Imprinted concrete in interiors: main uses and how to employ it

The imprinted concrete it constitutes one of the decorative materials that can be most profitable. Not only because of the diversity of textures and finishes it is capable of imitating, but also because of its high mechanical and chemical resistances as well as the versatility it allows in terms of uses.

Although it is a decorative technique applied predominantly outdoors, there are people who decide to opt for imprinted concrete inside the home. A less common practice but equally valid with which it is intended to give a distinctive touch to the home. And boy, is it achieved.

A decorative and functional system that lately, albeit to a lesser extent, is also transferred to the commercial sphere, being able to see it in shopping centres and restaurants. Unique finishes that merge aesthetic beauty with incredible features delighting architects, interior designers and individuals.

Next, we are going to analyse in detail everything you need to know about imprinted concrete indoors. We will delve into what this technique consists of, how it is used and how it is applied in interior spaces, what are the most notable benefits or how much the square metre costs, among many other issues.

But, what is indoor imprinted concrete?

The interior imprinted concrete is a pavement or vertical facing of fresh concrete to which a special stamping and texturing treatment is applied. This process is the result of applying a coloured mortar in situ and then stamping, on the surface, moulds of different shapes, patterns and reliefs.

A decorative resource but also very practical thanks to its extraordinary durability. Regardless of whether it is placed on floors or walls, it adapts perfectly to the aesthetic and structural purposes of both. Continuous surfaces of long life are created, with non-slip textures and very resistant to wear by abrasion and high traffic, among many other virtues.

The imprinted concrete for interiors forms an exceptional alternative to replace finishes of noble materials such as wood, brick or stone in a quick, effective and much more economical way. While its maintenance is much less demanding than its counterparts.

Depending on the finish that you want to provide to the stamped concrete, as it is also called, one type of varnish or another will be applied. The choice of resin is not trivial, as it will directly affect the durability of this material inside the home or commercial premises. There are many resins: acrylic, water-based, solvent-based, epoxy, methacrylate... The latter being the highest quality. At Topciment® we have a wide range of varnishesfor your imprinted concrete.

The advantages of imprinted concrete in interiors

The use of imprinted concrete indoors is gaining value. Although this area of use is unconventional compared to the outside, its finishes are unique. An attractive and modern appearance is obtained for many years without overloading the spaces excessively.

A solution that allows incorporating any type of design visually without this being a detriment to its attributes, which remain intact. A computation of benefits that causes it not to be a mere coincidence that this material is gaining more and more followers to be applied inside the home and commercial premises.

High-quality pavements and walls that fit like a glove to any environment and location. Next, we are going to see some of the most notable benefits that make betting on imprinted concrete indoors an absolute success.

Hardness

Installing imprinted concrete indoors is synonymous with ferrous and consistent surfaces. Its high tolerance to impacts and blows means that it does not crack or chip easily and that it remains in optimal condition over the years.

This, the hardness, ensures that the surfaces on which it is used will be preserved in perfect condition, like the day of its application, maintaining the textures, colours and effects of its finishes without any variation or alteration of these.

Wear resistance

A hardness closely related to its magnificent mechanical performances. Completely disregard wear due to abrasion, frictions or high traffic. It is one of the most resistant materials in this sense.

Decorative versatility

No matter the finish you're looking for, indoor imprinted concrete offers decorative versatility like few materials. This is thanks to the vastness of existing geometric patterns and the wide variety of colours. You will achieve a unique and sophisticated look.

High impermeability

The imprinted concrete neither deteriorates nor corrodes when exposed to water. It is a material highly resistant to water, even to rain, and to environmental humidity. Therefore, it is ideal for indoor areas of the home. Likewise, being varnished it does not filter liquids preventing water or another chemical agent from damaging the surface.

Ease of maintenance

To safeguard the beauty and ensure the vibrancy of the colour remains intact, indoor imprinted concrete requires periodic maintenance like any other material. However, it is much less demanding as the maintenance tasks are not at all exhaustive. It will only be necessary to clean the dirt, which does not accumulate excessively as in other coverings that do have joints, as well as renewing the varnish layer every 2 years.

Execution speed

Compared to other construction materials, such as traditional cobblestones, the application of imprinted concrete indoors is much simpler and much faster. It should also be taken into account that by reducing execution times, costs are saved.

Multiple designs

Thanks to the large number of moulds that exist and can be applied, the interior imprinted concrete allows for numerous patterns with very different effects. Cobblestones, bricks, tiles, wood imitation... We have more than one hundred of moulds to print any drawing and shape you can imagine.

Longer lifespan than other materials

The imprinted concrete in interiors is a material that is, practically, has the longest useful life of the entire construction materials sector, lasting in the best conditions without the need to repair it or even replace it.

Great quality-price

This material is a construction resource that is quite economical compared to the materials it imitates, such as wood. However, it also guarantees unique qualities, hence it is one of the most used materials that ensures high performance.

Colours of interior imprinted concrete: increases decorative options

Combinable in multiple colours, the imprinted concrete in interiors allows to adapt to the tastes of anyone who wants to use it on any surface.

Thus, this continuous coating offers various decorative possibilities, with colours to choose from ranging from white, black, grey or beige to others such as blue, red and green.

These colours are obtained from pigments that have high resistance to water, and to the sun's rays, maintaining the shades for longer. Their quality and hardness allow them to resist without fading, even when this material is used in situations where it is constantly exposed to any threat.

At Topciment® we have a collection of imprinted concrete colours made up of four different lines that are within the Arcocem line, our high-quality pigments for mortars that also resist the most aggressive cleaning products.

Our colourants allow you to create surfaces to your liking with great decorative and technical guarantees. It doesn't matter if the colour you want is silver, black, green, brown or blue because in any case it will look like the first day for an unlimited time.

Why bet on imprinted concrete indoors?

When looking for the ideal material to carry out a new construction or a renovation of any room or space, imprinted concrete in interiors is a material with great features and a great quality-price ratio.

Decoratively speaking, it allows to create unique patterns and figures so that each surface it covers is exclusive. This perfectly combines with the durability and resistance of these areas.

Imprinted concrete has become a widely used material in any type of projects due to all the advantages it carries that help to highlight the beauty of the rooms in which it is applied, thanks to the brightness it provides and the wide range of colours in which it is available, making it a much more adaptable material to people's aesthetic pretensions if we compare it with others such as tiles.

In short, this coating combines robustness and outstanding quality in its decorative finishes that will be preserved from the moment of application.

Interior imprinted concrete floor: beauty and resistance

An imprinted concrete floor inside a home is uncommon because it is not a comfortable pavement. Can it be installed? Of course! But a number of considerations must be taken into account. As it is a flooring that is imprinted, the resulting surface is very rough and although less dirt and dust accumulates than outside, cleaning cannot be done in the same way. We have to be more meticulous, as we cannot use a pressure washer, which is much faster, as we do outdoors.

Likewise, it is not a pavement that allows you to walk on it without footwear as most people do in their homes on parquet or marble floors, for example.

A situation completely opposite to the one we find in restaurants or shopping centres, whose use is completely different and where it is more appropriate to install an imprinted concrete floor inside. A surface that is renewed in a short time and transforms into a resistant, comfortable and beautiful area for customers.

Imprinted concrete for interior walls: elevate your level

On the other hand, it is more common to find imprinted concrete on interior walls; this is what is called vertical imprinted concrete. In this field of application, unlike what happens with floors, it matters little whether we are in commercial premises, hotels or residential projects. In all installations, without exception, the benefits of this material reach their maximum power.

A wide range of decorative alternatives without giving up their resistances. Gone are the traditional drawings and finishes of facades and walls. Vertical surfaces treated with this technique take absolute prominence and significantly revalue the space in which they are located. A compact and solid coating that shields against moisture and cracks, which is easy to clean and even more comfortable to maintain and allows unlimited combination of all kinds of reliefs and textures.

Where to apply imprinted concrete indoors? Homes, businesses and more

Imprinted concrete has properties that make it a great material to apply in any situation. Thus, it doesn't matter whether the spaces are homes or large warehouses, businesses, offices or restaurants, imprinted concrete works perfectly in any location and is going to exceed the requirements of each space very broadly.

Imprinted concrete inside the house

Imprinted concrete is a material that, due to its characteristics, can also be applied in homes to improve people's quality of life. To its resistances, we can add the brightness it provides by reflecting natural light and an unheard-of ease of cleaning that will greatly facilitate this type of tasks at home and that its finishes are going to shine easily and quickly.

Imprinted concrete inside hotels and restaurants

For example, other places where we increasingly find this coating on their surfaces are hotels and restaurants. In these, both on floors and interior walls, their floors and walls are coated to give a cosy and resistant feeling while favouring the comfort of both guests and workers. This is betting on quality, creating original surfaces that are hard to forget.

What is the price of imprinted concrete indoors?

The price of imprinted concrete indoors is affordable for both homeowners and business owners. A decorative finish that has emerged as an affordable option for those people who long to add style to their spaces without facing the high cost of other materials such as stone or wood.

If all its benefits are taken into account, added to the ability to offer identical finishes but cheaper than other materials, it can be emphatically stated that imprinted concrete in interiors is cheap. However, some factors can make this cost fluctuate considerably.

The complexity of the work to be carried out, the square metres of the surface to be renovated, the type of imprinted concrete mould or the varnish to be applied are just some of the many variables that need to be carefully studied and will determine how much to pay for a finish with this material.

Approximately, in Spain the price of imprinted concrete indoors is between 40 and 100 euros. Our collaborating applicators analyse each particular case to adapt to the needs of each person and guarantee an individualised and competitive budget.

How to make imprinted concrete indoors?

The application of imprinted concrete indoors does not differ from the installation process outdoors. The step by step is identical, however, we recommend using some products over others to facilitate the execution of this decorative technique in enclosed spaces. For example, the release agent, which we will always advise to use one in liquid version like our Desmocem® Liquid to avoid raising dust.

Be that as it may, the procedure continues to be very fast. Next, we explain it in detail depending on the surface where we want to place interior imprinted concrete: walls or floor.

Making imprinted concrete interior on walls

As we have mentioned before, in an interior space the imprinted concrete is found mainly on the walls. Its most widespread use and for which application we will start next.

1. Prepare the wall

Check that the wall is completely clean and in good condition, without imperfections and with all parts well adhered. Place the fiberglass mesh to prevent the appearance of cracks over time. Clean with water and apply the corresponding primer.

2. Apply the mortar on the wall

Plaster the wall and apply the two coats of mortar on it. It is very important that the material is aired so that bubbles do not form, as well as respecting the expansion joints.

3. Sprinkle the colour hardener

Pigment the wall with the corresponding colour hardener to achieve the desired colour.

4. Apply the release agent on the wall

With the help of a long-haired roller, apply the Desmocem® Liquid release agent to the wall that will later need to be removed.

5. Stamp the chosen mould on the wall

Choose a mould compatible with vertical surfaces and stamp on the wall to consecutively fix the desired pattern and relief. What are you waiting for to see our Imacem® moulds?

6. Clean the wall and seal it

Use a specific detergent to clean the impurities from the support such as our Ecoclean Pro or Ecoclean Construction. Allow a period of between 5 and 15 minutes for the product to act. Then rinse with water and let the wall dry. To finish the application of the interior imprinted concrete on the walls proceed to the sealing of the surface. Use two coats of one of our Sealcem® varnishes.

Making interior imprinted concrete on floors

Have you decided to apply imprinted concrete indoors and more specifically on a pavement? It is a more extensive process but, carried out by the right professionals, you will soon enjoy the result.

1. Soil conditioning

Firstly, the indoor floor where the stamped concrete is to be applied must be prepared. Therefore, before anything else, the surface must be thoroughly cleaned, preferably with a specialised cleaner like any from our Ecoclean range. Once the floor is clean, the levels and slopes are prepared. It is important to place a film of policret sheet and the perimeter joints will be made before pouring the concrete.

2. Pouring of the concrete

To an already hard material, polypropylene fibres are added to make the imprinted concrete even more durable. This is possible with our Fibratop product. In addition, we will use a steel mesh in the perimeters that require it. Once these steps are completed, you can proceed to pour the imprinted concrete.

3. Float the concrete

We take advantage of the material still being fresh to float it. This is key as if not, blisters may appear as a result of excess moisture.

4. Pigment the imprinted pavement

We colour the surface and this can be done by two methods. One, by sprinkling the colour hardener or stamped concrete Stonecem® Floor Or, secondly, it can also be coloured in bulk with the pigments Arcocem® Fast that penetrate into the stamped concrete.

5. Floor smoothing

To prevent irregularities from arising and to avoid possible porosities, we use a steel trowel to smooth the surface. We go over the edges with an edging trowel.

6. Apply the release agent

Before placing the mould that will give us the desired design, we need to apply the release agent so that the first one can be perfectly extracted later. Both Desmocem Powder® and Desmocem® Liquid can be applied, depending on the effects you want to achieve. But being indoor spaces, for convenience we will always recommend the second.

7. Prime the mould on the pavement

It's time to choose drawings, textures. Thus, to achieve them you have to choose from one of the 150 imprinted moulds we have, Imacem®. Help yourself with a tamper and you'll have your finishes in record time.

8. Protection and sealing

Finally, to protect our surfaces, we varnish with any of the products from the Sealcem® range that will help to seal the floor. It is recommended to re-varnish the areas every two or three years.

Have you decided to install imprinted concrete inside your home or business and are looking for proven applicators? Are you a professional and would you like to try our products for your future projects? Write to us without obligation and tell us how we can help you.

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