Concrete Floor Coatings

Concrete Flooring Can Look Stunning

Concrete floor coatings can make or break the long-term satisfaction and durability of your concrete floor, which might be stained, colored, painted or etched. A concrete floor offers numerous options for interior rooms including nearly limitless designs and colors... even health benefits.

Concrete flooring - sometimes referred to as cement flooring - does not have to be gray and boring. There are concrete floor paints and floor staining techniques that produce exquisite finishes using today's innovative materials and applications.  Even garage floor coatings are now state-of-the-art in design and endurance.

As a matter of fact, concrete can now be designed and colored so that it blends seamlessly with other elements in a room.  More often than not, you don't even realize that you are actually standing on a concrete floor.

Like any flooring material, concrete does have negatives inherent in its application. Most are easy to overcome and the positives of concrete flooring far outweigh the negatives. To help you evaluate whether concrete floors are a good fit for your lifestyle and aesthetic tastes, consider the following:

1. Concrete can be cold... but, so can ceramic tile and natural stone flooring. In point of fact, the thermal properties of concrete actually store and radiate heat.  Consequently, you can embed heating cables in the initial laying that will enhance your ability to provide warmth during the winter.

2. Concrete floors can transmit moisture vapor unless steps are taken to insulate, or if the subbase is improperly drained.  However, today's building codes typically require installation of a vapor barrier under the slabs to block excessive moisture and help control that damp environment. Be sure to discuss this with your contractor because the mixing of the concrete materials and attention to correct pouring are absolutely essential.

3. Solar radiation can be designed and built into your home, thereby producing heat absorption from the concrete floors during the cold months.  And, in the summer, a cooler floor can be an advantage and actually help reduce air-conditioning costs.
   
4. Concrete is quite hard and doesn't create any cushioning effect on bare feet. Plus, it can be loud and produce an echo effect, but not any more than ceramic tile, natural stone flooring or some hardwood or bamboo floors. The positive aspect of this is that the hardness contributes to its durability and abrasion resistance. Area rugs are ideal for cushioning and they are certainly easier to keep clean than wall-to-wall carpet. As to noise, you can muffle it by using sound-absorptive materials in the room, to include curtains, pillows and wall fabrics.

5. Isn't concrete flooring expensive?  While the initial cost for decorative concrete may exceed the cost of carpeting, vinyl tile or wood laminates, the life expectancy will far surpass that of most other materials.  In the long run, you can save money because you'll never need to rip out and replace worn or damaged flooring.

6. The maintenance needs are relatively easy to perform.  If the initial installation has been professionally done, a simple cleaning regimen is typically all that is required such as occasional sweeping or damp mopping.  Using a good sealer and a coat of floor finish or wax will ad years of enjoyment to your concrete floor coatings.