To find a place for decorative cement in your home, just open your eyes and take a fresh look around. Today, cement not only serves as an integral part of the structure, but can enhance the beauty of the living areas, as well. Inside and outside, you will find that many areas will benefit from enhancing the look of your existing cement. Building a new home? Then a blank canvas awaits you.
Cement use is common in patios, driveways and sidewalks, but most people consider such application to be purely functional. What if cement could show beautifully, as well? Decorating existing cement will help spruce your place up and add value, too. Swimming pools are the most common areas where decorative cement is used. In this case, they serve two functions: aesthetics and safety. In addition to creating an attractive surface to complement your pool, decorative cement provides a non-slip surface and reduces the amount of heat retained by the pool deck. The look of tile, brick, or stone can be created on sidewalks and patios using stencils and overlayment compounds, cement stains, or even dyes.
When considering flooring options inside the home, decorative cement is an extremely viable option. Stained cement can give you a vast array of looks that will make your floors the envy of your neighbors. One of the most beautiful floor styles is one in which the top layer has been ground away to reveal the aggregate underneath. Polish to a mirror finish, and you have a unique floor rich with character. Check and compare pricing on these flooring options against traditional ones—you may be pleasantly surprised.
If you choose to enhance and decorate existing cement, remember this rule: Surface preparation is KING. Ensuring your contractor sufficiently preps the surfaces to be treated is crucial. If your contractor tells you this is an unnecessary step, beware and consider looking for a second opinion. Although there is some additional cost involved, proper surface preparation will be worth it in the long run. Think of it as insurance that your treatments won’t be peeling off come next summer.
Building a new home or renovating an existing one is the perfect time to incorporate decorative cement into the design scheme. New cement lends itself naturally to accepting almost any shape or form, creating a virtually limitless menu of options.
Pre-colored cement—in conjunction with stamps or molds—is an excellent way to achieve an upscale look with outstanding results. A large advantage to deciding the look of your cement in the planning stages is that it eliminates the need to prep the surface. Just be sure that your contractor knows ahead of time if you plan to stain your new cement so he can take steps to protect the surface until it’s time to stain the cement.
Tap into the innumerable ways to use decorative cement for innovative interior design and ultimate durability.
Looking for decorative cement§? Wolf-Gordon has answers that exceed the imagination. Visit one of our showrooms in Los Angeles, Chicago, or New York or contact customer service at 800-347-0550.
