But some materials do, taking on a patina of use that charts the passage of time. Without getting extravagant, I chose materials that would hold up and, with proper care, look better with age. I started with the floor. Then they applied a sealer to the slab to protect it from dirt and spilled liquids. I won't seal it again unless I notice a pattern of wear.
Concrete floors adapt to the seasons.
Colored slate green with a pigment that hardens the surface, the kitchen floor is a 6-in. thick, hydronically heated concrete slab. The floor is durable and requires only a wet mop to keep it clean. It has the feel of a slate floor without the cost or the grout lines to clean. And in the winter, the floor is heated with radiant hydronic tubing, which is just enough, with the solar gain from southern exposure, to keep me toasty. I should, however, sound a cautionary note about the floor.