-slip properties of epoxy coating make it a good option around concrete pools as well.

Below, we describe a few decorative concrete options and flooring solutions that you can choose from.

Polished & Finished Concrete

The most basic of decorative concrete coating options is a clear, protective epoxy. Now, you might not think of a transparent coat as being “decorative.” But this clear coat does a lot more than you’d think.

First of all, it makes your dull, dusty concrete look shiny and polished. It also protects your concrete against moisture, chemicals, stains, damage, natural degradation, and just about anything else that might tarnish its appearance. This protection also means that your concrete won’t produce any dust as it ages.

Considering that this is the cheapest option on our list, these are some pretty significant benefits.

Epoxy Stain

Epoxy stains can add some color to your concrete in addition to the polished look of a clear coat. There are a virtually unlimited number of colors to choose from. Pick any color you want in order to match the color scheme of your decor.

Also, you can choose a very subtle stain if you want only a slight tint of color. Alternatively, you can choose extremely bold colors or anything in between.

Some epoxy stains also add a remarkable swirling effect to the colors. The end result is that your flooring looks more like colored marble than concrete.

Flek Finish

There are many epoxy stains that don’t resemble concrete at all. That’s because the surface of the concrete is completely covered with a layer of other materials.

One fine example is Flek Finish. The surface of Flek Finish appears spattered with flecks of stone. This confetti-like pattern gives your concrete a textured/lively appearance. Comparably, a concrete floor that’s painted over with an epoxy stain can look dull in some rooms/outdoor areas.

Furthermore, the flecks and the base resin are both available in many colors. You can choose similar, complementary colors for a more uniform look. Or choose a multicolored or multi-shaded look using several contrasting colors.

Granit Finish

Granit Finish also coats your concrete with bits of stone embedded in epoxy. The end result is a slip-resistant floor that looks very much like granite.

This makes Granit Finish an excellent choice for walkways and around pools. It makes indoor concrete look extravagant (and expensive) as well.

As with real granite, Granit Finish is available in both light and dark shades. The speckles of color are usually smaller/finer than those of Flek Finish. And the color varieties range from grey to tan/beige.

Mica Finish

As opposed to the speckled look of Granit Finish and Flek Finish, Mica Finish has a more gravelly appearance. And that makes sense because it consists of mica pebbles embedded in resin.

The floor can range from very dark grey to almost white. A darker mica finish resembles shiny, polished asphalt.

Natclear

To prepare for a Natclear finish, the surface of the unsealed concrete is ground away to reveal the natural aggregates underneath. This gives the concrete a rustic, antiqued look.

Next, the Natclear is applied. This clear, shiny, protective shell brings out the concrete’s true inner beauty.

Scoring

Scoring is another way to add texture and slip-resistance to your concrete flooring and structures. It’s basically a special way of scratching or etching patterns onto the surface of the concrete.

Scoring can only be applied once the concrete is completely hardened. Thus, you can use it for either new or existing concrete floors/structures.

After the scoring is complete, the concrete should definitely be sealed. Without sealing, the etched surface is very prone to damage and difficult to keep clean.

Why Choose Canadian Concrete Surfaces?

We are not like other companies. Our expert technicians are experienced and trained to utilize all equipment and materials necessary to complete the PERFECT FLOOR.

Epoxy, polyaspartic, polyurea, urethane, MMA, polished concrete are just a few of the CONCRETE SURFACES we offer. Not sure what you need? We will help educate you as to what the perfect floor is for you.

Which Type of Decorative Concrete Do You Need?

Have you decided which types of decorative concrete finishes you prefer? If not, we don’t blame you. You have a lot of options for you to consider for both commercial and residential applications.

 

 

Fortunately, we can help you with that. Go here to contact Canadian Concrete Surfaces with any questions you have. We’ll evaluate the details of your desired concrete flooring project and help you choose the perfect decorative concrete finishing option.