Flexibility in Decorative Concrete Finishes

No longer is concrete relegated to walkways, driveways, construction forms or garage floors - at least not in quite the same way as it has been in the past! These days, contractors and decorators are thinking far outside the box and using decorative concrete finishes in a variety of ways and for an unbelievable array of surface types. This flexible, highly durable material is being utilized more and more for unique projects both outside and inside the home, including countertops, sinks and a whole host of decorative and functional design elements.

Using a decorative concrete finish allows the end user to create the look of virtually any natural or manmade material they choose by mimicking these materials with stains, dyes, stencils and other products. With practice and imagination, decorative concrete finishes can be used to create a concrete surface that resembles:

• marble
• granite
• wood
• glass
• natural stone
• modern art

A decorative concrete finish can be used not only to mimic another surface, but this approach can also be combined with other techniques to create functional features in a kitchen or bath. For example, techniques such as stamping can be used to incorporate a drain board into a kitchen countertop or stamp an integrated soap dish right into the bathroom sink.

Concrete Solutions can show you possibilities for decorative concrete you may not have considered. We are happy to be able to offer our customers two-day training courses on all our Ultra Surface® Systems products, including our stains and dyes. Participants learn creative application techniques for acid stains, dyes and other products that will help them get the most out of these systems. To register, simply use the "Training Classes" menu on the left to navigate to the appropriate course. Please also feel free to contact us at (800) 232-8311 for additional information about our products, ordering and training.