Concrete Overlays are cement based decorative concrete products designed to add a new topping to a damaged or outdated finish.  There are several different types of concrete overlays that can be applied in a number of ways. They can be Stamped, troweled, self leveled, sprayed and more.  There are also several ways to apply color to concrete overlays with an unlimited palette to choose from. With today's decorative overlays, it's easy to give almost any concrete surface a complete face-lift and at a much lower cost than removal and replacement.  These factors make overlays a very versatile solution for concrete restoration as well as decorative concrete projects.  There are multiple options available for achieving any look imaginable.

Sometimes referred to as a skim coat, Concrete micro toppings are designed to resurface floors, walls, and other areas by applying a very thin layer of material.  Using a layer 1/8th to 1/32th of an inch thick, these concrete overlays are designed to add a new and refreshing canvas to the surfaces they are applied to.  This makes micro topping ideal for the application of integral colors or concrete stains.  Micro-toppings cover concrete surfaces that are otherwise poor candidates for the application of various coloration techniques.  They are typically applied to an overall smooth surface requiring only minor level adjustments or repairs. If your surface is not very level or requires significant repairs you will probably want to go with a different type of overlay.

Spray down overlays are very similar to micro toppings. They are put down at the same thickness and are often the same product.  The difference is that spray down overlays are sprayed on using a hopper gun.  The splatter points created by this method give the concrete a unique texture.  Often times the texture will be “knocked down” with a trowel or other tool to lightly flatten and spread the overlay.  You often see this method used on outdoor decks, and pool surrounds.

Stamped concrete overlays give the appearance of stamped concrete but are applied over the existing concrete surface.  Unlike micro topping and spray down overlays the thickness of stampable overlays is determined by the requirements of the stamps being used.  This generally ranges from a quarter of an inch to half an inch thick. The overlay is spread using a gauge rake with an adjustable depth to insure a uniform thickness.  The overlay is then imprinted using stamps or texturing skins.  Stamps are available in a wide range of patterns.  Stampable overlay mixes are usually designed to dry slower than other overlays so that whoever is doing the stamping has enough time to complete the project before the concrete has a chance to “set up”. 

Self-Leveling Overlays are designed to smooth out a damaged or out of level floor.  These concrete overlays have the ability to self-level without troweling.  They are generally applied at a minimum thickness of 1/4th inch and can often fill up to 2 inches depending on how out of level or pitted the underlying substrate is.  Self-leveling overlays are designed to dry in as little as 3-4 hours.  This makes them a good choice for projects requiring a quick turnaround time.  Like other overlays they can be integrally, or topically colored.