Concrete floors can be aesthetically pleasing for homes that feature a modern or industrial style. This flooring material is a favorite for many homeowners and businesses because of its versatility and durability.
There are several ways of using concrete for your flooring needs. In this article, we will look at ways that you can use concrete to give you a concrete floor.
Advantages of Concrete Flooring:
- Easy to Maintain-Unlike most flooring like wood, concrete flooring requires very minimal maintenance. You just need to wax or seal the floor after every 3 to 9 months. You will also need to apply a neutral cleaning agent occasionally.
- Durable- Because concrete is a durable and hard surface, you can expect your concrete floor to last long. You only need to seal and wax it after several months.
- Versatile Style- Concrete flooring allows you the freedom to design it with various texture effects and colors. You can place new flooring over it.
- Eco-Friendly- If you want to change this flooring, you just need to uninstall the material that exists above it
Disadvantages of Concrete Flooring:
- Cold– This flooring can be very old since it doesn’t retain heat.
- Not very Comfortable– Since concrete flooring is hard, standing on it for a long time can be uncomfortable.
- Very Hard Surface– Concrete flooring is a hard surface and can pose risks when someone falls or drops something.
- Prone to Moisture– This flooring does not do well with moisture.
How to Use Concrete in Concrete Flooring
Here are simple ways that homeowners can utilize concrete for their concrete flooring needs.
Polish
This aims to achieve a very smooth, attractive, and shiny floor. It involves pouring a single layer (about 10cm thick) and then applying a sealant to achieve a shiny appearance. The floor is then cleaned and polished before it is resealed to keep it waterproof.
Overlay
As the name suggests, the overlay involves placing over a thin layer of new concrete over an existing slab. It is then polished and colorized to give it a new appearance. This method is ideal if you want to rejuvenate an existing slab.
Stamped/ Texturized
This method is intended to achieve a three-dimension texture. The wet concrete surface is stamped or brushed to achieve this. You can also place fine aggregate or glass beads to create the same texture.
Dyed
Dyeing concrete is the process of applying a solid colorizing agent on a finished surface. This colorizing method creates a solid color effect.
Acid-Stained
This is yet another colorizing method that involves treating concrete with mild acids. The result of this is beautiful stained concrete flooring that resembles marble. However, this does not leave a solid color effect as is the case with dyed concrete.
How to replica a Concrete Floor
Do you find any of the above methods exhausting? Well, the good news is that you can replica concrete floor. Here is how:
Layer of Resin
Resin is applied in a much thinner layer to look concrete. An advantage of the resin layer is that it is less susceptible to cracks.
Apply Pink Porcelain
Pink porcelain tiles can also give the look of concrete. Besides, these tiles are available in numerous colors to suit your style and preference.
Vinyl
Flooring concrete contractors can also install vinyl in place of concrete. The advantage of vinyl is that it is water-resistant and slip-resistant; hence, you won’t need to worry about accidental falls.
