The Truth about Interior Concrete Flooring

What to look for when choosing your concrete floor

I hear it about once a week, a client comes into our showroom and says something along the lines of, “I want a concrete floor because I want a durable no-maintenance floor.” If only it were that easy! We need to first address the many different definitions of concrete floors. Let’s begin with overlays. Overlays are applied over existing floors and add anywhere from a credit card thickness to 3/4” to the existing slab, depending on which finish is selected: stamped, broomed or troweled. Another option utilizes architectural concrete applications of 3” thick or more. These options offer finishes that range from staining and sealing to varying levels of polishing that add a densifier to the surface. Decorative saw cuts can also be used to break up colors into patterns or separate rooms and boundaries. Finally, starting from the ground up by pouring a fresh slab allows a change in the mix design; the options with this choice are limitless.

Now that we know the basic definitions and processes, let’s address the common myths:

Myth #1: Concrete is maintenance free. The truth: Nothing, I repeat, nothing, is maintenance free. The lowest maintenance choice would be a true polished concrete floor. These require no re-sealing or re-waxing and can be cleaned with a neutral sealer.Over time, they may require re-burnishing or diamond polishing to restore the shine. All other concrete floors require some degree of maintenance through re-sealing and/or re-waxing.

Retail flooring with obvious traffic wear is everywhere. This chronic problem is due to improper installation or maintenance. The floor at Colorado College in Colorado Springs gives us a fine example of a well-maintained floor. This floor was placed around a decade ago and still has its original gloss levels due to the level of maintenance taken by the on-site staff.

Myth #2: All concrete polishing processes are virtually the same. The truth: Far from it – every contractor and architect has his/her own interpretation of what a polished floor is and should be. Some think a couple passes of a polisher qualifies a floor as “polished”. However, the true benefits of a polished floor come from a thorough process which includes a densifier and stain blocker worked into the floor with the passes of the diamond grinding and polishing pads. We recommend the Bomanite Polishing system, which is a seven-step process. Learn more about Bomanite’s different systems here.

Myth #3: Concrete floors are the most durable flooring option. The truth: The durability of the floor depends on the process. If you choose a polished floor, I would agree, apolished concrete floor is extremely durable. However, if you choose a micro-topping system, it has many of the same characteristics of a fine wood floor. It can be dinged, dented and scratched.

Your choice of flooring will depend on what is most important to you – maintenance-free, aesthetics, or a combination of both. Each application has its benefits.

--> Visit Colorado Hardscapes' website or Design Center for examples of different finishes, applications, and specifications.

Unveiling the true characteristics of concrete

Concrete is not new. The technology of concrete is not new. Both have been utilized for thousands of years. However, re-discovering the aesthetic characteristics of concrete is a pleasing trend that has re-emerged in the design community. Whether it is a water feature splash pad, sidewalk, pool deck, or a grand entry to a luxurious hotel, Bomanite’s® Sandscape Texture™ brings out the true potential of today’s concrete: beautifully utilitarian concrete.

What do most people see when they think of concrete? Unfortunately, most people visualize the broom finish marks on the surface of the watery cement paste. What a shame. Concrete loses its art and beauty at the surface and is seen as merely serving its utilitarian purpose.

To overcome this perception, Colorado Hardscapes and Bomanite® developed Sandscape Texture™ to complement their exposed aggregate systems. Unlike the exposed aggregate of the past, with its rough, uneven, and foot-grating surface, Sandscape Texture™ refined the process to unveil the art beneath the surface of concrete. It reveals what concrete is: a mixture of water, cement, fine aggregate (sand) and course aggregate (rocks).

Sandscape Texture™ is the uniform finish of exposing the fine aggregate of the concrete surface. This makes for an ideal finish for several reasons.

· First, the Sandscape Texture™ process is a delicate procedure that, when done correctly, results in a consistently textured finish. Poorly executed copies of this process show the inconsistent texture of deep and light etching. Sandscape Texture™ has a uniform finish with the same level of etching across the entire surface.

· Second, it ages beautifully. The walking surface of Sandscape Texture™ is the sand surface; when that is walked off, there is more sand, so it wears evenly. Other non-exposed finishes show wear by cutting down to that sandy layer. Sandscape Texture™ merely brings the finish to that layer to eliminate that problem.

· Finally, it holds color beautifully. Although Colorado Hardscapes recommends an integral color over a topical stain or dye for most concrete applications, Sandscape Texture™ holds surface-applied colors better than standard

finishes. The stain will typically penetrate past the sandy surface to the cementitious layer. The color will not walk off as quickly as it would in other finishes.

Creative variations to Sandscape Texture™ abound. Varying the etch level, seeding decorative aggregate per the Lithocrete® standards, applying similar finishes of Aggretex®, or even changing the integral color or the aggregate in the mix allows designers an almost unlimited variety of finishes. It lends itself well to special scoring, staining and theming. Sandscape Texture™ is ideal for pool decks because it is smooth enough to walk on with bare feet, but yet has an excellent non-slip surface. According to Landscape Architect James S. Ramos of Nuszer Kopatz, “Incorporating Sandscape Texture™ colors and finish in our projects allows us to develop a level of detail that adds to the beauty and quality of our designs. It’s especially nice for pool decks and spray grounds and a great surface for bare feet.”

The trend by Landscape Architects to specify Sandscape Texture™ as their finish of choice is becoming more prevalent in Colorado. Words such as “authentic, natural, honest, and historic, with more the character of stone or other natural paving materials” aptly describe their love of the product. It has been embraced as a desired pavement finish in Class A commercial facilities and many high end residential projects. It combines the desired combination of aesthetics, durability, cost-effectiveness, and design flexibility. “In the current economy we have been working very hard with developers to get anticipated construction costs in line with their budgets,” said Gary L. Worthley, ASLA of LandWorks Design, Inc. “I appreciate the fact that we can get a more refined finish with the Sandscape Texture™ and we have been able to reduce cost by eliminating integral color and introducing local colored aggregates.”

Examples of this finish can be seen in the Denver Technological Center (DTC), downtown plazas, resort towns, high-end residential paving, and local shopping centers.