Fitting decorative concrete is a daunting task, but it shouldn’t be. It’s essential to plan for the project. Before, when it came to decorative concrete, there were only limited appearances—concrete, colored, acid-etch, and stamped concrete.
Today, various appearances are available for vertical and horizontal finishes—textured, stamped, colored, acid etches, integral and dust-on, and more. You can experiment with combining specific finishes with others.
Eco-concrete" typically refers to concrete that incorporates environmentally friendly or sustainable materials and practices in its production. Concrete is a widely used construction material, but its production can have significant environmental impacts due to the extraction of raw materials, energy-intensive manufacturing processes, and carbon dioxide emissions.
Several approaches are taken to make concrete more eco-friendly:
- Alternative Cementitious Materials: Traditional concrete is made with Portland cement, which is a major contributor to carbon dioxide emissions. Eco-concrete often incorporates alternative cementitious materials such as fly ash, slag, or silica fume. These by-products can replace a portion of Portland cement, reducing the overall carbon footprint.
- Recycled Aggregates: Using recycled aggregates, such as crushed concrete from demolished structures, can reduce the demand for new raw materials and decrease the environmental impact associated with mining and processing natural aggregates.
- Low-Carbon Concrete Mixtures: Some eco-concrete formulations focus on reducing the overall carbon content by optimizing the mix design and using supplementary cementitious materials.
- Carbon Capture Technologies: Emerging technologies aim to capture and store carbon dioxide emissions generated during the production of concrete.
- Permeable Concrete: This type of concrete allows water to pass through, which can help reduce stormwater runoff and mitigate flooding.
- Bamboo Reinforcement: In some cases, bamboo is an alternative to traditional steel reinforcement in concrete structures, as it is a renewable resource.
- Lighter Weight Formulations: Lightweight aggregates, such as expanded clay or shale, can be used to reduce the weight of concrete, resulting in lower transportation and handling energy costs.
It must be noted that eco concrete continually evolves, with ongoing research and development focused on creating more sustainable alternatives. Technologies and practices may have advanced since my last update, so it's good to check the latest sources for the most up-to-date information on eco-friendly concrete solutions.
In this piece, we will discuss things you should know about decorative concrete as well as understand why you need decorative concrete in your next development.
Ensure You Accomplish Client Expectations
Most, if not all, projects should begin with the client providing a complete description of how the finished development should be (preferably in a contract). Afterward, the contractors should suggest what’s achievable (financially, aesthetically, and physically). Owners often exaggerate what to expect; an early meeting can help develop realistic expectations.
Naturally, decorative concrete isn’t structural, although both parties often agree to the plan.
Hire a Professional Decorative Concrete Contractor
In the construction industry, there are massive differences when looking for the abilities of different decorative concrete firms. Some are creative; others aren’t.
So, if you want fantastic work, you must find a highly skilled contractor who can do exceptional work, perform at the highest level, and have top-notch skills. These days, most contractors tend to focus on different decorative concrete jobs. If you want to use one, you must be specific with your needs to get the right contractor.
Ordinary decorative concrete firms don’t understand how to place and finish concrete. So, you should hire a place-and-finish contractor after a cosmetic concrete specialist has finished the job.
Schedule the Job to Avoid Unnecessary Wreckage in The Area of Work
A decorative concrete gig is highly vulnerable to destruction by other jobs, such as plumbing or carpentry, more than tiles or entire floor surfaces. Before cosmetic concrete work commences, there could be damage to the concrete slabs.
Professional plumbers are known for spilling oil and plumbing glue on the slabs. Carpenters often use flat surfaces for their work. They are known for piling lumber on the surface. Even the workers’ tracks on floors are visible and can be hard to clean when tough stains are applied. Shoes can also catch the oil that may be tough to eradicate.
It is essential to schedule the decorative concrete work earlier to avoid conflict with other potential workers. Before commencing on a project, it is recommended to work when no one else is on-site to cause issues or unnecessary delays. Your work will be a success.
Protect the Finished Project
Most people believe that concrete gets hard and becomes tougher over time. However, this shouldn’t be a worry for you. This is not entirely true. Concrete becomes vulnerable as it becomes older. Water that comes into contact with slabs brings about unnecessary damage. It is essential to protect the finished project. You should include it in the plan and discuss it in the initial meeting.
Sign a Contract with The Service Provider for Maintenance
Before the decorative concrete project begins, discussing a continuing maintenance plot with your construction team is important. As a client, you should reach an agreement that works for both the contractor and yourself. There are numerous ways to cover decorative concrete; the cover has to have a unique look.
If the client desires a silky “wet appearance,” you should provide it. The finishes should be changed per the builder’s approval. Pedestrians should be advised to step on the cover, not the decorative concrete.
Related post: Luxurious Interior Flooring with Concrete Staining
On the other hand, if the client wants an ordinary concrete appearance without the glossy look, potent covers are available that limit holes from opening so that waste and other unwanted particles can’t enter through to the decorative concrete surface.
Nowadays, there are numerous options to choose from that use decorative concrete. If you have settled on the best design for your house, the next step is to seek an experienced contractor. Some contractors can ensure you get your project done on time without any hassle. That’s why homeowners must collaborate with professional contractors to agree on what must be done. Remember, there are numerous ways to cover up and use decorative concrete. For cosmetic concrete jobs, people need you to prove why they need it and why it is essential for their homes. It is used in commercial and residential structures globally.
