Remodeling 101: Polished Concrete Floors - Remodelista
Concrete is the Cinderella of flooring materials Hardworking low maintenance versatile affordable and in it for the... ...long term polished concrete is an undeniably appealing floor choice but like everything not without its faults Photograph by Michael Moran, courtesy of Specht Harpman Architects. Architects Specht Harpman installed polished concrete floors across the expanse of a 19th-century gambrel barn that they renovated in Connecticut. Concrete is a natural composite material made from an aggregate (typically rocks, river stones, and granite chips) combined with a cement binder (such as limestone and calcium sulphate) and water. What is polished concrete? Transforming concrete into a smooth and decorative surface for flooring requires treating it with a concrete densifier, a chemical that’s applied over the concrete surface to fill the pores. Photograph by Matthew Williams. Diamond-polished concrete floors in the Amagansett, New York, home of Tiina Laakkonen and Jon Rosen. Tour the whole house in the Remodelista book and Rhapsody in Blue. Like all things utilitarian, concrete floors are having a moment. Thanks to the stalwarts of modernism and their form-follows-function mandate, the material has become synonymous with honesty and integrity. Why are concrete floors in vogue? Polished concrete floors in the office (and rest of the house) of Michaela Scherrer in Pasadena, California. Photograph by Matthew Williams for Remodelista: A Manual for the Considered Home. What are the challenges involved in installing a concrete floor? Just because concrete implies utility doesn’t mean that working with it is simple. If you’re installing a new concrete floor, the choices of textures, colors, and finishes are nearly limitless. Texture and finish are determined by the grade of concrete used, how it’s poured, and the polishing process. What kinds of textures, colors, and finishes are available for concrete floors? A stair that’s a red ribbon of concrete runs through this London House designed by architect Jonathan Tuckey. Concrete is susceptible to oil, water, and pet stains, so sealing is recommended–and an easy process (use your installer’s recommended sealing product). Do concrete floors need to be sealed, and what sort of maintanence is involved? Maintaining a concrete floor is simple: Once a week or so, run a dust mop over it to pick up dirt and fine particles, and then mop with a gentle cleanser. You may be living with concrete floors and not know it: Concrete subfloors often exist beneath another flooring material, so all you have to do is remove the top layer. Can you change the finish or color of an existing concrete subfloor? A polished concrete floor is an attractive option for many reasons, including the price. The average cost is $4 to $5 a square foot. How much does a concrete floor cost? Amanda Pays and Corbin Bernsen opted for a polished concrete floor when they transformed a workshop/shed into a bunkhouse for visiting children and guests. Embarking on a kitchen remodel? For more advice, go to our Remodeling 101 archive.