Your flooring will have a huge impact on what impression your house makes once someone enters your home. So if you decide to renovate your property, you must consider transforming your space starting from the ground up.
Take note that even if you have gorgeous fixtures and furnishings, these implements won’t mask an unappealing flooring. So to get the most out of your home remodeling project, you must pay extra care and attention to the type of flooring you choose.
Here are five things to consider when choosing the right flooring for your home.
1. Durability
When it comes to durability, well-sealed concrete floors are a great-looking, tough choice. Concrete is resistant to smells, water, scratches, and stains. Also, it does not harbor mold and mildew. Plus, it offers an energy-saving benefit because concrete floors have the ability to retain your property’s heating and cooling. Moreover, it takes a pounding so you don’t have to worry about wear and tear.
2. Style and color
Your flooring must complement your home’s architectural design and layout. Luckily, today most flooring options offer an assortment of color and pattern selections.
Going concrete does not always mean having a gray, dull flooring. Decorative floor finishes offer aesthetic appeal, which can have a huge impact on your property. By using different techniques, floors can even appear like stone, wood or marble flooring materials but at the price of concrete. This means that you can achieve whatever color and style you want.
Some of the best techniques that are now being used to attain superb colored effects will include:
- Colored concrete – Bagged colorants, which are often pre-measured, will be added to the mix to yield slabs of uniform color.
- Sealers – These clear-colored coatings are used primarily for waterproofing. Also, they highlight and add gloss to the pattern and color of the surface.
- Chemical stains – The surface will be etched with color once the lime reacts with the chemicals. Also, the surface is blotched with glowing textures that result in interesting patterns.
With the artistic use of decorative coatings and techniques, concrete can also be used as attractive flooring for any area in your property. It is now considered one of the most practical options not just for indoor rooms, but also for patios, driveways, and walkways. Moreover, it can be molded to mimic the elegance of expensive materials.
3. Available Light
The amount of natural light that enters your home is also an important consideration. This can prevent potential glare problems. For a kitchen that receives lots of sunlight, for instance, consider using a darker flooring. Another great option is to opt for a pattern alternating dark and light shades of the same hue. But if you want to reflect more natural light from the skylights and windows, consider using lighter colors to make the space appear bigger.
4. Maintenance
If you don’t have enough time to care for your floors once it is professionally installed, except for light mopping or a bit of sweeping, consider choosing a type of flooring that requires low maintenance. Concrete requires little upkeep, for instance.
Unlike carpet that demands frequent shampooing and vacuuming to maintain its cleanliness and attractiveness, you just have to damp mop dust-sealed concrete. Also, it only needs a layer of sacrificial wax and proper sealing to prevent stains and debris from soaking into its pores.
5. Cost
Your flooring can account for a huge proportion of your home remodeling costs. Aside from the cost of the material, you also have to include the installation cost. So make sure to choose one that is economical.
Since concrete is poured in place, it is considered one of the most cost-effective flooring options as opposed to quarried stone. Also, most buildings usually have a concrete slab on grade already. Thus, if you want a new flow in your basement, you just have to top of what is already there. But if you opt for an overlay or stamped pattern, you just need to add a thin layer over the grade slab. Its cost will still be more affordable than opting for natural stone or tile.
Choosing the type of flooring for your home is crucial to guarantee an appealing floor that you can enjoy for many years to come and boost your property’s value. Indeed, concrete has evolved over the years. With today’s decorative concrete techniques and coatings, a variety of patterns, colors, and designs can easily be made from it. It is durable enough to withstand heavy foot traffic and easy to maintain.
But to get the most out of your investment, hire a pro to do it on your behalf unless you are equipped with the right skill, know-how, and tools. Take note that a flooring project can go wrong easily and quickly. In the end, your efforts may come to waste. Prevent this from happening by working with flooring experts, from design and material selection to installation.
AUTHOR BIO
Ralph El Eid is the Business Development Manager at COLORTEK – Wall & Floor Fashion. EQUIPAINT is the franchise owner of COLORTEK in Dubai (U.A.E.) 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.
