This is my guide to concrete. Concrete may not seem like a very sexy subject to write about but I hope that by the time you reach the end of this blog, you will have been inspired to use concrete to improve your home. Concrete isn't just for driveways and walls. You can use concrete in a lot of pretty creative ways around your home. I discovered this when I hired a team of concrete contractors. They were really great guys and while they were completing work around my home they taught me lots of cool things about working with concrete. I hope you enjoy this blog!
You might associate concrete with a bland grey surface, but by infusing colour into cement you can create beautiful decorative effects to enhance the landscape around your home. Different options are available for adding hues. Here is a brief explanation of several methods:
Integral Colours
By inserting iron oxide pigments into the concrete before pouring, contractors can evenly disperse colours throughout the mixture. Because it extends beyond the surface, the colour doesn't wear away. You might use this treatment for patios and driveways, for instance, to add attractive earth tones that blend with the natural environment. A uniform colour provides the perfect base for adding other treatments on top, such as stains and dyes.
Stains
Rather than mixing colours within the cement mix, contractors can apply them over the top of hardened concrete. Stains react with elements within the cement to create a variegated, nuanced surface with an organic feel. This treatment imparts a translucent colour, similar to how timber stains reveal various tones. The result of concrete staining is not predictable and uniform, and different layers of colour can mimic a range of other materials such as natural stone and ceramic tiles.
Dyes
Dyes don't react with cement as stains do; instead, they penetrate the surface, infusing it with colour. A wide range of hues is available, from muted tones to vibrant shades. Solvent-based dyes tend to produce uniform swashes of colour, while water-based dyes can create more variable marbling and antiquing effects. Contractors can combine colour treatments across the concrete and also add texture with stamps to create a drive or patio that replicates granite or slate pavers, for instance.
Dry-Shake Colour Hardeners
Increasing the strength and resilience of concrete, colour hardeners scatter over the cement before it hardens. Contractors then spread the powder to disperse evenly across the surface. For a driveway that carries heavy loads or other high-traffic areas, this coloured concreting treatment is ideal in toughening up the surface while decorating it at the same time.
The variety of colour techniques, plus texture treatments, can create an endless array of surfaces to enhance a beautiful garden and landscape. On a driveway, use integral coloured concrete with stamps that mimic stone pavers, with the addition of stains and hardeners. Alternatively, create a concrete walkway that mimics terracotta brickwork. Another possibility that adds functionality is a coloured low decorative wall, topped with potted plants and cushions. You can enjoy the space with a book and a cup of tea or a latte.
Share30 September 2019
