Your intention to install concrete floors brings you in front of a dilemma. Should you or should you not use concrete for the floors? Your agony is common, rest assured. After all, we may be used with driveway concrete or having a concrete garage floor but seldom do we see this construction material indoors. That’s until recently though because things have changed. And so, it’s only natural to want to know the advantages. Even more than that, the disadvantages of concrete floors. Should we get down to it?
The advantages of concrete floors
• Versatile
Concrete can be used for garage floors and indoors. It may be stained or polished. And there are enough installation techniques to cover all floors and meet several design tastes.
• Trendy appearance
Although not perfect for all architectural styles, concrete works well in contemporary homes and modern offices. It is an excellent material for kitchen and bathroom floors, basement floors, the garage and the driveway, even in classic home styles. For minimalistic home designs, concrete can cover all parts of the house.
• Durable material
One of the greatest advantages of concrete is its durability. After all, concrete is a mixture of cement, water, and various aggregates. It holds well under high heels and furniture legs, and is not afraid of your cat’s claws. It is hard to break even in heavy traffic areas.
• Long-lasting
Since it’s durable and resistant, concrete can last for years. It is resistant to bacteria, fire and water when it’s sealed. That’s why it makes an excellent choice for outdoor environments, like the driveway or the patio. And so, it lasts for a very long time.
• Monolithic
Concrete floors are monolithic. Concrete is poured over the subfloor, which may also be concrete, and go from one corner to the other without seams. The good news is that decorative concrete can be used on floors but also walls. Hence, there’ll be no seams at the point where the floor meets the wall – this is ideal for wet environments, like the bathroom.
• Easy to clean floor
Since concrete floors are monolithic, they are also easy to clean. Polished concrete is easier to clean than stained concrete.
• Affordable flooring option
The cost is budget-friendly since concrete is poured over a subfloor and is a basic building material.
• Eco-friendly
Since the existing subfloor serves as the base on which concrete is poured, this material is considered eco-friendly. Plus, it’s easy to make concrete and not much energy is used.
The disadvantages of concrete flooring
• Sealing is vital
Concrete could be porous if not sealed. That’s why the installers apply a couple of hands of sealers over concrete, especially if this is the bathroom or kitchen. And the floor should be resealed over the years. The frequency depends on traffic and use. In normal conditions, where there’s average traffic, even in bathrooms, and given that the concrete flooring was well-sealed to start with, it will need resealing every 5-7 years.
• Hardness has its disadvantages
One of the material’s advantages – durability, could become a disadvantage in two ways. First, the material’s hardness means that dropped items could break. Second, concrete is not so friendly to bare feet. If you like walking barefoot, the floor would feel cold and hard underfoot.
• Wet concrete is slippery
While it depends on the concrete floor – if it is polished or not, it could be slippery if it is wet.
• Not perfect for all styles
Concrete interior floors look good in contemporary homes with a minimalistic approach. Or, some modern homes. But it won’t be the ideal material for classic and traditional architectural styles. Of course, if we are talking about the exterior, concrete is ideal for all homes. It is also great for hotel receptions, offices, hospitals, and many other facilities, where easy-to-maintain monolithic flooring options that are both hard and resistant can make a difference.
