Concrete is a funny thing. If you go online and investigate problems people have when pouring their own concrete, you find that smooth surfaces can be difficult to achieve. The thing is that so many people assume a concrete surface has to be smooth. But why? How many genuinely smooth surfaces do we find in nature?
To those of us here at Modern Craftsman, concrete is a medium with both structural and artistic applications. A pure engineer looks at concrete as a building material capable of withstanding significant loads. A pure artist sees concrete as a means of sculpting. We are neither engineers nor artists, exclusively. We are both.
As such, we understand that smooth surfaces are generally an aesthetic preference for concrete. A smooth surface rarely adds structural integrity. In fact, textured surfaces can add a significant amount of aesthetic integrity that is hard to achieve any other way.
Stamped Concrete Flooring
The idea of a textured concrete surface isn't as obscure you might think. You have likely seen concrete patios and sidewalks textured with an etched pattern. Contractors do this sort of thing in order to improve the surface for walking during inclement weather. But let's take that concept indoors.
Stamped concrete flooring can do much the same thing. Take a Salt Lake City commercial building with concrete floors. Concrete with a high-gloss finish becomes slippery when exposed to water and certain chemicals. Stamping the concrete adds texture and improves grip. But it can do something else as well: it can turn an otherwise plain concrete floor into a stunning work of art.
That's what we strive to do. Modern Craftsman exists to create functional works of art in both residential and commercial settings. Your concrete floor should be as beautiful to look at as it is strong enough to carry loads. It should speak to you as you walk into the space. It should grab your attention and fuel your imagination.
A Tactile Experience
Some works of art are not purely visual. They are tactile as well. So once again, smooth services are not mandatory for anything from concrete countertops to patio furniture. The right texture can create a tactile experience that changes everything.
Imagine standing in your kitchen, hands comfortably resting on textured concrete countertops. You are fondly recalling that big family gathering you held the month before. With your eyes closed and your hands gently moving back and forth across the texture, you are bringing back memories of something that will live in your mind forever. Every time you touch that counter, you will remember.
Tactile art is somewhat unique in that it engages a part of the mind that visual stimuli alone cannot touch. So yes, textured concrete can be incredibly beautiful to look at. But combine the senses of vision and touch and everything changes. Suddenly, the tactile experience takes what you see to a different level.
Works of Art in Salt Lake City
The Modern Craftsman team is proud to create works of art in Salt Lake City. We see every project as an opportunity to collaborate with the client to meet their needs and expectations. We desire to do more than just design and install functional pieces. We want to go beyond function to explore form as well.
It is our belief that function and form do not have to be juxtaposed. Creative art does not have to give way to practical use. Both can exist together in everything from flooring to furniture and fireplaces. We have proven as much throughout Salt Lake City and beyond.