ORLANDO, FLORIDA ? When looking for the latest trends in Florida home remodeling, decorative concrete flooring should not be overlooked. You?ve seen it in high-end hotels, trendy restaurants and designer stores but you probably never realized it was concrete?or that it might be a great fit for your green home improvement project.
The words concrete flooring may conjure up images of a bland, gray surface, but in reality, concrete floors offer a range of textures, colors, patterns and cuts that have made it a popular choice for homeowners on a mid-level remodeling budget looking for a durable, low-maintenance floor that will last a lifetime.
Benefits of Concrete Flooring
The benefits of decorative concrete flooring are many. Durability and sustainability of a concrete floor means?in the long run?you will save money because you?ll never need to replace worn or damaged flooring. Compare that to the continual expense of carpet cleaning or very expensive hardwood flooring repair.
Properly sealed concrete floors are a breeze to clean and are also virtually scratchproof. Allergies can be a thing of the past as concrete floors will not capture dust mites, pet hair and other allergens that can affect indoor air quality.
For home remodeling projects, a cooler floor can help lower air-conditioning costs. It makes perfect sense in tropical climates like Orlando and other areas of the Southeast as well as hot, dry areas of the Southwestern United States.
Going green is a topic you?ll see often in our blog, and concrete floors are another way you can accomplish green home remodeling. Concrete floors use sustainable materials. The primary raw material for the cement in concrete is limestone, the most abundant mineral on earth. Many suppliers can also make concrete using waste byproducts, which reduces the use of raw materials.
Color and Pattern Techniques
Concrete?s porous qualities serve as a virtual blank canvas for a variety of applied color choices.
Using acid-based chemical stains, your concrete floor can encompass rich, earth-toned color schemes resembling natural stone, marble or wood, and achieve a completely custom, wow-worthy look that showcases your floor?s uniqueness and character.
Acid stains are generally limited to earth tones such as tans, browns, terra cottas and soft blue-greens. Newer water-based penetrating stains and concrete dyes are enriching the palette of decorative concrete floors with colors ranging from soft pastels to vivid reds, oranges, yellows and purples.
Sealers and Special Options
Once a concrete floor is stained, a concrete sealer is added to help resist water, stains, dirt and abrasives. The basic sealers of decorative concrete floors are acrylic, polyurethane, epoxy and ?penetrating.? Each has its own unique features, finish outcomes (from matte to high-gloss) and performance attributes.
As mentioned earlier, another consideration is the volatile organic compounds (VOC) content of the sealer. Make sure you research and discuss the many sealer options with a professional. Environmentally-safe, water-based products that feature a low- or zero-VOC content are gaining in popularity and provide an attractive option for green home improvement.
A special option available in concrete flooring is radiant heating. By embedding radiant heating in concrete floors, you can keep them toasty warm in the winter.
Maintaining Your Concrete Floor
Keeping your floor clean will be relatively simple. For basic cleaning, regular sweeping and mopping with a mild cleaner is the way to go. Naturally, special cleaners and conditioners for polished concrete are available, are generally easy to apply, and are recommended for occasional use to keep your floor looking its best.
All in all, whether you did it yourself or hired a pro contractors, your decorative concrete floor will provide you with years of enjoyment thanks to its durability, ease of maintenance and beautiful color options.
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