Concrete

One of the decorative concrete finishes, a broom finish is the most common. Concrete finishers have been broom finishing their surfaces for about as long as there has been concrete. Broom finishes can be light broom or coarse depending on the bristles of the broom you choose. This is not a fancy finish but is attractive and provides a non-slip surface. Plain concrete finished with a fine concrete finishing brush can be the natural color of concrete or can be colored with several different colors.

Acid etched concrete is a form of decorative concrete. The process removes a layer of the concrete revealing the unique textures and colors beneath. It is a safe process that also seals the concrete, protecting it.

With a sandwash finish, concrete undergoes a process similar to other concrete finishes, the difference is all in the sand. The process gets its name from the high ratio of sand particles to other particles such as pebbles. This results in a smooth uniform texture that looks stunning.

Exposed aggregate concrete can almost be compared to a piece of granite or marble transformed by polishing: A plain, unremarkable surface has been stripped away to reveal the exceptional beauty lying beneath. In the case of concrete, that beauty is in the form of decorative aggregate, either natural or manufactured.

The decorative process of exposing aggregate has been around since the early 1900s, well before pattern stamping, stenciling, and decorative overlays became trendy. But this method is far from being ready for retirement. An exposed aggregate finish offers numerous advantages. And many of today’s contractors are finding creative ways to take exposed aggregate to a new level.

These concrete color swatch reproductions are just for ideas. If you choose a color based on this screen, you may be in for a big surprise. Please finalize your selection from one of our printed color cards, hard samples or job site test.