Retail spaces demand more than just bare concrete floors. The fact is that each floor space is different. If you’re a business owner, you want to install concrete flooring that best represents the brand you’re trying to showcase. It’s a good thing there are many design ideas for concrete flooring in the market today. Each type of flooring has pros and cons and it’s up to you to choose the best concrete flooring ideas available in the market. Here are some of the more popular options today.
Stained Concrete Floors
Staining concrete floors is done by putting a chemical stain on the surface of the concrete. The chemical penetrates the concrete floors and reacts with the volatile organic compounds already in the product.
Once this happens, the surface takes on a permanent color change along with variations in pattern. This helps create a pleasant appearance that’s also permanent and durable.
Notably, though, stained concrete floor surfaces should be done by a professional who can reasonably predict the colors and patterns that will show up.
Done correctly, the technique can look like other flooring materials, such as wood flooring or stone. Most people use staining for outdoor flooring or for places where the light can help the colors jump out.
It has to be noted that there are also some drawbacks to this decorative concrete flooring. The staining process is permanent so there’s no way to remove the color after completion. The concrete floor can also be slippery when wet, and the stain can become uneven, even with the best installation process.
Polished Concrete Floor
A polished concrete surface is done with the help of grinding material. The concrete floor design is ground and polished to create glossy perfection. As a result, you get this smooth surface with beautiful patterns that naturally come from the stone.
Even with the grinding process, polished concrete floors remain dense, hard, and easy to clean. The high gloss finish of the end design makes this flooring material popular among high-end places like hotel lobbies, event places, upscale residences, and others.
The drawback of this design is the slick surface that naturally comes with a glossy finish. The polished option may not be perfect for retail properties designed for children and pets. Installing a carpet along the footpaths may help.
Also, note that the floor polishing process may take some time, so don’t choose this if you want quickly completed projects.
Epoxy Coatings Concrete Floors
A concrete floor is essentially covered with an epoxy resin which helps seal the material and keep it safe from impact, scratches, abrasions, and even chemicals.
The coating is applied in several layers and when finished, can extend the life of the concrete. This cost-effective idea is common in commercial building applications or high-traffic spaces.
Concrete floors with this sealant can also be found in garages and basement floors since little maintenance is needed.
Like polished concrete, the downside of epoxy flooring is the slippery texture of the material. This type of flooring is not a good fit for the bathroom since the moisture can only worsen it.
On the upside, there are ways to counter the smooth surface. Additional work can be done on the epoxy concrete overlays to make them safer for industrial spaces. For office spaces, however, epoxy can improve the interior design of the floor.
Inlaid Graphics or Logos
Flooring with inlaid graphics or logos is relatively common for commercial floors. Many interior designers like to add this to the building to pump up the branding.
The company’s name or logo embellished on the floor helps boost the morale and perception of people as they walk through the structure. The inlaid graphics is usually installed on top of polished concrete or concrete with a fine seal. This helps keep the graphic secure from dirt and dust while allowing others to walk on the floors without fear of damaging the concrete design.
Since it’s made from the same rigid material, concrete floors with inlaid graphics have the same benefits as your typical concrete. It’s low maintenance and long-lasting, and aesthetically pleasing.
The downside is that it can be tough to remove the logo once it’s there. This long-lasting design may necessitate further grinding or a new layer to cover it up.
The logo may also get dull over time, especially if cleaning is minimal. With consistent cleaning, however, all of these wouldn’t cause problems.
Concrete Tiles
As the name suggests, this flooring type is made of concrete and then arranged in the same way you’d arrange tiles. They’re durable and available in different colors, allowing you to choose the perfect one for living rooms or commercial spaces.
They’re perfectly fine for high-traffic areas as long as the floor is only used for foot traffic. They’re also resistant to fire and water and easy to maintain with regular attention.
A downside of concrete tiles is the grout lines which can easily accumulate dirt and grime. The tile itself is great but the space between the tiles may develop earthy tones that do not blend well with the rest of the flooring.
On a positive note, cleanup is easy enough and there are tons of products today specially designed for flooring grout.
Exposed Aggregate Concrete Flooring
Exposed aggregate refers to concrete flooring that is ground to expose the natural pattern underneath the stone. As a result, you get this earthy appeal that can be further improved with sealing.
The beauty of this concrete flooring approach is the classic earthy design that looks great no matter the era. The look helps create an association between stability and the company in the mind of the people walking on the concrete flooring. Since the material is still concrete, the area remains tough, hard, and durable.
A plus of this concrete floor is that the exposed aggregate helps add friction to the living space. This makes this flooring safer compared to the ones already listed above.
However, installing concrete floors like this can take time since the grinding process takes a long time. From there, the exposed aggregate is sealed so that no further movement of the exposed stones can happen.
Unlike hardwood floors or tile, these concrete flooring ideas will last decades, especially with regular sealing. You can use it for the bathroom or the shower.
Broomed Concrete Floors
This is as simple as it gets. Broomed concrete flooring ideas are best used for outdoor applications like the parking space, the garage, or the driveway. Concrete is poured onto the target area using a broom, and little drag marks are placed on the still-wet concrete. This creates friction marks that prevent people or cars from slipping. You can find this technique used on many highways today.
The downside of this method is that broomed concrete looks bad. It has no appeal at all, or it doesn’t send a message concerning the brand. Broomed concrete floor ideas are primarily for utility purposes, so don’t expect much.
Concrete Floor Murals
This is one of the design ideas for concrete floors. Unlike inlaid graphics, the murals transform the concrete flooring since they are painted directly on top of the concrete floor.
Contractors use a special type of paint that adheres to the concrete for a more permanent solution. Some sealing is usually applied on the surface to protect the paint and prevent it from quickly deteriorating. Compared to inlaid graphics, murals are a less permanent way of designing concrete floors.
Murals usually need the surface to be smooth with a glossed-up finish. This means that the flooring can get slick, especially when wet. Keeping it clean may also be challenging, especially since the goal is to keep the murals clear and vibrant.
While it’s incredibly attractive to look at, it’s not a good idea to put this in a house with children or pets. However, it can be a great talking point for the living room.
Decorative Overlay Concrete Floor Ideas
Finally, you have a decorative overlay, which is done when you already have an existing concrete floor. It’s a perfect choice if you want to do some maintenance and freshen up the room to keep it looking its best.
A concrete floor with a decorative overlay has the added benefit of faster installation since you’ll only pour a thin layer into the space.
Some contractors like to grind the existing concrete floor a little to level it off. This way, the added layer will not unnecessarily thicken up and elevate the space.
The downside is that this is not advisable if you have marble, tile, or hardwood floor currently installed on the property. If you have carpet, you may need to find exactly what’s below before deciding to use this method.
Final Word
Of course, those are just some of the concrete floor ideas available if you use concrete floors to transform your property. There are other options like troweled concrete floors and stamped concrete floors. Some may look good for a family home, while others may have a more commercial application.
Note that the ideal choice is the flooring that best suits your need at the time. Do you want something durable, dependable, and easy to maintain? Or do you want to sacrifice a little bit of durability for the appeal of decorative concrete? Don’t forget that cost is also an essential factor.
Contact Extreme Industrial Coatings for all your commercial concrete flooring needs in California.
Well, explained info. Thanks for sharing