Like a rock
Solid Style
By Missy Baxter
Special to The Courier-Journal
Once primarily for patios, sidewalks and other outdoor uses, concrete is making bold statements inside the home. Polished countertops in the kitchen, a stamped fireplace in the family room, shiny shower surround in the bathroom, state-of-the-art bar in the den and brightly stained floor in the basement -- all created with concrete, a new heavy-hitter in interior design.
The residential concrete industry is booming, spawning magazines and Web sites for consumers, and classes and pre-fab kits for do-it-yourselfers.
Louisville-area concrete artisans say that concrete as a design element, which began several years ago on both coasts, is making waves locally.
"I think decorative concrete is really taking off in the Louisville area, especially basement floors and fireplaces," said Chris Chrystal, owner of Concrete Expressions of Crestwood (
www.concrete-xpressions.com).
"You can do so many amazing things with concrete that you can't do with anything else. It can be as ornate and intricate as you want."
In the past two years, Chrystal said, he's finished more than 36 concrete floors and more than a dozen fireplaces for clients in the Louisville area.
"Homeowners are always looking for a way to make their home stand out," he said. "… We can turn an ordinary gray concrete floor into a luxurious floor that resembles brick,
marble or glazed stone."
Gary Lawrence, owner of Lawrence and Associates Custom Concrete Design (
www.lawrenceandassoc.com) on Frankfort Avenue, said he's also seen a recent surge in requests for concrete amenities such as acid-stained floors in basements, foyers and enclosed patios.
"The trend is just now getting to Louisville, but I think it's really going to grow in popularity in the next year or so," Lawrence said. "People are really interested in acid-stained concrete floors because they can be done in any color and they are very low-maintenance."
From staining, scoring and stamping to
polishing and acid-etching, concrete artisans like Lawrence and Chrystal are using an array of techniques to create unique designs to fit any type of décor. And any niche.
In the kitchen
Custom concrete countertops can complement other current trends, such as stainless steel appliances and slate floors.
Concrete also can be smoothed and polished like stone or colored and textured like tile. With aggregates, colored pigment and stains, it can mimic
marble, granite and other stone.
Because there are no
grout lines, designers and homeowners say, concrete is easier to keep clean than tile.
Designers say concrete is versatile -- easily molded into any shape, including soft curves.
"The designs you can create with concrete are virtually limitless," said Susan Andrews, vice president of San Francisco-based Buddy Rhodes Studio, one of the nation's premiere decorative concrete designers.
"You can use concrete to add texture and visual appeal to any room," she said. "For example, the cone-shaped table our studio creates is one way of adding some interesting lines in a kitchen."
Although concrete is very durable, Andrews cautions homeowners to avoid setting hot objects directly onto concrete countertops, because they can damage the
sealer.
"Just like you wouldn't put a hot pan on Formica, you wouldn't want to set a hot pan right on the concrete," she said.
Some owners opt for having raised strips of metal cast into kitchen countertops to protect against abrasion from pots and pans near the cooking area and sink.
And some countertops include raised chopping blocks and sloped drain boards integrated right into the concrete mold.
Although a concrete countertop can develop hairline cracks over time, Andrews says they won't affect the structural integrity of the countertop. The slight cracks "add character," she says.
In the bathroom
Trends in the bathroom include concrete bathtub surrounds, walk-in showers and vanity tops with integrated sinks.
When remodeling a bathroom, concrete is ideal because it can be cast to fit the allotted space and existing plumbing.
So, your design options are as open as your imagination. Want a cylindrical shower? Concrete may be your answer.
As flooring
Concrete's easy maintenance makes it ideal for flooring. It's simple to clean and deters bacterial growth, an important attribute for those suffering from allergies.
It's also touted by many as an environmentally friendly material for sustainable design.
Using other materials, such as wood, carpet or tile, some homeowners are opting to "redecorate" an existing concrete floor.
To liven up a room, you can even create concrete "area rugs" through the use of pattern on the floor.
How much?
The primary cost of concrete is the labor fee for casting and installation.
Costs vary, depending on the detail involved in a project, but most local contractors say the cost of a concrete kitchen countertop is about in the same range as granite.
The cost of concrete floors ranges from about $5 per square foot on up.
Crestwood homeowner Michelle Poythress says it seemed logical to finish the concrete floor in her basement, instead of installing carpet.
"For one thing, it made sense to use the concrete floor that's already there," Poythress said. "Another plus was that it's such easy maintenance. It just made sense with two growing children and a dog in the house. I think concrete is the way to go."
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 | | Marble | MARBLE: CHARACTERISTICS
This standard includes general information on the characteristics
and common uses of marble and identifies typical problems
associated with the material.
INTRODUCTION
Marble is an extremely hard, metamorphic stone composed of calcite
(CaCO3). It is formed as a result of the recrystallization of
limestone under the intense pressure and heat of geologic
processes. The effect of this process is the creation of a stone
with a very tight crystalline structure and small but definite
porosity. Because of its structure, marble can take a very high
polish and is a very popular decorative stone for architectural and
sculptural uses. The limited porosity of marble, especially
polished marble, makes it less vulnerable to the leaching effects
of water. Calcium carbonate, however, of which marble is composed,
is highly susceptible to attack by acidic agents. Marble is
readily dissolved by acids, even very dilute acids, however the
actual results of acidic exposure will vary with the nature of the
acid. Chlorides, nitrates, sulfates and other chemical compounds
react differently with marble and produce various by-products,
which have a wide range of solubility and impact on the durability
of marble. For this reason, it is always important to determine
the exact type of pollutants causing marble deterioration.
Marble itself can be of two types, one composed of calcite and the
other of dolomite. Dolomitic marble is much more resistant to acid
attack than calcite marble. The color of marble ranges from the
brilliant white of calcite to black, including blue-gray, red,
yellow and green, depending upon the mineral composition.
TYPICAL USES
Marble has many decorative and structural uses. It is used for
outdoor sculpture as well as for sculpture bases; in architecture
it is used in exterior walls and veneers, flooring, decorative
features, stairways and walkways. The way in which the stone is
used may be a factor in limiting or controlling the severity of
exposure. The use or function of the marble may also affect the
feasibility of applying certain treatments, but type of use is not
the primary factor in the major types of deterioration and damage
to which marble is susceptible. | |  |
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