What are My Concrete Flooring Options?

If you are considering the concrete flooring options open to you, then you are clearly thinking if investing in a concrete floor, a wise decision that will give you pleasure and unrivalled, maintenance-free flooring solutions for years to come.

Concrete is a versatile material, something we have always known but only in recent times have we really started to appreciate concrete in the home. So much so, that it is  now an increasingly popular material for flooring as well as worktops etc.

In essence, the grey, industrial looking slab of concrete can be treated and buffed to create a high sheen product that is durable and robust. This is why so many people are looking to concrete as being the material that can really make a huge difference to their home.

So, what are your concrete flooring options? And how can we help?

#1 New or existing concrete floor

Adding a concrete floor to a property is a real possibility and one that many people opt for at building or renovation stage.

But many modern properties are built with a concrete floor as the sub-floor and the good news is that this floor is ripe for treated and a polish to create the actual flooring solution in your property. You can opt for a skim layer over the top to ensure that you have the strength in the floor that you need, as well as ensuring that it is perfectly level.

#2 Colour

The addition of a dye or stain can have a brilliant effect on the final, overall appearance of your concrete floor.

Some people stick with a neutral palette, preferring to make the best use of the greys and blacks that sometimes natural occur within concrete. Other customers prefer adding a colour and this can be easily done with dyes and stains.

In some cases, once the dye has been added at the wet stage and the wet concrete laid, once it has dried or cured, an acid-type substance can be used on the top surface to give a ‘tie dye’ swirling, marble effect on the surface. The reaction of the aid with the coloured concrete can also introduce other colours onto the surface. Similar in shade and hue and this is a welcome look to the final finish.

#3 Decorative flooring

Essentially, once the concrete floor is laid, it is a blank canvas, ripe for decoration of all kind. Many customers become quite creative at this stage and opt for all kinds of decorative finishes.

You will have noticed the impressive lobby entrances of hotels across the world and assumed that this finish is not only hard to emulate but will also cost a lot of money to create.

Neither is true. You can design and create a unique decorative finish, perfect for your home. Why not take inspiration from other building to create your own?

#4 Stamping and patterns

Many customers choose to have patterns stamped into their concrete floor as this gives it the appearance of being a different material entirely.

The cool, hard and moodiness of dark, grey-black slate is a look that many people like but to emulate this in their home, they would need a sizeable budget to buy the real thing from a slate mine. There is also the cost of transporting the slate, as well as looking for a craftsman to lay it in their home. This is all time consuming, bumping up the price.

So why not opt for concrete flooring, have the wet mix dyed a black or grey colour and then opt to have the floor ‘stamped’ in a tile like effect, creating the illusion of a slate or ceramic tile floor?

#5 High sheen or matte finish?

The choice is effectively yours but every domestic concrete floor will need to be sealed to protect it from scuffs, stains and abrasion.

Once you have created your design, all you need to do is decide whether to have a high sheen finish, or whether a slightly more matte finish would suit your home.

The pros of concrete flooring

Concrete flooring options are such that it can be tough to decide exactly what it is you want to create for your home. Although people think that working with concrete is ‘easy’ – there doesn’t seem much to it, just add water, surely? – Midland Polished Concrete know that to get it right, it takes planning and preparation, as well as knowledge and technical skills and abilities.