While they are mostly used in residential spaces, decorative concrete floors have a variety of uses both in homes and businesses. In fact, many restaurants, showrooms, malls, and other commercial establishments worldwide opt for these types of floors because of their durability and beauty.
Also, many homeowners make the mistake of covering up concrete subfloors with hardwood and wall-to-wall carpeting. But the fact is, they can save money and time by merely having their existing floor stained and sealed to achieve the look they want minus the high costs and risk of damage.
Still unsure? Here are six benefits decorative concrete flooring can offer your home or business to help you decide whether or not to go for this type of floor material:
1. Versatility in Design
Concrete floors have evolved. Back in the day, concrete floors gave out an industrial vibe that made the space less homely and welcoming. However, progress in manufacturing and flooring technology paved the way for concrete floors to be the epicenter of haute couture in interior design.
Today, the design options offered by decorative concrete are virtually limitless. Not only can it be applied to both new and existing concrete surfaces, but it can also be tailored to suit your specific needs. This is because of several concrete mixing and setting techniques that result in just about any texture or color you want.
This means you can have a floor that is unique to your space – be it stamped, splattered, slated, acid-etched, stained, or polished. It can even be made to look like natural stones such as marble and granite.
By choosing the right method in applying decorative concrete floors, you can match it with your existing interior wall design. The best part is that the possibilities are endless.
This flooring material is also popular for its capability to reflect light, making it a great choice for businessmen and homeowners looking to save on electricity.
2. Scratch Resistance
One major disadvantage vinyl and hardwood floors have is that they’re prone to scratching, especially when placed in high-traffic areas like a mall. While this may be less likely to happen with carpets, daily walking and running would eventually wear them down.
This won’t be a problem for concrete flooring. You can try, but you’ll find it quite difficult to scratch this type of floor – even one that has been polished to perfection.
3. Low Maintenance and Easy Cleaning
Two more perks you’ll enjoy when you choose to go with decorative concrete for your floors are ease of cleaning and very little maintenance.
Unlike others, you won’t have to perform periodic coating and polishing for concrete flooring. Plus, you can easily clean up spills with just soap and water.
Concrete flooring can also be sealed with epoxy or acrylic coating to achieve a waterproof floor. This gives concrete flooring a smooth, non-porous surface, which means spills and moisture won’t seep through and cause staining. And since it’s moisture-proof, you wouldn’t have to worry about your floor getting warped, soaked, or damaged.
4. Longevity and Durability
Aside from hassle-free cleaning and maintenance, concrete floors are also extremely durable and can last longer than nearly all other flooring materials.
With the help of decorative coating, your existing concrete floor is reinforced to power through even the busiest areas in a mall. It will also deteriorate much slower than other floor types and can withstand heavy loads, dust, mold, and the weather.
5. Good for the Environment
Out of all the available flooring materials today, decorative concrete floors are arguably the most environment-friendly option there is. Since most homes already have a subfloor made from this material, all you need to do is uninstall whatever was placed over it.
By not using any new material, you produce no carbon footprint or use up any additional resources from the environment.
Rather than using more materials, you can choose to treat the existing concrete floor using design techniques and seal it in to achieve your desired aesthetic. This will give you an aesthetically pleasing floor that is also comfortable and durable.
6. Low Overall Cost and Value for Money
Aside from all these, another major advantage concrete flooring can offer you is its affordability.
Be it in your home or business premises, you wouldn’t have to worry about breaking the bank with decorative concrete since it has low installation costs. The best part is, you will get the most out of what little you paid for due to the concrete floor’s durability and resistance to damage.
Since decorative flooring requires very little maintenance, you can also save on maintenance costs compared to other floor types. You would also get to enjoy having a beautiful floor for your home or business longer since concrete can last indefinitely.
The Takeaway
Choosing the type of material to use for the floor of your commercial or residential space should be based on how you can benefit from it. Make sure that you consider the advantages of decorative concrete flooring before finalizing your decision.
