Concrete is the most used man made material in the world.
Concrete is everywhere. Sidewalks and highway overpasses and football stadiums are all made of concrete. Concrete is made up
of three basic elements: water, aggregate (rock, sand, gravel) and Portland
cement. Concrete solidifies and hardens when it comes into contact with the water, turning it into the versatile material
used for many building needs.
Concrete is one of the most durable floor surfaces available. Concrete offers limitless possibilities for customization.
It can be stained, colored, stamped or made to look like marble at a
fraction of marble's cost. These are just a handful of the options you have when installing concrete in your home. It is
important to consider your home environment and lifestyle before committing to concrete flooring. This section will help you
determine which type of concrete is best for your home.
Foot Traffic
Are your kids and pets racing through your home at impressive speeds? Never fear,
concrete is here and it can handle a formidable amount of traffic.
Recommendation: Though concrete can handle traffic like a champ, over
time its sealant can wear off in high traffic areas. You will want to occasionally reapply sealer in high traffic areas.
Lighting
Most concrete stains are fade resistant but a few types of stain will fade over time in direct sunlight.
Recommendation: Talk to your concrete retailer and installer about fade resistant dye
options. This is especially important for any exterior stained concrete.
Room–by–Room Practicality
Versatile concrete can work throughout your home. Area rugs and mats can be laid to create softer
surfaces in rooms such as your bedroom.
Kitchen
Concrete is an ideal flooring choice for your kitchen. Concrete cleans up easily with a broom and mop
and resists staining. You won't have to worry about that spilled marinara sauce staining your concrete kitchen floor, just
grab a wet mop and clean it up.
Bathroom
Concrete is water resistant, making it a fantastic choice for bathrooms. Colored concrete works
especially well in making a small space look larger.
Basement
Gone are the days of the plain gray concrete basement floor. Today you can use one of the unique and beautiful
concrete finishings to take your basement from drab storage space to fab family room.
Front Hall/Entryway
Concrete's ability to handle high traffic and resist water and staining makes it an exemplary flooring
choice for your home's front hall/entryway.
Outdoors
Concrete's ability to stand up to all kinds of inclement weather makes it well suited for outdoor
spaces.
Lifestyle Elements
Before you choose the concrete finish types for your project, it is wise to consider pets,
children, noise, and any special needs you have. These lifestyle details
can point you towards selecting the right concrete flooring for your home.
Pets
Concrete floors can take a lot of wear and tear and are also water and stain resistant,
making them a good choice for homes with pets. The hard surface of concrete, however, can be hard on the joints of your pets.
Recommendation: Lay down area rugs and floor mats in places your pet frequents. This will
give them a little extra cushioning for their joints.
Children
The ease of maintaining concrete floors makes them a good choice for crayon carrying kids. However, a
spill or fall on concrete could be hard on children.
Recommendation: Consider using rugs or mats for added comfort and protection.
Noise Insulation
Because of the hard nature of concrete, noise like voices and footsteps may be more amplified than with
softer flooring types.
Recommendation: Once again, area rugs and floor mats in high traffic corridors can offer
some noise insulation for your concrete flooring.
Special Mobility Needs
People with special mobility needs will find concrete easy to move around on due to its smooth, flat
surface. However, those who have joint and other such issues may find concrete's hardness difficult.
Basic Care
When planning to install any new type of flooring, it is important to know what goes into maintaining it. Concrete can
be sealed for added protection, but it still requires regular care to keep the sealer intact, especially in high traffic
areas.
DOs
- DO sweep or vacuum concrete floors regularly to remove dirt and debris.
- DO mop when needed with water and a cleaning solution recommended for your concrete flooring.
- DO wipe up spills as soon as possible with a damp cloth.
DON'Ts
- DON'T use any cleaning solutions that contain bleach, are acid–based or abrasive.
- DON'T drag heavy objects across the floor. Protect your floor from scratching by using protective
coverings on furniture legs.
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