How To Use Concrete In Your Home For A Decorative And Durable Surface
Selecting the surfaces you install in your home for flooring, bathroom walls, and stairs can give your home its own unique look, especially when you use concrete as its base material. Here are several ways you can use concrete to create a beautiful and durably-finished surface.
Concrete Tiles
Tile is a product that you can install on the walls and floors or stairs of various areas in your home. Tiles come in a variety of colors, designs, patterns, and shapes, to create a durable surface that will last for many years. But when you opt for a concrete tile over a traditional ceramic tile, the strength and durability you get from the concrete will help your surface remain intact for much longer than other tiles. And concrete tiles are great insulators to help keep your home more comfortable.
If you want a certain look or design with your concrete tiles, you can install a concrete tile with a finish that looks like one of many types of natural stone and porcelain tile. But be sure to seal your concrete tiles once they are installed, but after that their maintenance to keep them looking great is minimal. And the sealant treats their grout lines as well to keep them equally protected.
Stained and Polished Concrete Flooring
Another way to use concrete in your home is with stained concrete flooring. This treatment seals in, protects, and colors your concrete floor any hue or color you prefer. Staining to color your concrete floor is a good way to cover any pet, automotive fluid, or rust stains on your old concrete surface. Staining your patio, porch, basement, or another home concrete surface will change its appearance from ugly and old to beautiful and attractive.
Concrete staining is a good do-it-yourself project, just be sure to clean and prepare your concrete before you apply the acid stain or another concrete coloring. This ensures you concrete's color will be uniform and adheres to the porous surface. If there are any oils or other fluids remaining on its surface, they can cause the stain to not properly color your concrete.
You can have your concrete flooring polished in addition to staining it to seal in its once-porous surface and give your flooring the look of travertine, marble, or granite. A concrete polishing professional uses a special concrete polishing machine with a sealant to smooth and shine up the surface of the concrete, making it durable and water-resistant.
For more information, contact your local concrete floor tiles experts.
