Take a look around your home or office. It is a safe bet that the majority of the walls within your visual field are either drywall or wood. Both materials have their pros and cons. Both represent choices property owners need to have at their disposal. But they aren't the only two choices around. For instance, have you ever considered concrete wall panels?
Concrete is one of our favorite materials. In terms of wall panels, concrete gives us the opportunity to turn walls into functional pieces of art with an incredible beauty that stands on its own merits. Combining concrete with metal takes things to the next level.
Cheap, Easy, and Artistically Safe
Drywall is arguably the most popular material for wall construction in the U.S. There are three reasons for this. First, drywall is cheap to manufacture. You create your gypsum mixture, press it between two layers of paper, and let it cure. Mass production makes it possible to produce tons of drywall for next to nothing.
Second, drywall is extremely easy to work with. Drywall hangers can measure, cut, and install drywall in short order. A week is typical for new home construction. As for finishing, skilled craftsmen need only a week to come in and finish up behind the hangers.
Finally, drywall is artistically safe. It is essentially a flat canvas ready for painters and trim carpenters. Builders don't have to take chances with it. As long as they give buyers the right colors and enough wood to break up the monotony, they are happy.
So, what about concrete? It is comparatively affordable. However, it is not as easy to work with. It's also artistically distinct. A concrete wall panel looks nothing like a piece of finished drywall. It has significantly more character – character that makes concrete such a wonderful choice for wall panels.
Concrete Has Visual Depth
A big part of the character of any room is visual depth. Rooms outfitted with drywall have to get their depth from other sources. So interior designers rely on furnishings and artwork. The walls are merely functional. We change that with concrete wall panels.
Since concrete offers organic visual depth, it also adds character. Concrete wall panels are as artistically stimulating as they are functional. When you choose concrete, you don't need as much artwork on the walls. You also don't have to rely so heavily on furnishings to create the character you're looking for. Concrete wall panels offer enough depth and character to anchor any room.
More Subtle Than Brick or Wood
In times past, designers turned to brick and wood paneling to add more depth and character to walls. Both materials certainly do the trick. However, brick and wood paneling can be visually obtrusive. Brick can be so overwhelming that people choose to paint over it rather than keep it honest.
As for wood paneling, that trend has mercifully faded away. Today, wood as an artistic element for walls generally translates into things like shiplap and wainscoting. It is rare to see rooms with walls covered entirely in wood paneling.
One of the things we so appreciate about concrete is that it is more subtle than brick and wood. Concrete wall panels offer depth and character without overwhelming the senses. They blend into the space rather than becoming the center of attention, like brick and wood paneling so often do.
If you are thinking of remodeling or building from scratch, have you ever considered concrete wall panels? We invite you to think about it. Concrete wall panels may turn out to be the perfect choice for your aesthetic preferences.