The very words concrete flooring may create a sense of dissatisfaction in your minds, as we have always known concrete floors as rough and plain flooring. However the trend has now changed. Concrete flooring has evolved from the olden styles to completely innocative and break-through designs in the recent trends.
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 colo and life to your home. Most interior designers and construction specialists are selecting concrete flooring ideas over tile or marble designs to suit the expectations and the taste of the present generation customers.
A Flexible and Cost Effective Flooring Option
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 Help You:
- Save Money as installing concrete flooring is comparatively less costly than other modern flooring ideas.
- 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
Stained concrete flooring is a great look, when you do it intentionally. This flooring is a marvelous colar 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.
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.
Adding a smooth look and cleaning concrete floors becomes easier when they are stained.
Painting Concrete Floors
Concrete flooring in homes can also be painted. 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 cleaning concrete flooring and decorate them as you wish - paint, stain, or etching.
These 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 checkerboard 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.
Easy Maintenance
Maintaining a stained or painted concrete floor basically requires regular cleaning and a gresh coat of sealant every few years. Talk about a low maintenance flooring! The shine stays put with regular sweeping and mopping. Though removing concrete flooring is a tedious process, maintaining these floors take less effort and stays stronger for a long time.
Easy Repair and Installation
Concrete flooring repairs are easily done by the honeowner or by a local concrete floor installer. A professional is probably the better person to tend to the repairs. There are several options and a professional will be able to suggest the best concrete flooring ideas 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.
Hollow Core Concrete Flooring
If you are building a new home or office, consider hollow core concrete flooring. It...
- Lets you build more quickly
- Reduces sound transfer between floors
- Spans longer spaces without support
- Is lightweight and fire resistant
- Allows design flexibility
If you are planning to paint or stain your flooring, this is just another interesting option. The average price for this flooring is determined by the square footage of surface that you want to cover. Some people even have their original 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 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 flooring if you can, because the options are endless — just like your ideas.
One must be careful in selecting concrete flooring designs, as there are numerous designs available int he market and could be quite confusing too. However these designs are customized to meet the requirements of costomers of all tastes and budgets.
The top coat (sealer) is scratched and the stain is chipping off. It’s not the concrete I don’t think.
I have tried everything. I have used Mr. Clean, Vinager and dish soap mixed with water, and right now I am using Pledge that you squirt on the floor and mop off with a wet mop. The last 2 have worked the best but I was just wondering if there was something better.
Sounds to me as if you need to remove the existing sealant and stain and start over with an acid stain and sealant formulated for concrete floors. Or use more area rugs. ;~>
I’ve been experimenting with an environmentally friendly cleaner that might work. I haven’t tried it on concrete floors, but a friend is going to be trying it on her patio soon. I have liked it for my bamboo flooring and general household cleaning. Maybe it will work for you. It’s called Enviro-One, and this link will take you to the order page.
Question: We have removed vinyl from our kitchen floor. What is left is adhesive, which we are now tackling. What is the best way to proceed if a polished concrete floor is our goal? Would self-leveling concrete help with any level issues? Thank you from 2 weekend warriors.
That might work, but self-leveling concrete can be hard to work with because it sets up so quickly. But if you can work fast in small areas, that might be just the answer for you.
But there are also adhesive removing compounds you can buy that might get the last of the adhesive up so you don’t have to fuss with the self-leveling concrete.
And are you going to use vapor barriers and cement board for your project?
Which is the best and last the longest on concrete floors, acid staining or paint? We know how to apply the first coat but are not sure of how to apply the second coat of a different color to make the design we desire, can we use a pump up sprayer? How many coats of sealant do we use and how long is the drying time? Will this method stand up to alot of traffic? We read all of your Q&A’s daily for helpful tips we can use.
Hi Trish!
Both painting and staining are very durable & long lasting so long as you have a very good finish after you do it. Yes, a pump sprayer can usually be used with stain, and you can use different methods to make the designs in different colors, a lot of them involve using stencils that you can buy or create yourself if you’re crafty!
As far as sealant goes, it’s best to investigate how many coats are recommended by the manufacturer of the finish you decide to use, drying times should be included in the directions as well.
Your finished floor should stand up to high traffic if you choose a finish that is specifically for stained concrete and formulated for high traffic areas. A good polyurethane sealer for concrete should do the trick though.
Hi! Was wondering if ripping up nasty carpeting and going with my existing concrete floors was feasible. Also, have been told that if one paints or seals concrete flooring, then one can never put anything else (i.e. laminate, hardwood, tile, etc.) on top of it. True or false? Thanks from one who is trying to be thrifty and crafty at the same time..
Can I (and should I?)sand the concrete if it is rough, and is there a specific website or place to go to learn how to stain or paint my concrete floors? P.S. I also love Sherwin Williams!
Hi Donna!
As far as sanding, it really just depends on how rough your concrete is – I can’t see it, so I can’t say for certain. If you think it needs it, then by all means, give it a try – you’ll know quickly if it’s going to help.
There’s lots of sites on the internet that can help you with your project. Go to your favorite search engine and do a search – you’ll get tons of ideas and helpful info.
Hi Donna!
Going with your concrete floor is very feasable. Things to take into consideration: is it cracked, are there chips/chunks missing?.
You can recover concrete even after painting or staining – especially if you go with a floating floor. Paints/stains would have to be stripped, and it might be almost impossible to remove all of the paintstains because the concrete is porous. Even with stained floors, it would still have to be stripped because of the sealers, while a painted floor would include stripping the sealer & the paint.
Since you’re so crafty, I’m sure you’ll be coming up with a fabulous idea for your floor! There are even stencils that you can buy (or make!) to make wonderful designs with your stain or paint. Best of luck – I’m sure you’ll do a fantastic job!
Hi, I have two dogs that are in the house on the stained concrete floors. My floors were just redone with a polyurethane sealant and their paw pads are leaving a print that I can’t get up with water. I tried diluted apple cider vinegar and swiffer pads and still couldn’t remove their marks. They are not scratching the floor just leaving tracks. Any suggestions on how to clean these up? Thanks so much. ,
Hi Kim,
This is weird, and I’ve seen this kind of question/comment before. Perhaps the polyurethane wasn’t cured at the time, or can’t cure properly because it’s too thickly applied or because the stone wasn’t sufficiently dry when applied.
Could it be possible that it’s the cleaning supplies leaving a residue that shows tracks? Do weave socks leaves an imprint, or bare feet leave a footprint. This might be a difficult one to figure out, but I’m willing to help you brainstorm on it!
Thanks for the response. I know the concrete was dry when polyurethane went down the first time. However, afterwards we had a white haze that developed throughout the house in different areas. They were obvious mop strokes. I never used any chemicals on the floor except for water so, it wasn’t that. The flooring people returned recently and recoated the floors with a tinted polyurethane seal that elimnated the white haze. Now on both seals appear the dog pad prints. Socks do not leave marks nor do bare feet. I tried your idea of small amt of soap and water and think I might see a little difference in some spots. I think your thought of too heavy a seal may be valid. I look forward to your next post
Well, one down one to go then, I guess. What did the flooring people seem to think of this? It is odd that it’s just the dog’s prints that leaves a mark….. Would they be willing to try to think the poly on one of the pawprints? Of course, that could lead to more problems rather than a solution, but I’d imagine there probably aren’t any pawprints in an area that can’t be seen….
I have 2600 sq ft of restaurant space. The previous tennant had a painted or stained finish(not sure) When the land lord renovated the space they covered the floor with a gray paint( laytex),
Can you give me some advise on what I can do for a new covering.
Tile, wood, paint, strip restain, concrete overlay,
Any Input would be helpful. I have had a lot of opions and would like yours.
Please advise on cost, durability, maintainance.
I do not want carpet or basic vynl square covering.
Hi Joe!
Most likely, any of the choices you’ve mentioned would work. If the concrete was stained – that would be the most problematic if you’re not planning on covering it with something else. A stained concrete floor, when done properly, can be absolutely beautiful.
Other concrete treatments which are common are epoxy flooring and rubber and are both very durable. Stained concrete is very durable, as well as stone tile flooring.
I cannot advise you on cost, it will vary with the area you live in, how difficult of a job it would be, etc.
Help! I have painted my daughters bedroom floor. This is our first time to try painting concrete. We pulled the carpet up (no glue under the pad) and cleaned the floor four times with small amount of soap and water then waited four days to paint. We used the whole gallon of paint in two applications. (We now know way to much paint) It has been ten days and the floor is still not completely dry. Dry to the touch but still tacky and will leave imprint if you stand to long in one place. Is there any way to get the paint to dry any quicker?
Hi Debs,
You could try using a dehumidifier, there’s not really much of anything you can do. Did you use paint formulated for concrete?
We used Sherwin Williams Concrete floor paint. How many more days do you think it will take? We are here in North Mississippi. May try finding a dehumidifier.
Hi Debs,
Glad you came back, the info helps a lot. Seriously, you should call Sherwin Williams and ask them your question – they’re the best ones to know the answer since it’s their product.