Architectural concrete is a very fashionable interior finishing accent in recent times. Concrete, once associated more with an indispensable part of the construction of buildings, today is readily used to create aesthetic decoration in homes and apartments. What exactly is architectural concrete?
What is architectural concrete? How does it differ from ordinary concrete?
Architectural concrete is a product formed from properly selected ingredients. The most important element here is the binder, which is cement or cement with mineral additives. After mixing with water, the cement acquires the right consistency, becomes hard, so that after complete drying it acquires its permanent properties. Aggregates, usually fine sand or gravel, play a filling role. Their choice depends on the desired characteristics of the concrete. Depending on the choice of aggregate, the amount of cement and water, concrete with different characteristics can be created. Architectural concrete differs from ordinary concrete in its aesthetics of execution.
Types of architectural concrete
Architectural concrete has broken through in the interior design and finishing market with great success. It comes in several versions, depending on the purpose and design we can choose from a range of products available. The most popular of these are:
Concrete plasterarchitectural concrete plaster is a ready-mix that allows to make decorations mainly on walls. Concrete plaster allows you to perform the application in several ways - depending on the technique, you can get the effect of boarding, smooth or raw - with characteristic cavities typical for concrete mass.
Flexible concrete in a roll is an imitation of architectural concrete, deceptively resembling concrete. Its advantages are lightness, ease of installation and realistic finish. The big advantage of flexible concrete in a roll is the ease of application - you need the right glue and the help of another person to stick the appropriate piece to a previously prepared wall. Concrete on a roll is intended only for interior finishing of buildings.
Architectural concrete panels are concrete slabs, of various sizes, thicknesses and textures, applicable to interiors and exteriors of a building. Ready-made architectural concrete panels can be smooth, textured, decorated, in several shades of concrete gray. Concrete slabs require proper fixing- with screws, anchors or strong glue.
Microcement is a derivative of architectural concrete. Microcement is created from a coating based on cement and polymers. It is a fine, thin-layer coating with a wide range of applications, especially as a decorative surface finish - walls, stairs, floors and even furniture. The advantage of microcement is that its application is simple and requires no special skills.
Application of architectural concrete
Architectural concrete is a versatile product. Thanks to the large selection of types of architectural concrete, it is possible to use it in the interiors of houses as well as outdoors. Architectural concrete can be used both as a decoration such as a TV wall, as well as a
and finishing the bathroom- instead of standard tiling. An interesting solution for architectural concrete is the possibility of giving it a 3D dimension. Concrete panels do not have to be smooth, straight. The stores also offer finely milled panels, in various shapes - cubes, circles or waves. The multitude of applications of architectural concrete only emphasizes its versatility. It is perfect for finishing interiors in industrial, loft and modernist styles.
Installation and maintenance of concrete
Installation of architectural concrete depends on the choice of its type. In the case of concrete slabs, you will need the help of a professional who will properly fix the slabs to the wall with fastening systems. Fastening systems are invisible system with chemical anchors, invisible system with hangers, anchoring the slabs to the walls (here the elements of the fixing anchor may remain visible) and gluing. Depending on the location,
In which the panels are to be fixed, we select the appropriate method of installation. It should be remembered, proper maintenance and protection of concrete. Its porous structure is conducive to the deposition of fine dirt in it. In the case of finishing with architectural concrete in the kitchen and bathroom, impregnation of concrete is necessary. Thanks to impregnation, concrete acquires water-repellent properties, gets less dirty and is more resistant to abrasion when cleaning dirt.
Choosing architectural concrete-what to follow?
When choosing architectural concrete, the main consideration should be where and for what purpose it is to be used. If architectural concrete is to be used in areas that are frequently used, such as kitchens, bathrooms or hallways, our choice should go to concrete slabs, plaster or flexible roll concrete. An important aspect in choosing the type of concrete is also our financial capabilities and construction skills - whether we will be able to do the installation ourselves or the help of a professional will be indispensable.
