Decorate your existing Concrete Floors

For those wanting an innovative alternative to hardwood, tile, or carpet, stained concrete floors are a beautiful and functional choice. Stained concrete floors offer an elegant surface that saves time and reduces allergies since it's so easy to clean.

Unlike plain grey concrete on walkways, these floors come in rich, variable colors and glow with a waxy sheen. Shades of green and brown color the intricate surface of stained concrete floors. They constitute a durable, decorative, and unique kind of floor covering for businesses, patios, and residences.

Many chic interior designers and families with practical concerns are choosing stained concrete floors because they combine the patterns of tiles with the affordability and ease of concrete. "We recommend acid staining to our high end clients as a unique, stylish, and practical application", says Julie Cramer, interior designer servicing the greater Boston,Massachusetts area."We used Concrete Makeovers on a recent interior loft application in downtown Boston and the results were amazing"

.Daily mopping keeps down dust, allergens, and bacteria. Area rugs can add warmth and softness if you worry that your room may look too severe or propagate echoes. You can choose from among many shades of earth-tone colors when designing the final look of your acid stained floor, but the outcome of the hue can't be guaranteed.

The complex stages of acid staining concrete means that natural variances, unplanned textures, and veining are to be expected. It is not a dye nor an application of paint. These organic patterns add to the appeal and elegance of this floor type, rather than represent a disadvantage.

With a stained concrete floor, you can create your own personalized mosaic or design. This means you may mimic marble tiles, terra cotta, hardwood inlays, or slate slabs. Experiment with outlining some areas in rectangular blocks to separate living spaces. For a dramatic flair, center circular medallions in hallways or staircase landings. Scatter repeating shapes across the vast expanse of a kitchen to break up the monotony.

After the process of chemical staining, the floor is sealed with a thick layer of wax and burnished to a rich, glowing sheen. Stained concrete floors are very flexible in their installation and future uses. For example, you can stain old, cracked concrete floors or lay brand new concrete slabs.

This floor covering is also compatible with radiant floor heating systems. Furthermore, concrete functions as a subfloor, so it can always be covered in more traditional materials, such as hardwood or carpet, later on. "I think decorative concrete is really taking off in the Boston area, especially floors and countertops," said Rob Johnson owner of Artcon Concrete (www.artcon-concrete.com). "You can do so many amazing things with concrete that you can't do with anything else. It can be as ornate and intricate as you want."

"Homeowners are always looking for a way to make their home stand out," he said. "… We can turn an ordinary gray concrete floor into a luxurious floor that resembles terrazzo, marble or glazed stone." He's also seen a recent surge in requests for concrete amenities such as acid-stained floors in basements, foyers and enclosed patios. "The trend is just now gaining interest here in New England, but I think it's really going to hit critical mass in the next few years," Mitchell said.

"People are really interested in acid-stained concrete floors because they can be done in any color and they are very low-maintenance."

From staining, scoring and stamping to polishing and acid-etching, concrete artisans like Johnson and are using an array of techniques to create unique designs to fit any type of décor. And any niche.

Concrete also can be smoothed and polished like stone or colored and textured like tile. With aggregates, colored pigment and stains, it can mimic marble, granite and other stone. As flooring, Concrete's easy maintenance makes it ideal for flooring. It's simple to clean and deters bacterial growth, an important attribute for those suffering from allergies. It's also touted by many as an environmentally friendly material for sustainable design.

Using other materials, such as wood, carpet or tile, some homeowners are opting to "redecorate" an existing concrete floor. To liven up a room, you can even create concrete "area rugs" through the use of pattern or stencils on the floor.

How much?

The cost of concrete floors ranges from about $5 per square foot on up. Norwell homeowner Michelle Poythress says it seemed logical to finish the concrete floor in her basement, instead of installing carpet. "For one thing, it made sense to use the concrete floor that's already there," Poythress said. "Another plus was that it's such easy maintenance. It just made sense with two growing children and a dog in the house. I think concrete is the way to go."