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Benefits and Costs of Decorative
concrete.
 If
you are considering a new floor, concrete flooring has many advantages.
A new technology, such as frost - protected shallow foundations, allow
use of the more economical slab floor construction in much more varied
climates than ever before. It is one of the most versatile and durable
surfaces you can choose from. Stained concrete has become popular in
restaurants, stores, and even residential areas.
Yet another wonderful advantage is that concrete is not subject to the
normal wear and tear of most flooring materials such as tears or stains.
It requires very little real maintenance and can be easily swept or
washed. Even flooding won’t affect it. It also has no crevices or
fibrous areas which can trap dirt or allergens. For those of you
allergic to your beloved pets it is a wonderful alternative! A major
advantage to concrete is it can give you a variety of looks at a cheaper
cost. Concrete can give the appearance of granite, marble, and many
other natural materials which can be beautiful but costly to use.
Another good energy efficient option is radiant floor heating
technology. It can easily be incorporated into slab floors such as those
discussed above. If you add a decorative finish to the concrete, it will
allow you the option of not adding thermal batteries to floor coverings,
while still achieving the maximum amount of heat transfer. This will not
only help condition the space, but will make your floor warm to the
touch. Doesn’t that sound appealing for when you first get out of bed in
the morning?
Costs for such procedures naturally varies depending on such conditions
as the materials or the contractor you use. If you do it yourself you
can probably purchase basic stain and wax for as little as a quarter for
every square foot of floor. Special colors of stain or commercial grade
materials may increase the cost a bit, but it should still be
affordable. Another variant in the cost of your procedure is the
complexity of the pattern and the finishes you choose. Simple patterns
may cost as little as two or three dollars a square foot in an area such
as a driveway or patio.
However projects which are more complex, such as those involving special
mixtures, complex patterns, hardeners, release agents or grout joints
might cost as much as fifteen dollars per square foot. To give yourself
a general idea, for jobs involving stamping or finishing it is best to
count on about twice as much per square foot. Another thing which may
actually decrease the cost of your procedure is the cost of using
decorative concrete. Concrete could cost a third or a half the amount of
materials such as slate or granite.
However, the real cost is in the contractor that you choose to perform
the procedure. The more skilled contractors who are specialists in areas
such as custom stains may charge hourly, and some have minimum charges
of eight hundred dollars or more, which can drive up your costs
considerably. It is best to "shop around" before settling on a specific
contractor.
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