Concrete Flooring for Residential Properties
Residential concrete floors can give you a beautifully durable material that makes a fashion statement at a low cost. Using etching techniques and dyes, you can elevate a concrete floor from its stereotypical harshness into a truly unique backdrop that you will ever have to worry about scratching or denting.
What are the advantages of residential concrete floors?
Although concrete may not be the first material that you think of when you imagine the best material for residential flooring, it is actually gaining traction as one of the better choices for modern decor. There are many reasons for this shift into concrete as a piece of modern feng shui:
1. Concrete is as durable material as they come. As long as you properly seal your concrete, your flooring will completely shrug off spills, grit, dirt, stains and hard impacts. All that you will need is consistent sweeping and occasional mopping to keep your concrete floor looking brand-new for years to come.
2. Residential concrete floors actually have some of the most beautiful design options available on the market today. Modern finishing techniques can actually make concrete look quite luxurious. Certain dyes put into what concrete mix can generate deep earthy tones. As sustained surface treatments can create unique finishes that simply cannot be produced from any other kind of base material.
The Price of Quality
Although concrete is thick and durable, it actually costs much less than other materials that are of a lower quality and make. Depending on the finish, you can get concrete for as little as AED 200 per square metre up to 450 per square metre.
You may also have to pay a bit more if you are looking to reinforce your concrete with extra layers. This is usually only necessary for commercial buildings, but certain homeowners may want to indulge this option for extra grounding in certain areas of the home. You should take the opinion of a trusted engineer to see if your floor can stand up to the extra weight. If it can’t, there are certain grades of lightweight concrete that can get the job done.
Are there any downsides to residential concrete floors?
No product is perfect, and you may want to consider the following disadvantages before committing to concrete in your flooring:
● Concrete is hard. This may seem like a rather obvious statement, but concrete is an unforgiving surface that may provide to the heart of the surface for elderly people and children to walk on. You also get absolutely no forgiveness if you drop a glass – you may as well go and get the broom and dustpan right now.
● Concrete can become damp. You may want to rethink putting concrete in your basement if your house has a high water level. Although you can seal the concrete to help with this, concrete that is damp cannot really be fixed.
● Concrete can crack. Even concrete that is installed by experts may crack after a while. Changes in temperature and moisture are common culprits. However, these problems can be fixed with colored haste and specialized patching materials.
Now that you know the basics of what concrete can do for you, you can make an informed decision about whether to include it in your next residential project. Consider the pros and cons and the opinion of a trusted interior designer before moving ahead. Your flooring should be one of your most durable investments – an investment that can last for many, many years after the initial construction or upgrade!
