Different types of housing finishes in Colorado

Michelle Garcia | December 29th, 2021

Finishes are an essential part of construction or manufacturing, they serve to protect certain elements from impact, corrosion, water, and so on, and they can be decorative. Colorado, one of the finest sub-region in the Western United States, has some of the best finishes, and this article will guide you in discovering the different types of finishes in Colorado. 

Different categories of finishes in Colorado

According to the NBS (https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/NBS NBS, the National Building Specification, is a platform used by engineering and architectural firms to evaluate the standards, quality of materials, and workmanship provided for a construction project.), some of the different categories of finishes include the following:

Metal Finishes: One can hardly imagine how the world would be without metals. Metals are essential elements used almost everywhere for various purposes, and these metals must be protected from corrosion, rust, and other external effects, hence the need for metal finishing.

There are different kinds of metal finishes, and these depend on the use of the object, maintenance, and other factors. Some of the most common metal finishes used in Colorado and beyond include the following:

• Stainless Steel: this is an alloy and one of the most common metal finishes. Stainless steel is resistant to corrosion. Stainless steel gives a dull silver finish and may require some attention while cleaning it as it does not accommodate dirt that much.
• Aluminum: this has a similar appearance to steel, but it is more affordable, and you can bet that Aluminium will not rust; hence, the reason why it is a good finish, especially for outdoor areas.
• Brass: this is a shiny metal with a golden color and maybe polished to look brighter or duller, depending on the desired finish. Metals with brass finishes come in various colors and are naturally antimicrobial and resistant to corrosion. Brass is considered one of the expensive metal finishes.
• Copper: its distinct reddish-orange color makes it stand out. Metals with copper finishes are associated with luxury because of their quality. Copper is corrosion-resistant and antimicrobial and is considered a more expensive metal finish.

Other metal finishes include Nickel and Chrome. The former has a shiny luster but is not as bright as the latter. It is considered more of a matt than a polished look. Nickel is easy to clean and maintain and does not show fingerprints.

Chrome, however, has a shiny and brighter finish. It is also easy to maintain and resistant to scratch, but it shows off fingerprints; you may want to clean this more often to maintain its shiny look.

Decorative papers and fabrics

Decorative fabrics generally refer to finishes and structural materials that enclose the interior of a building, serving as a boundary between the internal and external of the building.

For the most part, building fabric includes the following elements:

• External Walls
• Windows
• Roof
• Doors

Building fabric finds use in the following areas:

• It serves to provide privacy for occupants
• It prevents noise transmission
• It provides safety, especially in instances of fire or smoke
• It protects the occupants from harsh weather conditions such as solar radiation, snow, wind, rain, etc.

Plastered / rendered / roughcast coatings

Roughcast has been used as a trend in Colorado for external surface application both to make it look attractive and protect it against harsh weather conditions. There are two methods of applying roughcast, including Throwing and Troweling. Some people find Throwing more durable than troweling, probably because of the force used when thrown against the wall, making it adhere better to the wall and more compact.

Rendered coating describes applying cement to walls, either external or internal, to achieve a smooth surface. It has a similar application to plastering. Render coating has both waterproof and fire rating qualities but is also very effective for aesthetics and is also a common finishing trend for buildings in Colorado.

Wood Finishes

Wood finishes are done by applying a special kind of liquid to the surface of the wood in interest; when this liquid dries on the surface of the wood, it forms a protective layer. This kind of finishing transforms the wood, improving its appearance and elegance while protecting it from dirt and moisture.

There are many wood finishes, and these depend on the solvent applied to the wood. The different kinds of solvents include the following:

• Water-based 
• Varnish
• Oil Finish
• Urethane
• Acrylic resins
• Shellacs

These finishes are made from different materials and are optimized for various purposes such as the walls of a house, protection of the hull of an air crafter, car exteriors, and many more.

Rubber Finish

As it is mostly called, Rubber coating finds its application in a wide variety of use cases and is applied onto an object for aesthetic, functional, and protective purposes. The rubber coating is an essential medium used on elastomeric components such as stoppers, plungers, o-rings, and seals. These are vastly used in electronics, medical, automotive, etc. 

Rubber is considered one of the users favorite for the following reasons:

• Rubber has high resistance to wear and tear
• Rubber is resistant to the influence of a strong, aggressive environment
• It is durable
• It has good dielectric strength
• It doesn’t crack or become brittle

When applying rubber coating to objects, it is necessary to get it done quickly and evenly to ensure that all sides get dried simultaneously; this is important to avoid the formation of bubbles and wet rubber coating.

Tile Finishes

Tiling has been one of the dominant trends here in Colorado for a long time now; it doesn’t matter if you’re planning a kitchen, a spa, or an outdoor living space; you cannot go wrong choosing the latest tile trends in the country today. Some of the styles include the following:

• Biophilia: we saw a spike in the growth of this style, especially since the start of the COVID outbreak, and up till today, these wood-like ceramic tile designs are still one of the most used trends of tile finishing in Colorado
• Spa Style: are you looking for a finishing that will make your indoor areas look as attractive as an outdoor setting, or probably want a blend of both? The spa-style design has a muted tone and soft texture that looks relaxing, giving you a spa-like experience.
• Oversized tile design: it goes without saying that extra-large ceramic tiles are one of the biggest tile finishes in homes today. You’ll find them on walls, table surfaces, and other large surfaces at home.
• Stone Cold ceramic tile: these tiles look just like natural stones, but unlike natural stones, the stone-cold ceramic tiles have low maintenance and are non-porous. It is still one of the top trending finishes today, not just because of its aesthetic properties but also its strength and protective properties.

Finishes are one of the most important parts when building a house

Finishes are an important part of construction; they are the last. Different factors determine the kind of finish required as we have discussed above. Other factors that determine the kind of finish adopted include finances, its use, and longevity. It is also important to seek the advice of professionals especially in aspects where you are less informed, in order to help you make the right choices and spend smartly.

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