If the first thought that goes through your mind when you think of concrete flooring is a big gray slab, that's probably because the majority of concrete that's poured is a big gray slab. But there are some remarkable options for coloring and texturing concrete flatwork that will amaze you.
Concrete can simulate pricier materials
Whether you're installing a new driveway, walkway, patio, or floor for your sunroom or any other indoor room, decoratively finished concrete flatwork is sure to enhance your home's beauty - and resale value - at a fraction of the cost of other popular options. Concrete combines durability, cost-effectiveness and low-maintenance with the versatility to be colored and textured to simulate various pricier materials.
Interior concrete floors have typically been covered with carpet, hardwood, laminate or vinyl flooring, among many other options. But more recently it has become increasingly common to finish the concrete surface and leave it uncovered.
Many possibilities other than gray
New or existing concrete floors can be treated with stains or colorants to give it a solid or textured color finish. Virtually any color can be cast into concrete - from pastels and earth tones to deeper hues. Concrete can be colored to match existing indoor and outdoor color schemes for a unified look. For example, you can coordinate the color of the patio or sunroom floor with the home's interior to give continuity. The addition will appear as a seamless extension of the house, rather than an add-on. Matching concrete garden walkways can further extend the cohesiveness of the home and garden. You can also match the driveway to the siding or to accent colors on doors and around windows. Or color walkways to match architectural features, or to blend into the landscape. The possibilities are truly endless, and that's just varying color.
Textures provide more variety
Concrete can be prepared in a wide variety of textures, from a smooth polish to the roughness of gravel. You can have an exposed aggregate finish, where the stone or gravel in the concrete is visible, for a more natural look. Or you can embed any stone into the concrete surface. The choice is yours - pebbles, marble, granite chips, sea shells, colored stones, etc.
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Patterns can be stamped into semi-hardened concrete to simulate the look and feel of various popular flooring and landscaping materials. Special tools are used to score, stamp, roll or inlay patterns into concrete to resemble marble, wood, slate, granite, brick, flagstone, cobblestone, tile paving and other surfaces. Added details such as subtle color shifts, surface texture, and real grout placed in the formed joints can give concrete a more convincing resemblance to slate, granite, tile and other flooring.
Geometric shapes help scale down large expanses
Other geometric patterns can help scale down large expanses of paving by forming panels of various shapes and sizes. Rectangular, square, circular and diamond shapes are popular, but other shapes, including abstract shapes, are also possible.
Concrete combines durability, cost-effectiveness and low-maintenance with the versatility to be colored and textured to simulate various pricier materials.
And this is only the beginning. There is an endless variety of options that combines the durability, economy and practicality of concrete with the beauty of other, more expensive materials. With technological advances that allow concrete to take on virtually any color, texture or shape, concrete is redefining the possibilities for both indoor and outdoor flooring.
Decorative concrete costs more, but less than other materials
Simple staining and patterning can add as little as $1-$3 per square foot. On average, however, stamping and finishing increases costs by about $6 to $8 per square foot, although it can cost as much as $15 per square foot, depending upon the complexity of the work. But even at these prices, decorative concrete is generally one third to one half the cost of using materials like slate or granite, and fifth to a tenth as expensive as using actual bricks or flagstone. With finished concrete, you get the same custom look, often with better performance, at a fraction of the cost.
