Concrete Floor Trends

The trend for concrete floors in new homes and remodels continues to evolve past the craze of the last decade. The current trend is to design so that concrete has a warmer, elegant and more natural feel, instead of a forceful statement. A sustainable style is usually one that will not date itself over time, and some the techniques of the past decade have been overstated, so they may be loosing their appeal, especially in residential architecture. It is OK to be adventuresome in a restaurant or retail space, but day to day living in a home should be a relaxing experience.

Remodels and new construction are different animals, when it comes to concrete floors. Remodels often involve utilizing an existing floor that was not intended as a finished surface, usually a slab-on-grade construction where the concrete was covered with some other material, like carpet, tile or wood. So in a remodel, you would need to make an assessment of what you find when you remove the old finish. There could be glue, cracks, rough and uneven spots, mold, stain and other unexpected conditions. You will have to work with what you find. My advice is to treat this as an opportunity to unleash the surprise out of the floor. But certainly keep the surprise subtle! Look for natural patterns, even crack and veins or mottling that occurred naturally as the concrete aged.For new construction you may have more control since you can pour the slabs with intention. Slab-on-grade construction allow you the freedom to integrate color into the concrete when it is poured in place. You can also integrate sand and aggregate to add more interest to the concrete. So do your homework to explore the many options, and choose a concrete contractor who has experience with pouring a "finished grade" floor!Here are some other thoughts about the benefits of concrete floors:

• Sustainability: Lets face it, concrete will last for a very long time. So there is no need to replace it like carpet, tile or wood. Also you will NOT need to introduce a second material to cover the concrete.
• Maintenance: Unlike carpet and wood, concrete is fast and easy to care for with a simple vacuum cleaner for hard surfaces. Spot cleaning with water or mild detergent is simple and quick.
• Economy: The cost of a concrete finished concrete floor eliminates the need for an added floor finish like carpet, wood or tile. There is a nominal cost to pouring a "finished" floor, but that cost is usually much less than even the cost of carpet. It usually costs from $2 to $6 a square foot for a polished grey slab with a simple clear finish coat. The costs can go up if you add aggregates, grinding, hardeners, stains, and elaborate scoring patterns, so keep it simple if your goal is to save costs.
• Beauty and Inspiration: If done with "timelessness" in mind, a concrete floor can look and feel as natural as a wood floor, or luxurious natural stone floor like marble or travertine. Concrete is made from natural materials, so it ages with character as it cures. Even subtle cracks and uneven curing can add depth and interest to the floor. Concrete floors can be a perfect background for adding rugs to define areas and break up the visual plane, or placing furniture with soft textures.
• Energy Efficiency: Concrete has the special property call "thermal mass", which allows it to store heat and retain its temperature for a longer period of time than wood or carpet. So in the winter it will take on the temperature of the interior and hold it in place so that your heating system will not work so hard. It will also take in the warmth of the morning or the southern sun and store it for daytime use. While in the summer, it will take on the coolness of the earth below it, and serve as a heat sink to take the heat out of the air and cool the space down. Be sure to consult with your designer when the house is being planned for the site and window locations are determined. Choose a professional who has experience with passive solar design.