Exposed Aggregate FinishĮxposed concrete finish involves pouring the concrete and then removing the top layer of cement paste to reveal the coarse decorative aggregate that sits beneath. Stamped concrete finishes can be used indoors to enhance the appearance of walls and fireplaces, as well as in a range of outdoor applications. Colour can also be added to accentuate the stamp pattern using colour hardener. The concrete is stamped to resemble brick, natural stone, tile or wood. You may sometimes hear of stamped concrete finishes being referred to as textured or imprinted concrete. A stencil is used to stain or resurface the concrete to provide it with the desired texture. One of the main benefits of stencil finishes is that the surface remains relatively smooth after the pattern has been added.

This may include herringbone, basketweave or diamond tile, to name just a few options. Stencil concrete finishes provide a range of different design options from simple modern patterns to more intricate designs that can be custom-made using computer technology. Broom finishes can be light or coarse depending on the material and size of the bristles on the broom that you’re using, providing a variety of options for various applications. Brushed finish concrete is primarily used to create an anti-slip surface to increase safety in public spaces such as swimming pools. Broom Finishīroom concrete finishes are very simple but they’re also very practical. For example, wood floats create coarse texture, whilst steel trowels create a smoother and lighter textured finish. The texture created can be coarse, medium or smooth depending on the tool used. This is one of the most popular finishes that’s used for the vast majority of applications, but what is trowel/float concrete finish? Put simply, it is what it says on the tin – Once the concrete has been laid and levelled, a trowel is used to smooth the surface and impart a pattern if required. These are the most common types of concrete finishes that you’ll find: Float/Trowel Finish This means that concrete products can be finished to suit a variety of different applications, ensuring the visual appeal is equally as strong as the qualities of the concrete itself. It can be moulded into pretty much any shape or size, and finished in a whole range of different styles.

Stamped concrete, however, achieves a highly aesthetic look that is perfect for applications such as outdoor patios.One of the major benefits of concrete is its versatility. Stamped concrete is the most expensive form of concrete finishing due to the amount of time involved to carefully and uniformly place the stamped pattern. Options include brick, wood plank, and tile patterns, among others. Stamped concrete offers an endless number of finishes depending on the stamp design the homeowner chooses. The color of the rock is dependent upon your rock supplier. In order to achieve the exposed finish of pea gravel, a plastic sheet is placed on top of the concrete before a pressure washer is used to remove the surface retarder. Pea gravel mixes are mostly found in residential driveways and patios.

Pea gravel concrete finishes require a completely different mix design which typically consists of 50% sand and 50% pea gravel. The presence of air can cause delamination and blistering during the lifespan of the concrete. Hard troweled finishes are typically only applied to non-air interior concrete mixes. Both hand trowels and ride on trowel machines are used to give the concrete a smooth slick finish in this scenario. This finish takes longer to achieve than the broom finish due to the need to make multiple passes with a steel trowel along the surface of the slab. The hard trowel finish can likely be found in the garage of your own home as well as the floors of large commercial buildings such as Wal-Mart or Costco. Broom finishes are typically applied to exterior (air entrained) concrete that will be exposed to weather. This finish simply has a broom run across the top of concrete while the concrete is still slightly wet, to give it a textured non-slip finish. The broom finish is what you find on the sidewalk when walking through your neighborhood. Today we will cover what can be found in the majority of residential homes, to help homeowners obtain the function and aesthetics they wish to achieve. There are an endless number of concrete finishes.

Broom finish concrete vs trowel finish