Concrete flooring information
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History of Concrete Flooring
Concrete has been around since the Assyrian and Babylonian empires, and the Egyptians actually used lime and gypsum in their cements. Modern concrete, which is called hydraulic cement, was first discovered in 1756 by a British engineer named John Smeaton. His process was further perfected by Joseph Aspdin in 1824 when he burned ground limestone and clay together, which helped to create a much stronger cement than just what plain limestone could produce.
There are many different materials that are used in modern cement for their binding properties, including sand, crushed stone, gravel, ashes, shale and clay. Fine aggregate, which refers to the size of the aggregate materials used, results in smooth surfaces and concrete slabs, while coarse aggregate is mainly used for massive structures.
There is also what is known as reinforced concrete, which has metal embedded in the concrete itself. It was first invented by Joseph Monier, a Parisian gardener who made garden pots out of his new invention and patented it in 1867. His designs were later used in railway ties, pipes, floors, arches and bridges due to its strength.
What is Concrete Flooring?
Concrete Flooring is just what it sounds like – flooring that is made out of concrete. It is highly cost effective and highly durable and are found in many different settings including residential, commercial and industrial. Concrete flooring is often covered with different types of carpet, linoleum or vinyl, and concrete has become a staple of the construction industry. The great thing about concrete is the fact that it lasts far longer than any flooring used to cover it, meaning that while carpet can tear and stain, concrete does not.
Concrete Floor Finishes
Concrete can be finished in a multitude of ways to make it decorative and beautiful in your home or office. Finishing concrete in a decorative manner can be as simple as coloring the concrete to match the surrounding architecture, to what is known as chemical staining, which are designed to react with the lime in the concrete to create a permanent color. The problem with chemical staining is the fact that it is not always reliable due to lime leaching, though skilled artisans can create a wide range of visual effects with chemical staining. Another way that concrete flooring can be finished is by scoring, which is when shallow cuts are made in pre-existing concrete surfaces to give the impression of tile and grout lines, or even create simple geometric designs in the concrete.
Perhaps one of the most popular concrete flooring finishing techniques is what is known as integrally colored concrete, where colorant is added during the actual mixing process. Mixing the coloring into the cement mix before it has solidified gives the concrete an even color and come in several types including liquid colorant and powered colorant. Each has its own unique features, and it is recommended to ask the company that is mixing your concrete what they recommend in terms of coloring the concrete.
Sealing and Waxing Concrete Flooring
Concrete, though made of rock, is prone to elemental damage if it is not treated properly. There are several commercial sealants available on the market, ranging from buffing waxes, mainly used for interior floors and residential areas like patios, to industrial sealers which are used mainly for high-traffic exterior places. They also come in different hues and colors, which can accentuate the colors in any room, and depending on how much traffic the concrete flooring receives reapplication of sealants may be needed, though maintenance can be as low as mopping the concrete with a floor wax once or twice a month, if needed at all.
