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Concrete Flooring Ideas
Concrete flooring is a versatile flooring option for many homes and offices. Options include poured slab or hollow concrete flooring. Decorative concrete flooring designs include scored and stained concrete flooring, painted concrete flooring, and even polished concrete flooring. Concrete flooring in homes is more common with passive solar installations than ever before. Need help with your concrete flooring designs? There are lots of resources for that approach.
While you might dismiss concrete flooring as just a way to hold up more decorative flooring, you're missing out on a simple way to bring bright color and life to your home.
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Most homes have some area where they have concrete flooring. Whether it's the garage, basement, or even main living quarters, there are opportunities to create a warmer, more inviting living space without having to spend the money to layer over it.
Using your concrete flooring helps you:
- save money
- be more flexible in your decorating
- use the solid surface for support
Why some people decide to cover it up:
- the surface is too hard for their purposes
- the concrete is stained beyond repair
- the surface is uneven
Stained concrete flooring is a great look, when you do it intentionally. Concrete flooring is a marvelous solar mass for passive solar-heated homes, as well as a good surface for radiant floors. But having concrete may not be the look you wanted in your home. In that case, applying a stain is the route to go. Acid stain, one staining option, is not a paint or coating agent, but a coloring process involving a chemical reaction. You get a beautiful mottled look to your floor with this finishing approach. And you could even score a pattern or design into the concrete before it's stained to add interest. Once the stain is dry, be sure to apply a protective coat or two, so the stain wears evenly.
Concrete flooring in homes can be painted too. This approach to decorative concrete flooring can be a money saver. You don't have to spend additional money with other flooring options, you just start with clean concrete and decorate them as you wish -- paint, stain, or etching.
Concrete floor designs can be made with stencils or well-placed painting tape in order to use certain colors in certain areas. A polished concrete flooring scheme can look sophisticated and classic. Add a nice cocktail bar and a billiard room and you have a great place for entertaining and relaxing. Consider a checker board pattern by putting tape over the opposing color, letting the paint dry, and then painting the bare areas. Cover with sealant and you're done.
Maintaining a stained or painted concrete floor basically requires regular cleaning and a fresh coat of sealant every few years. Talk about a low maintenance flooring! The shine stays put with regular sweeping and mopping.
Concrete flooring repairs are easily done by the homeowner or by a local concrete floor installer. A professional is probably the better person to tend to repairs. There are several options and a professional will be able to suggest the ones best for your situation. You can patch the problem, do a concrete overlay, or even an epoxy coating could work -- depending on the problem being repaired.
If you are building a new home or office, consider hollow core concrete flooring. It lets you build more quickly, it reduces sound transfer between floors, span longer spaces without support, it's lightweight and fire resistant, and allows design flexibility. If you are planning to paint or stain your concrete flooring, this is just another interesting option.
The average price for concrete flooring is determined by the square footage of surface that you want to cover. Some people even have their original concrete flooring taken out in order to pour a smoother surface -- but this is the costlier option. If you can simply clean the floor, it will save you time and money.
But there are those that don't like the hard surface and support that concrete flooring in your home provides. A working area is great with the hard design, but in a playroom or a workout room, it might not be the best choice.
Always try to save the original concrete flooring if you can, because the options are endless -- just like your ideas.
Comments
Ron,
Yes, you can apply the high gloss sealer without stripping, however after time, the sealer could start to come away from the concrete or previous layer of sealer.
There is also another known side effect that occurs after too many reapplications of a sealer. The coatings can no long breather and moisture can build up and condense under the sealer, leaving white streaking. Knowing that, it is up to you to decide if you want to reapply over the previous sealant.
The Flooring Lady at September 8, 2009 11:38 AM
We are converting the garage into a living area and looking for different types of tiles to use on the floor. what do you suggest?
Bill at September 19, 2009 11:45 AM
Hi Bill,
Linoleum is a good choice. Ceramic and porcelain tiles also are good options, though might feel too cold, unlike the linoleum. Cork tiles would also be a good option.
The Flooring Lady at September 22, 2009 07:47 AM
I am very, very seriously considering ripping up my carpet in the family room. We have too many pets and kids to keep the carpet clean and smelling fresh.
If I stain or paint the concrete, can I stain or paint over it in another color years down the road if my decorating changes OR am I stuck with the paint/stain color I choose today - forever?
Any issues with carpeting or putting wood down again over the painted and sealed floor?
Thanks for your help!
Mary at September 23, 2009 02:22 PM
Mary,
You should be fine to repaint in another color later on. The problem with painting over an already painted surface is usually caused by painting with a water-based paint over an oil-based paint. They don't bond well.
I would be sure to use a low VOC (volatile organic compound) paint; Sherwin Williams has one that I like a lot. I personally love bright, vibrant primary colors. And then, especially since it sees lots of activity, be sure to seal it with several coats of a water-based polyurethane (water-based has lower VOCs so won't pollute the air the kids breathe) like Diamond Coat Varathane Polyurethane water-based poly.
Having a stained or painted and sealed surface should not cause problems if you decide to add carpet or a wood floor later on. However, if you paint, it would be difficult to stain later on. Stain on paint gives a different look than you may desire.
The Flooring Lady at September 24, 2009 02:09 PM
I have a stained concrete floor in my home I just purchased. Can I re-stain it so when I stain the other floors after taking up the carpet it will match? THANKS for any help!
Patti Harvey at October 4, 2009 04:17 PM
Patti,
You can re-stain the concrete floor if it is not sealed. However, the new stain will be going over the old color and will create it's own results.
If you know what stain is on it now, you may be able to match the other floors to it, or after re-staining, try to match the other floors to your new color.
The Flooring Lady at October 6, 2009 10:40 AM
We have decorative, stamped concrete floors in our kitchen, bathroom and laundry room. I'm not sure what to seal it with. It has a sort of rough surface that makes it difficult to clean. Not only does dirt get deep in the crevices, but it tears up any mop or sponge we use. So, we want something that will make it easier to clean. But, we also have radiant floor heat and are worried about a sealer turning color because of the heat. Do you have a product to suggest?
Shanon at October 11, 2009 08:30 AM
Shannon,
I recommend water-based Diamond Coat Varathane Polyurethane. You can also check with the manufacturers of your sealer and ask about the radiant floor heat, and discoloration from it.
The Flooring Lady at October 15, 2009 01:42 PM
I need a cost effective, low maintenance flooring that is pet urine and water proof. Is concrete the best solution? What is the average cost per square foot? I have a slab (no wood and/or crawl space). Will this decrease the cost by having the current slab surface "prepared"? Or will additional concrete have to be poured on top?
Linda at November 19, 2009 08:54 AM
