Today we are going to talk about a simple way to give concrete floors, pool decks, and patios a decorative and skid free finish by using spray-down concrete toppings. The spray-down system are easy to apply and very versatile, and they come in a wide variety of finish options. Typically, they are evenly sprayed onto concrete by using an air powered hopper gun. They can also be applied as a splatter coat to achieve a slip proof and textured finish, or can be “knocked down” by using a trowel to achieve a smooth surface. Spray-down toppings are a lot like microtoppings because they are thin, but the big difference between them is that spray-down toppings have more sand and result in a more rough and gritty finish.
There are a wide variety of hopper guns available on the market. It needs to be in an upright position with a 90 degree elbow during application for it to work right. Some hopper guns allow you to control the flow rate of the material. Some systems are self contained with the pressure built into the machine, but you can buy a hopper gun separately and simply attach it to an air compressor. (Click here for more information on hopper gun application.)
Spray-down systems can be applied to pool decks and patios to enhance the look and safety by providing a decorative and slip resistant surface. Spray-down toppings are also ideal for high interior traffic floors due to their low cost, durability, range of patterns and colors, and their easy application process. One technique that is quite popular is to use adhesive stencils or paper stencils to create designs such as medallions, tile patterns, borders, and inlaid or embossed motifs.
Installation of the spray-down toppings are easy. They are typically applied using a pressurized hopper gun. Using a different finish such as, smooth, orange peel, or knock-down, depend on doing a different spray pattern or way to apply it. When using stencils a base coat is applied then the stencils are applied to the floor. A second color coat is then applied on top of that. Lastly, a sealer goes down to protect the floor and to enhance the color.
There are so many creative and custom options for finishing concrete, but first and foremost important is the concrete itself. At Custom Concrete Creations we have state of the art equipment and a properly trained team with years of experience. Custom Concrete Creations is a premier contractor serving the Omaha area as well at the Midwest. Give us a call or send us an email for your custom concrete finishing needs today!