Colored Concrete Floors

Concrete is rarely thought of as an end-use product for floors outside of a basement, garage or commercial enterprise. Homeowners who build a slab-on-grade home will usually frame the concrete pad and use traditional flooring or cover it with tile. However, rather than covering up the concrete there is a movement to show it off by using colors and stains.

Keeping a concrete floor is great if the floor contains a radiant heat system. The thermal mass of the floor makes sure that the heat is absorbed and released long after the power is turned off. In addition the concrete will accept warmth from the sun through windows even on a cold, winter day.

One of the most dramatic ways that the finish of concrete is altered is by "acid etching." Unlike the name implies the acid does not actually stain the concrete but causes a chemical reaction with the lime in the mixture. Depending on the acid strength, type of aggregate and moisture conditions the surface can take on a mixture of blacks, browns and green-ish blue colors. When highly polished this gives the floor a striking appearance.

Another way concrete is colored is to apply dye when it is still wet. Along with the colors, textures can be added so that the floor resembles marble, tile or even wood. When the floor is highly-polished and sealed it is easy to maintain and very durable.