A lot of people love concrete floors because these require minimal maintenance and are durable. You can find the material in homes, offices, and industrial environments, among others. In its natural state, a concrete floor has a dull matte grey finish.
Most don’t like the drab color and finish of concrete, which is why they would typically opt for other flooring options instead. Over the years, however, technology has made it possible for homeowners and entrepreneurs to create and have unique flooring. Much like commercial wallpaper for walls, you too can have floors that reflect your personal or business identity.
End your search for a distinct concrete floor by considering these treatment ideas. Keep in mind that results can vary depending on the treatment used and the skill of the professional treating your floors.
1. Water-based and acid stains
Concrete stains and dyes come in two main categories: acid and water-based. Both types work by reacting with the flooring material after the chemicals are applied.
A variety of patterns and designs can be produced depending on where the dyes are applied. What varies is how the dye appears to the eye.
Water-based stains offer more variety and produce more even solid colors. On the other hand, acid-based dyes produce a more translucent effect. The stain is not recommended if there are stains on the cement as these will show through once the acid-based stain dries.
2. Decorative paints
Paints specifically designed for the floor are available on the market. With these specialized products, preparing the flooring material is critical. For the paint to work, the concrete slab must be porous enough to absorb and hold the color – otherwise, the paint may flake off over time.
The application of the paint on the cement floor requires a lot of time and manpower. Due to these factors, paint is often used in smaller spaces that see minimal foot traffic.
3. Epoxy coatings
Epoxy is an industrial coating used to repair any cracks on a floor surface. It is possible to find these industrial paints in warehouses, ramps, factories, and similar industrial environments where heavy foot traffic is expected. The chemical fills in any gaps to prepare the surface before applying any treatment.
Although epoxy is typically covered, there are now epoxies that come in a variety of colors. These vibrantly-colored epoxies can turn your monotonous flooring into a modern masterpiece.
A pack of floor epoxy comes with two liquid components: a catalyst and a hardener. The ingredients are mixed together before they are applied to the floor.
Unlike typical paint that dries, the epoxy hardens like cement. Because it looks, feels, and behaves much like cement, it comes as no surprise that epoxy is a popular treatment for commercial establishments.
4. Resin coats
Applicable for both existing and new floors, resins do more than simply add color. When added to the curing cement, the resulting flooring material becomes more durable. The tinted floor is more resistant to damage caused by chemical spills, extreme temperature changes, drops and falls.
Similar to epoxy, the resin coating system consists of several liquids. The liquid components are combined thoroughly before the mixture is added to the curing concrete slab. Achieving the desired result typically takes several days as each layer needs to be cured properly.
5. Colored cement
With the other previously-mentioned treatment options, the stain or coloring element is added while the cement is drying or once the flooring has dried. What makes this option different is that the pigments are added while the concrete is being mixed. The result is a more evenly colored floor that spans several inches down.
To create different patterns or designs, a separate batch must be made for each color that you wish to have. This makes the treatment option more labor-intensive and expensive to use than the others.
6. Polished and stained
This treatment idea requires polishing the cement floor before the stain is added. Polishing is accomplished by going over the surface with fine abrasive pads. The dye can be added after the polishing is completed.
Unique effects on polished stained concrete can be achieved by playing with the light that is reflected on the surface. This unique effect can be used in nightclubs or art galleries, among others.
7. Color hardeners
Coming in powder form, the hardener is applied right after the concrete is poured over the space and screeded to create an even surface. The powder can be sprinkled manually or mechanically, regardless of the size of the floor. Similar to resins, the hardener enhances the durability of the cement floor and makes it more resistant to damage caused by spills, scrapes, or drops.
Breathe life into your concrete floorings today with the help of these treatment options. Call a concrete and resin flooring specialist to see what interesting things can be done to your flooring material.
AUTHOR BIO
Ralph El Eid is the Business Development Manager at COLORTEK - Wall & Floor Fashion. EQUIPAINT is the franchise owner of COLORTEK in Dubai (UAE) and Doha (Qatar); an international paints manufacturer specializing in the widest range of decorative paints and seamless concrete & resin flooring, with a unique showroom concept, and thus an ideal destination for homeowners, consultants, architects, interior designers and paint applicators.
