Monday, August 18, 2014

Basic Information About Integral Color Concrete

By Linda Ruiz


Some years back, buildings such as residential structures are made entirely of a single material all throughout. This has lead to the creation of structurally unsound buildings that cannot withstand the attack of stronfger natural forces. To remedy this, modern builders have thought of integrating other materials that can support most foundations perfectly. Instead of one material altogether, most new structures use stone, wood, steel, and concrete for that perfectly safe building that adhere to safety rules.

Among the aforementioned materials, the concrete is among the most recognized building material by the greater public. To create the stuff, water, cement, and coarse stuff such as sand and gravel are all mixed together to make up the really sturdy material. Some can be applied plain, while some are added with a dash of color to make the famous Integral color concrete that is taking the construction world by storm.

Decorative concrete such as integral color is the use of the said material mainly for aesthetic reasons. They still serve the primary function for which they are made, only now they are more pleasing to the eyes of the one who looks into them. This kind of building material is achieved through many methods. Different applications bring about different effects, such as stamped or polished concrete, decorative or vertical overlays, and so much more.

Cement is basically added with tinges so that they will have that burst of shade that doubles as the perfectly original design. The coloring of the said material has revolutionized the way people look at buildings. The gorgeous effect can be achieved through many different methods, each with their own pros and cons.

Stains are one method. They are widely popular because they can be done on both new and preexisting mixes. They are characterized as producing those subtle and earth toned colors that blend in well with any home design themes. Popular shades include terra cotta, tan, and various shades of brown.

Hardeners with a tinge of a certain paletteis another way to add color to any top. These hardeners are often used for concrete stamping, as well as a wide variety of other styles. It not only hardens the mixture easily, it also gives a certain tinge to it. Color hardeners also add a certain protective film that makes any surface resist any form of abrasions.

Dyes are effective coloring agents, and they can now be used with cement. These strong pigments often produce the brightest of hues. They are perfect for bold designs that include excellent color blocking approaches. These dyes also bring out the brightest of colors, so it will probably be best to try it out on a test surface first before using it on a whole batch of mixture.

Integral colors are also a good design method. This entails the addition of certain pigments to the fresh mix and allowing the entire color to be evenly spread. Since it only applies on fresh pours, they are not to be used for preexisting surfaces.

One of the many advantages of integral coloring is that the colors, since they are mixed throughout, will not fade nor wear out in time. Even if abrasion or chips in the surface should manifest themselves, the color scheme is not at all affected. Though they can be costly, the effects of the said method is worth every penny.




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