Design concrete is a mixture of Portland cement, silica sand, polymer resins, with natural pigment added to provide colour. It is different to polished concrete, which is a traditional concrete that is merely polished. Design concrete, on the other hand, is applied in the same way as plaster and is only 2 mm thick. The finished product is hard-wearing, flexible, seamless, versatile, with a tactile finish and is resistant to abrasion and staining. It is waterproof and can be applied to interiors (floors, walls, worktops, kitchens, bathrooms, etc.) as well as exteriors – even for swimming pools. Colours and the finish can be tailored to suit any design. Design concrete is very popular in France, where it is known as béton ciré. It was first created for the US navy about 30 years ago. Since then, it has been developed to provide a wide range of colours for domestic and industrial uses.