Making Concrete Floors a Work of Art bit.ly/142Pw3b Canvas is not the only place where someone can paint and express themselves. There now is another material to be used and that is concrete. Yes, you heard that right, concrete. It is commonly perceived as dull and grey, simply lifeless. Well, this is where they are wrong, not anymore these days. This material can easily be one of the most versatile and decorative materials in the world today. Concrete flooring especially is a target for many artistic projects. There are many ways to make this type of flooring stand out from the rest, ways to make it unique. The first method that is used by many builders is the use of water-based stains. Stains are typically a blend of acrylic polymers and pigments that penetrate concrete to produce permanent color. These colors can range from translucent to opaque depending on the product used. Stains have a chemical reaction with the calcium hydroxide of concrete to produce the color. These water-based stains offer more hues and go beyond the translucent color effects of acid-based stains. There are numerous standard colors for this type of stain, which can also come in black, white, and metallic tints. The second method of painting concrete is by the use of concrete dyes. Unlike stains, dyes are non-reactive and do their job by penetrating concrete. Dyes’ particles are much smaller than stains, this allows for easier penetration and color saturation. Dyes can be obtained in two formulations, water-based and solvent-based. They can produce a range of looks from monotone to translucent. Water-based dyes are known to produce marbling and variegation, whose look is similar to the output of chemical stain. Solvent based dyes on the other hand are more monotone and uniform in color. The third method is by using tinted sealers. Tinted sealers are used to achieve subtle and semi-transparent coloured effects. These tinted sealers are a low cost colouring alternative that still provide all the benefits of a sealer. They can be used to correct or enhance the colours of painted floors. These sealers can come in water-based and solvent based formulations. One thing that should always be remembered when wanting to paint a floor is the research that should be done beforehand. In every project, research should always be done first. When painting for example, without research, how would one know that concrete floors must be free of existing coatings, sealers, and curing first. This will make sure that the stains, dyes, and sealers will properly penetrate the concrete. Concrete are one of the most beautiful types of flooring that exist these days. It can match almost any room and any design with proper painting and care. It is very practical and durable which makes it one of the best flooring systems in any home today.
Posted on: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 05:21:48 +0000
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