TYPES OF CONCRETE FINISHES

Concrete Finishes

The concrete is a flexible construction material used globally for residential, commercial and industrial applications.The basic types of concrete finishes are as fallows:

1. Troweled Finish
2. Broom Finish
3. Salt Finish
4. Stamped Finish
5. Exposed Aggregate Finish
6. Swirl Finish
7. Polished Finish
8. Colored Finish
9. Other Finish

1. Troweled Finish

Trowel finish is the most common and popular type of concrete finish used for major types of applications.After concrete is laid in the formwork and leveled, the trowel is used to smooth and fine-level the surface of concrete.

Trowels are available in both manual and mechanical types.A manual towel consists of  a flat steel blade with an attached handle that is pushed and pulled across the concrete surface.A mechanical towel is used for large commercial projects which resemble large fans with the blade sitting directly against the concrete.

2. Broom Finish

The broom finish of the concrete is rough textured finished.In order to make concrete surface slip resistant, a broom finish can be applied.This is done after placement, leveling and troweling of concrete.Once a smooth surface has been created a broom is dragged across the surface of the concrete to create small ridges that provide for traction control, particularly when the concrete is wet. 

3. Salt Finish

Salt finish is one of the older and more conventional decorative concrete finishes.It is created by applying rock salt to the top of the wet concrete and then washing it away, which leaves small pits in the finished surface.This finish is mainly used for swimming pool decks.

4. Stamped Finish

Stamped concrete finish is obtained by pressing the required patterns on to the freshly levelled concrete.A stamped finish is made by placing panels with designs onto the uncured cement.This transfers the design of the panel, giving the concrete a textured look.Concrete stamps come in many different designs.These include stone, bricks, tiles or other patterns.The main objectives of stamping technique is to give concrete a textured look.It is mainly applied for floor in patios, car porch, driveways and sidewalks.

5. Exposed Aggregate Finish

The construction of exposed aggregate finish, concrete is poured, levelled and troweled.It is then treated overnight with a chemical that slows the hardening of the surface cement.The surface is then washed with water to remove the top layer, exposing the aggregate that was below the surface.

In exposed aggregate finish with normal concrete materials other materials may be added into the mix to provide exposed finishes with unique looks.Example are rose quartz, limestone, dark grey or black basalt, red or blue granite and even colored glass or seashells.This provides an attractive and slip resistant finish.Exposed aggregate finished concrete provides a safe, non-slip surface.This makes it both functional and attractive.It's great for sidewalks, porches and breezeways between buildings.

6. Swirl Finish

Swirl finish is one of the most exceptional types of concrete finish that is generated by smearing the concrete surface in a uniformly overlapping circular pattern.Swirl finish is less common these days but is still a great option for creating a beautiful and slip resistant surface.

The swirl pattern provides an attractive appearance to the concrete surface which is favored for outdoor applications. The swirl pattern, or fan pattern is created by moving a trowel in swirls or circle that overlap each other.The swirls can be made in varying sizes and depth depending on the aesthetic the customer prefers.This pattern especially looks nice when you add a standard smooth border around it similar what you see on sidewalks with a brushed finish.

7. Polished Finish

Polished  concrete is a multi-step process where a concrete floor is mechanically ground, honed and polished with bounded abrasives in order to cut a concrete floor's surface.It is then refined with each cut in order to achieve a specified level of appearance.

The polishing process is typically accomplished using concrete floor grinders that are outfitted with diamond abrasives.First, concrete is stripped of any existing sealer or coating and any visible cracks are repaired.This is followed by the polishing process using the floor grinders mentioned above.During polishing process, chemical hardeners are often added to the concrete to provide future protection against water infiltration.Finer and finer abrasive are used until the desired surface finish is achieved.

8. Colored Finish

The colored finish on a concrete surface can be carried out by either pigment or stains.The pigmented colored concrete can be accomplished by adding the pigments directly to the concrete mix prior to pouring. The strained colored concrete can be obtained by applying stains to concrete of any age to obtain a more vibrant colored finish.The application of stain is typically followed up with the installation of a seal over the concrete to protect the surface.

9. Other Finish

The other finish of concrete are listed below:

• Dyed Finish
• Etched Finish
• Flashed Finish
• Over lay Finish
• Engraved Finish
• Color Chip Finish
• Marbleized Finish
• Sand Blasted Finish