Decorative concrete installation is another process that fits into the construction service. Through a low-cost process, the installation of decorative concrete could be quite delicate. Hence, proper construction planning is very important.
Decorative concrete, in yesteryears, was available only in a handful of finishes; that were colored concrete, stamped patterns, and acid-etch stained. But today, decorative concrete supplies are available in an unbounded number of finishes both for horizontal and vertical surfaces. The best examples are stamped patterns, integral and dust-on, dye, self-level overlays, stampable overlay, stencil, textured, colored, acid etch, micro-toppings, engraved, form liners, exposed aggregate, diamond-polished, sandblast, and coatings that are available in urethane, epoxy and acrylic that can be combined with various other finishes.
The only problem with decorative concrete is that it is very sensitive to the ranges of factors that can have a negative outcome if not managed properly. A well thought out plan is very important to follow.
Start your decorative concrete installation project by providing the contractor with a full description. What your decorative concrete project should look like? Share your visualization with the contractor so that the expert can address you with all physical, aesthetical, and financial possibilities. Preliminary talks with the team of the contractor are very important to help experts facilitate your expectations.
Decorative concrete, though written as are structural by nature, but they eventually are not. For example, you might insist on having concrete cured with great compressive, flexible, or flexural strengths. Or you may want to have a green concrete blended with a specific share of Portland cement replaced with slag cement, fly ash, or other pozzolanic materials.
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At the initial stage, put your focal point on the most important thing you require the most for having the perfect decorative installation; if not, your project may slam the door of your visualization for aesthetic reasons. Let’s take an example. Implementing the ordinary curing agents for changing plain concrete to a decorative work can bring in a disastrous outcome. It can also damage the primary look of your decorative work. The team of contractors is urged to focus on the dryness or humidity of concrete slab before starting the work and not on how to hold back moisture for the curing purpose.
Hire the right contractor that owns the best creative abilities to install decorative concrete. If you are looking forward to a highly creative work you should opt for an experienced contractor who has adequate skills to manage the level of work that can fulfill your expectations. Contractors are more likely to be expert in certain special decorative concrete institutions. Narrow down your search and get the right one to handover your job.
Many times it has been experienced that not all decorative concrete workers own the right place-and-finish concrete skills. They simply don’t have the right knowledge to do it. So it is vital to be very careful while hiring a concrete contractor. Make sure the individual or the company you are hiring is a decorative specialist.
Decorative concrete is prone to damage by other trades. Damage can occur on the concrete slabs before or even after the decorative work has been done. The very usual causes of damages are plumbers spilling materials like cutting oil, glue solutions used for plastic pipes, or hot solder on the slabs. Also, carpenters think that the flat surface of the new decorative concrete slab is the best place to pile up stacks of lumber. Shoe soles contain oil; so even the footprints on the floors can be visible if acid-stain finishes are applied on the decorative concrete installation.
Avoid such disruptions by scheduling the concrete project during the weekends. You can preferably start working on a Friday afternoon, proceed throughout Saturday, and finish the task by the end of Sunday. Make sure, there isn’t anyone on the job site to cause problems, delays, or defects.
The Positive Aspect
Various reasons have backed the ever-increasing recognition of decorative concrete. Human nature has a propensity to get surrounded with creative color and feel. Today, various companies have been developed to provide human the kind of feel and satisfaction they wish to have with the best decorative concrete products. Moreover, it is important to have the best concrete contractors to meet the people’s expectations and ensure pleasing and long-lasting beautiful surfaces.