Concrete floor as a finished surface. The results are in.

[saveasteading]

This was a project of mine about 15 years ago, maybe more. It is used by a company you all know.

I was there recently as a customer and asked if I could look at the warehouse for interest.

I'm really pleased how this is performing after the years of forklift use. No cracks other than the controlled joint which has barely widened.

But look closely at the micro cracking of the surface.

This is normal and is always there unless covered by paint... and then it isn't exposed concrete.

This is why I don't recommend concrete in a house unless desperate to impress on Grand Designs ( who won't return to see it with stains and cracks years later.)

And this is a very good floor by utter experts. 

 

Bte the few tiny indents are caused by lignite which we get in aggregate.

 

 

 

[-rick-]

It's funny in a way. You see that picture as a warning to avoid and as someone interested in a concrete floor as a finished surface see that as exactly what I'd expect (except if done in a domestic project I'd expect the movement joints to be filled more neatly and would personally have gone for a coloured concrete shake).

[Nickfromwales]

Having my living room look like a garage is very low on my wish list.

 

Got to wonder what happens when you drop a glass of red wine on a concrete floor, after you’ve forgotten to re-seal it all again, and again, and again, to prevent worry from such spills. 

[saveasteading]

Just now, -rick- said:

personally have gone for a coloured concrete shake).

Client didn't want or need it, or want the cost.... I'm guessing it's about £40/m2 extra.

 

2 minutes ago, -rick- said:

exactly what I'd expect

And like, presumably.

Try spilling some red wine on that.

I've nerdily done that on tiles we are currently looking at.

[Nickfromwales]

6 minutes ago, saveasteading said:

I've nerdily done that on tiles we are currently looking at.

Porcelanosa in Cardiff delivered 120m2 of 600x600 polished porcelain to a job in had going on. I took one look at them and said ‘send them back’. Clients looked at me as if I was a loony. 
 

I got a used teabag and some red wine, and splashed the tile / left teabag on for 5 mins. I said to go clean the tile afterwards and it remained like Gorbachev’s forehead. Teabag stain 90% gone but still notable. 
 

Back the tiles went. Clients were hopping mad at the supplier, and very grateful for my intervention. They’d specifically asked about resilience to these things, and were assured outright that zero effect was possible.

 

Don’t believe everything you’re told people. 

[-rick-]

Just now, saveasteading said:

Client didn't want or need it, or want the cost.... I'm guessing it's about £40/m2 extra.

 

Watching the Restoration Couple on Youtube. I think their ~400m2 floor came to about £37m2 inc dry shake, powerfloated, not polished though. Said the dry shake bags added up to £2k.

 

Just now, saveasteading said:

And like, presumably.

Try spilling some red wine on that.

I've nerdily done that on tiles we are currently looking at.

 

That is the concern. Keeping it sealed.