10 Reasons For Decorative Concrete Basement Floors

I got really interested in interior decorative concrete applications about 6 years ago. In 2002 I was rehabbing old steel buildings with new facades, landscaping, signage, lighting, basically turning lemons into lemonade.

Flooring was a big issue. The floors were always concrete. The big issue was height at steps and doorways. Any new flooring that added height required doors to be removed, openings raised, new doors purchased and installed. A big expense. At stairways, any increase of floor height at stairs created a zoning violation and hence denial of the Certificate of Occupancy. Tile and hardwood never worked, they always added an inch.

The only solution that worked was either a concrete acid stain with concrete sealers or a concrete overlay. Most older floors needed a concrete overlay which added less than 1/8th inch in height.

There are many concrete floors where the only decorative solution is a stain or overlay. One of the largest is basement floors. Almost everyone who owns a home or retail store with a basement has the same flooring issue. Everyone who has a concrete overlay in their basement is happy, those that don't wish they did.

So here are the 10 reasons why I like concrete overlays on a basement floor.

1. Do It Yourself - yes you can. Many have purchased decorative concrete kits and installed themselves with excellent results for under $2.00 per square foot.

2. Green - Concrete, water based dyes and sealers are non - hazardous. Reducing dust and mold, they are the healthiest floors.

3. Thin - concrete overlays at less then 1/8th inch thick solve the height issue created by other floors. Saves time, money and hassle.

4. Durable - Bonds to concrete with strength of Iron. Cures to a rock hard finish. Many retail stores, restaurants and grocery stores have them because they are durable.

5. Custom - Create simple gray or brown floors. Easily design with patterns using tape or stencils. Acid stains and concrete dyes can be applied. The beauty of overlays is ability to control color.

6. Moisture - Decorative concrete floors can survive flooding. They are porous and breathable allowing moisture vapor from concrete slab to pass through.

7. Versatile - They can be applied right up concrete stairs and walls.

8 Quick application - applications are 2-3 days.

9. Price - In most cases decorative concrete kits can be purchased with all tools and materials for under $2.00 per square foot.

10. Satisfying - The satisfaction of creating your own concrete floor is very high.

That's why I like decorative concrete overlays on basement floors. They work!

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Suspended Timber Floors

The majority of older houses in Britain have suspended timber floors (also known as hollow floors) in the ground-floor rooms. However, during and after the Second World War, timber became scarce and restrictions were placed on its use and availability, so other forms of construction were employed. The solid floor was introduced as a suitable and economic alternative at ground level.

Suspended timber ground floors

A suspended timber ground floor consists of a number of boards sometimes tongued-and-grooved - or sheets of man-made boards such as chipboard or plywood, laid over and supported by timber joists. The joists are 400mm to 600mm apart and are supported by 100mm x 50mm timber wallplates which are in turn supported by the main walls of the building, or by sleeper walls built up from a layer of concrete beneath the house, or by a combination of the two. To prevent the timber floor from absorbing any moisture, the wallplates are bedded on top of a suitable damp-proof course.

Suspended timber upper floors

Like suspended ground floors, upper floors consist of timber boards or sheets of man-made board laid over and supported by timber joists. Suspended timber floors which are not at ground level are often called single floors because the joists bridge a single span they run from wall to wall.

As it is not possible to give additional support to upper floors by using sleeper walls, the joists of single floors are bigger than those of hollow ground floors and usually bridge the narrowest span - often across the narrowest part of the room. If the joists bridge spans greater than 4.0m, timber or steel cross-members (called binders) may be used to give intermediate support. Joists in a single floor tend to flex, so rows of struts may be laid across the floor between the joists to make the floor stiffer.

The ends of the joists may be built into the walls, or supported by joist hangers built into or fixed on to the face of the wall. If the joist end is built into the wall, this part should be treated with preservative to protect it from decay.

The ceiling of the room underneath the floor is usually lath-and-plaster or plasterboard fixed to the underside of the joists. Plasterboard may have a plaster 'skim' finish.

Solid ground floors

The cross-section of a solid floor consists of a number of layers of different materials.

The first layer is 100 to 150mm of consolidated hardcore com¬posed of crushed stone and clean broken bricks. This is to level out any unevenness in the ground caused by the excavation and to provide a firm and level base for the floor slab.

A 50mm-thick layer of fine ash, sand or weak mix concrete is laid over the hardcore to bind the surface. This blinding will also give a smooth even surface for laying the damp-proof membrane on. The damp-proof membrane should never be laid directly on to the hardcore - it may puncture.

The damp-proof membrane may be placed above or below the floor slab. In the latter case, the DPM will keep the floor slab free from moisture. A wide range of materials are suitable as DPMs: hot and cold poured bitumen, asphalt, epoxy pitch compounds and 1000-gauge polythene sheeting.

The floor slab (concrete) can vary in thickness from 100 to 150mm and have one or two layers of mesh reinforcement, depending on the area of the floor and its intended use. The concrete slab may have a cement screed laid over its surface, depending on what type of floor finish is to be used.

To provide extra insulation, 50mm sheets of expanded polystyrene can be added between the slab and the screed.

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Polished Concrete Floors - Creating the Look of Marble For the Cost of Cement

The industrial improvement season is just around the corner and now is the time to start planning your projects. When we hear the word concrete, usually the adjectives ordinary, plain, drab, industrial gray strikes our mind. Gone are the days of old concrete. Today, decorative concrete transforms your thinking and takes your breath away the first time you see the work done by decorative concrete. Prepare yourself to get amazed when you look at the concrete floors work done at Xtreme polishing system. These polishing systems turns concrete as shiny as gloss- so imagine an extremely durable reflective floor that not only looks awesome, functional, hygiene, but also extremely low to maintain. A variety of finishes are available to complement the desired look.

Areas Ideals for Applications: Show Rooms, Super Markets, Domestic Dwellings, Shop Malls, Schools, Restaurants, Garages, Hospitals, Retail Shops, Industries, Boutiques, Cafeterias. Polished concrete is desirable for those who want a stylish easy to maintain floor that can withstand the abuse of everyday life. With decorative concrete, you can transform that boring floor into a floor that looks like cordovan leather.

Moving outside, polished concrete floors have many advantages over the popular wood deck. With wood decks, you must stain and seal it each year. Maintenance work is high. Decorative concretes are strong and withstand almost any weather condition. The beauty of decorative is beyond compare. You can make your floors into the more expensive stones and pavers at a fraction of a cost. Concrete is versatile and can be conjured into any shape. Even ordinary, gray concrete can be stained to a glossy finish.

Polishing concrete is not a do-it-yourself job; it requires specialists and special equipments. Polishing enhances an existing surface and brings out the landmarks and character of its previous life. Regardless of whether you own a home or office, consulting with a contractor is a good idea when weighing the options for your polished concrete flooring. They will be able to point out the factors you may not have considered previously, and detail the best course of action, going through with a particular decorative concrete alteration such as polishing or staining and then future maintenance. When properly done, this technique can bring depth and detail to an ordinary surface and save you both money and headache in the long run. Xtreme Polishing Systems welcomes home and business owners, architects, designers and contractors to collaborate with them.

Decorating with concrete is not something you would ordinarily think of doing, but when you learn about its versatility and beauty, the more tempting it becomes to think of concrete work as an art form. Decorative concrete can transform your thinking as well as your floors, pool decks, and countertops.

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