In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the various different concrete finish options you might have available to you for your surfaces. Impacting everything from aesthetics to practical factors and repair needs in some cases, concrete finishes can involve several different primary themes.
At Lift-Up Concrete Lifting LLC, we’re here to provide residential, commercial and municipal concrete lifting and leveling services for a variety of concrete surfaces and finishes. How does a given finish impact everything from your basic aesthetic to practical needs, and what are some of the common settings where these various concrete finishes are used? Here’s a primer on a few additional finish types and what they mean for your surfaces, plus why you might consider them for new concrete areas.
Stamped Concrete
For those looking for highly durable concrete surfaces that also feature nice aesthetic designs and patterns, stamped concrete is often the way to go. This process involves the placement of panels with inlaid designs onto concrete during the curing process, allowing these designs to be imprinted onto the concrete permanently.
Brick and stone are two of the most common design formats used here, meant to mimic other materials. At the same time, you retain the strength, durability and durability qualities found in concrete, so you’re getting the best of both worlds. Stamped concrete is also durable and protects well against moisture seepage and damage risks.
Salt Finish
Salt finish is a bit more of a specialty concrete finish type, generally used for one prominent need: Swimming pool decks. When concrete is still wet and in the curing process, rock salt will be applied to the top of the surface, then washed away at the precisely correct time.
This leaves a variety of small pits on the finished surface. These pits are ideal for traction around wet surfaces, first of all, but also provide a well-known aesthetic for pool areas and make them distinct and unique.
Grinding and Polishing
Finally, for a combination of great aesthetics and limited maintenance, grinding and polishing are ideal processes often completed. These require a completely level service first, so our pros are often involved in this process, but they bring fantastic smooth surfaces that actually are more slip-resistant than non-polished surfaces. The material used for grinding will depend on the precise type of finish that’s desired, with both abrasive or finer diamonds available for the polishing process that will create different finishes.
For more on the finishes available for concrete surfaces, or to learn about any of our concrete lifting and leveling services and how the finish impacts them, speak to the staff at Lift-Up Concrete Lifting LLC today.
