April 15, 1998
For Immediate Release

Decorative Concrete Floors Work Magic with Gray Slabs

For years, homeowners have been adding value and design appeal to the exterior of their homes with decorative concrete. But now, that same process is working on the home's interior with new techniques, colors and processes that add a beautiful, decorative surface according to the Portland Cement Association.

With a little imagination and a hint of color, decorative concrete adds elegance to any home and take on the look of marble, slate, or stones or be colored and cut in decorative styles. "We're seeing floors that take on the look of the home's design," says Lionel Lemay, PCA's director of residential programs. "The appeal for the designer is that concrete is a malleable product that can take on nearly any shape or color."

Wayne Higdon of Patterned Concrete in Houston, Texas knows which styles are turning up most often in new homes, “Right now, the fad is saw cuts, stain work, and sandblasting accented with throw rugs.”

In addition to coloring the concrete, many contractors also provide textures to the concrete that add to the beauty. Concrete can take on the look of limestone or cobblestone thanks to stamping and embossing techniques available today.

Three ways to color
There are three techniques available to contractors interested in adding color to concrete:

• Dry shake
  A contractor does this process on top of a gray slab before it cures. A mixture of cement, sand and additive is troweled into the surface. Floors using this method generally have a higher cement to sand ratio so they harden with a dense, hard surface. In some cases, several colors are used to create floors that resemble natural stones or other finishes.
• Integral color
  To create a concrete where the color is available throughout the mix, contractors use pigment that is mixed in ready mixed concrete before it is finished. These additives contain finely ground pigments that bond with the cement to permanently color the mix. The concrete is tinted with pigments, usually iron oxide.
• Acid staining
  This technique involves staining cured concrete. The process uses a dye-impregnated stain that lightly colors the concrete. More applications can be applied to intensify the color. The finished floor often has a mottled patina.

Cost adds appeal
But adding all this decorative appeal doesn't cut into the homeowners pocket book. The cost of installing a decorative concrete floor is less than hardwood or other hard surfaces like marble or slate. Contractors say that coloring a concrete floor will add .75 to $2 per square foot to the cost of uncolored or stamped concrete floors.

The cost is low, but the look is high end. The cool thing about concrete is that it can take on any shape or color, working with the individual design and home.

Easy maintenance
Colored or stained concrete floors will not weather or fade over time. They will keep their appearance through the years. They do not repainting or recoating to keep the color from fading.

Maintenance for concrete floors is easy—the floor needs only a damp mopping and an occasional polishing to maintain it’s original appearance for years without the hassle and expense of repainting or reinstalling.

Another popular technique is to embed items in the concrete floor to add interest and texture.

Cement in its natural state is gray. This means that getting bright colors may be difficult. To make it easier to color the concrete, contractors will often specify a white cement, a special variety made from calcium deposits free from mineral discoloration. This type of cement is often more expensive, but will provide a truer color in decorative concrete floors.

Not just for new homes
The move toward decorative concrete flooring isn’t limited to new homes. According to Kellie Romero of Bomanite Corporation, a California based company producing paving systems for concrete flooring and pavements, “What’s becoming popular is remodeling old existing surfaces by removing the carpet and staining the concrete beneath.”

A decorative concrete floor will even accommodate remodeling. Concrete can be restained to create or coordinate with a new look. In addition, a homeowner can select a different area rug, or even refloor or recarpet over a concrete surface.

Professional installation needed
The Portland Cement Association recommends using a professional installer for decorative concrete floors. Concrete is a ever changing material, and mistakes are sometimes irreversible.

Skokie, IL-based Portland Cement Association represents cement companies in the U.S. and Canada. It conducts market development, engineering, research, education, and public affairs programs on behalf of its members. For more information on concrete for the home owner, contact the Portland Cement Association at 5420 Old Orchard Road, Skokie, Illinois 60077 or see the association website at www.portcement.org.

> Return to top

 
Careers | Sitemap | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | © 2009 Portland Cement Association - All Rights Reserved