Why Concrete Flooring Deserves Your Top Consideration

Attractive and distinctive, concrete floors continue to be one of the most interesting options available today

Vinita Kunnath 2 April 2019

A Houzz India contributor, freelance writer, lover of the internet, travel, funny blogs and all things off-beat, with an eye for good taste and aesthetics. Home, not clothes, maketh a man.....or woman.

A Houzz India contributor, freelance writer, lover of the internet, travel, funny... More

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When we used to visit our nani’s house as kids during the summer holidays, all of us cousins would flop onto the floor after playing in the hot sun, fighting for space to cool our backs on its smooth red-oxide-tinted concrete surface – and I remember thinking, when I grow up and have a house of my own, I want a floor exactly like this one. Alas, I grew up and my home has industry-cut vitrified tiles, which have their own advantages, yes, but given a choice (and the budget) I’d change them to concrete (also known in local parlance as IPS – Indian patent stone) in a jiffy.

Concrete floors have a variety of benefits but, like all flooring materials, they have a few drawbacks too. If, like me, you have a long-standing dream to install concrete floors, or are building a new home, make sure you understand both the good and the bad.

Dipen Gada and Associates

Pros
Durability
Concrete flooring is extremely tough and resilient, just like the highways concrete is used for. Durability also means that the material is difficult to damage, forget scratching or denting it. It can easily withstand the pressure from very heavy furniture even if you drag things across the floor, and you don’t have to worry about damage from dropped items. The trick is to properly seal the floor, so it is practically immune to stains, spills and hard impacts.

Decor Ideas

Low maintenance
The same properties that make concrete floors so durable also make them easy to care for. A little sweeping and damp mopping is all that’s required to keep them looking like new. For stubborn stains, use a utility pad dabbed in a neutral cleaning agent and scrub till the smudge fades.

Tip: It is advisable to seal or wax the floor every 12 months, depending on the level of traffic, in order to maintain the protective layer over its surface.

Chitra Vishwanath

Design flexibility:
Concrete is no more synonymous with drab grey industrial-looking floors. You can either mix the colour of your choice directly into the concrete before the slab is placed, or amp up its looks with acid treatment, tinted sealants, PU treatment or epoxy coatings, which turn plain concrete into a stunning, one-of-a-kind finish.

Chitra Vishwanath

With the right colouring agents and technique, finished concrete can mimic ceramic tile, natural stone, brick, or any other look. You could either engrave it with textural patterns or polish the floor to a smooth, glossy sheen – in short, one can have an almost endless variety of colours and textures with this versatile material.

Look up different ways to use concrete in the house

Between Spaces

Versatility
A concrete floor allows you a lot of future design freedom because, in effect, it is the most basic flooring material, used at the very foundation of a building. If you already have a smooth concrete floor and are looking for a change, then all you have to do is install the new flooring over it. Conversely, an existing floor can be stripped back to its concrete slab underneath, which can be transformed into an appropriate flooring with the right treatments.

Read on to see why concrete floors are ideal for your home

Architecture Paradigm

Monolithic appearance
If done right, concrete floors can give you an uninterrupted, uniform look. The fact that concrete can be laid in extremely large slab sizes, in the process making the room look spacious, is an aesthetic plus over the small grid-like look of tiled floors. Moreover, it can be poured in a variety of shapes, including atypical round or polygonal shapes.

Dipen Gada and Associates

Cons
Hardness
Its very toughness, which is an advantage, can be cause for concern for small children or elderly folk in the household, in case of unfortunate falls; plus, standing for long on such a hard surface could cause discomfort. It’s also unforgiving, in that not many objects will survive a fall on a concrete floor.

Dipen Gada and Associates

Cracking
If concrete is not perfectly sealed at the top and bottom surfaces, it could develop cracks over time due to changes in temperature, and build up of moisture and humidity. The latter can lead to growth of mould and mildew.

Between Spaces

Coldness
Concrete is inherently cold and doesn’t retain heat very well, which means that on a cold winter morning the surface of the floor is going to feel chilled to bare toes – a reason why you see IPS flooring more in warm south India than the northern region.

Architecture BRIO

Time- and labour-intensive
Concrete floors are mostly laid in situ and require thorough professionals to do full justice to them. The technique to lay and customise them is time consuming and labour intensive, and they take a long time to dry and set.

ESSTEAM

I do believe if floors have character, those made of concrete have oodles of it. They can suit a myriad of decor types, ranging from the extreme rustic to ultra-modern. So, before you settle for the usual flooring options, consider concrete.

Read more:
A Guide To Concrete Floors
How to Embrace Concrete in Your Home

Tell us:
What is your opinion on concrete floors? Do tell us in the Comments section.