The Multiple Functions Of Imprinted Concrete

It is a well known fact that updating and improving the outside of a house can greatly influence the overall value of it. There are many different ways that one may choose to do this from landscaping to laying down a driveway or erecting a patio or pool area. Using an imprinted concrete method on any of these projects can make it look even more attractive.

There are numerous projects in which this decorative method may be used to improve the overall looks. Sometimes this is called stamped or patterned concrete design and it is a way to add various textures to the substance so that it takes on the impression of something else. The most common styles are brick, stone, slate, tile and wood.

Applying a pattern to concrete makes it interesting, but adding color to it really brings out the attractiveness of the structure. Pigmentation can be integrated during the mixing process so that the concrete pours in a more uniform hue. For a more variegated look, it is dusted on while the substance is wet and then the design is pressed in which is how the shading is incorporated.

Color choices are largely based on what the concrete is being printed to imitate. To gain a more realistic and believable appearance, brick layouts are usually made in a reddish-brown hue and stones are done to resemble the ones found naturally in the surrounding area. This is a more economical way to gain the appearance of the genuine article but without the high cost.

There is no project too simple or overly complex for this technique to be used upon. A patio deck or set of steps can be made to appear very expensive and beautiful, yet remain economical and functional. Even a beautiful fountain in a courtyard can be given color and texture so as to seem to be constructed of a more exotic material than concrete.

Through a little creative thinking and ingenuity, there are no ends to the versatility of this technique. Adding things like exposed aggregate to the mixture will result in a more unique appearance and texture, lending the feel of a much more expensive project. Bringing out the depths and highlights of a design is easily accomplished by applying stain or acid-etching.

Part of what makes this technique stand out are the actual patterns used. Though layered bricks, tiles and wood grains are some of the more common designs, they are by no means all there are. Depending on what is being built and where it is to be located, one may choose something more unique like broken slate, irregular stone, worn rocks or even hexagonal plates.

There are many ways by which one may improve the outside of any home or business, and imprinted concrete is by far one of the most versatile available. When someone wishes to have the benefit of the appearance of an expensive and complicated construction, but without the inflated cost generally associated with it, this is the technique to be used. Most any poured surface from a driveway to a fountain to garden borders may be given the texture and color that allows it to blend in harmoniously.