Few materials are every bit rigid every bit concrete. According to the Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI), concrete is the most used man-made stuff inwards the world. It’s used to a greater extent than oftentimes than wood, steel as well as other edifice materials. In residential settings, concrete commonly isn’t exposed – except, perhaps, inwards a basement or garage. However, homeowners are starting to concealment the raw beauty of concrete walls inwards diverse applications.
There are several ways to move concrete walls inwards industrial designs. “Concrete comes inwards a diversity of colors as well as finishes. These origin from a really smooth as well as almost reflective surface, which is akin to Tadao Ando’s masterpieces, through to the brutalist porous concrete which you lot mightiness discovery inwards cloak-and-dagger automobile parks,” explains Michael Schienke, Director as well as Chartered Architect at VORBILD Architecture inwards London. “For interior applications, the to a greater extent than smooth or gently porous finishes are most suitable,” he adds. “The color tin privy endure changed past times adding pigments or changing the mixture ratio of the original ingredients.”
Schienke designed the concrete bathroom inwards the photos directly higher upward as well as below. “In this penthouse even out inwards a converted church, concrete-clad bathrooms are on both sides of the novel kitchen,” Schienke says. “The fully lit ceiling is made of plexiglass panels, as well as the walls as well as flooring are made of existent concrete panels.”
Another angle of Schienke’s concrete bath pattern inwards London. Image courtesy of VORBILD Architecture
“We have a few successful projects that involved polished concrete walls as well as floors inwards bathrooms,” Schienke says. “You install them simply similar marble, on reinforced walls, as well as every bit it’s a natural material, it needs to endure sealed,” he explains. “They are of a timeless beauty, all the same their appearance becomes that of a warm background, really fashionable as well as sophisticated.”
Concrete is too a rigid material, which agency you lot won’t accept to worry almost decay or corrosion. It’s too non-combustible, which makes it a pop pick for fireplace surrounds. In addition, concrete is a sustainable material. According to CSI, concrete walls (and floors) trim temperature swings past times slowing the passage of estrus moving through the structure. And this can, inwards turn, reduce your heating as well as cooling costs. Also, concrete is i of the most energy-efficient materials to produce, using significantly less pose out energy than aluminum, stainless steel, steel, glass, timber as well as brick.
Will Concrete Walls Help or Hurt Resale Value?
John Manning, Manager Broker at RE/MAX on Market inwards Seattle, WA, believes that the resale value division volition depend on how as well as where the concrete is used. “Bare concrete is often used every bit a characteristic inwards ultra-modern or industrial trend architecture,” he says. “Up hither inwards Seattle, nosotros value cozy as well as warm inwards winter, then we’re non fans of bare concrete.”
However, when concrete is properly applied, he believes that it tin privy work. “There are many visually appealing finishes as well as color treatments that tin privy endure applied to concrete, as well as modern insulation methods let the move of concrete alongside bang-up visual appeal.”
Patrick Garrett, Broker/Realtor at H&H Realty inwards Trussville, AL, doesn’t cry upward his buyers would necessarily endure impressed alongside concrete walls. “In my opinion, concrete walls are a unique architectural characteristic that would solely appeal to the eclectic homebuyer,” he says. “I’ve seen a few homes alongside concrete countertops but, again, these homes solely appeal to homebuyers seeking unique or uncommon decor.”
Alternatives to Real Concrete
If you lot dear the await of concrete but you’re non certain if you lot desire to commit to a concrete wall, at that spot are several other options that you lot tin privy try.
Concreate makes concrete panels inwards a diversity of colors, including natural gray, metallic grayness as well as bronze gray. The panels solely weigh 1.3 pounds per foursquare human foot as well as are 1/8” thick. Concreate panels tin privy endure applied to drywall, plywood, cement board as well as concrete.
ConcreteWall wallpaper is around other choice to consider. Made of non-woven vinyl, the wallpaper is scratch resistant as well as tin privy endure cleaned past times washing it alongside a soft cloth.