Pros and Cons of Having Concrete Flooring — Brighter Image
By: Jason Clark
Tags: Home Decor, Concrete Polishing

It is no secret that plain concrete slabs have been serving as an optimum flooring material for garages, basements, utility areas, and patios for several years. That said, concrete is also used as a viable material now in modern homes. In this application, concrete flooring can be found in an etched, stained, or polished form on the floors of rooms in houses.

As is typical with all kinds of flooring material, concrete also comes with a plethora of benefits that salespeople and installers tout when they try to promote their goods. At the same time, there also exist some disadvantages to employing concrete in some places. Therefore, prior to stripping out your current flooring you must ensure that you comprehend both sides of having concrete flooring.

So, let us start with the pros!

Pros of Concrete Flooring

People who tend to think of concrete as a basic utilitarian surface that is only suitable for garages, sidewalks, and driveways will be surprised by the many virtues that come with the concrete flooring material. Some of them are as follows:

● Durability

The best thing about concrete flooring is that it is extremely resilient and tough. Hence, it can withstand heavy equipment pressures such as trucks, cars, stacked crates, and forklifts. This is precisely why concrete is so popular when it comes to hard-working commercial areas like warehouses and garages. When we say durability, this also means that it is not easy to damage the material. Furniture legs, pet claws, and high heels will not cause a mark or scratch on the surface.

● Easy Maintenance

Another great pro of concrete flooring is that it is extremely low maintenance. You should seal the flooring every three to nine months according to the traffic level to ensure that the surface’s protective layer is always maintained. Other than that, it is okay to use neutral cleaning agents to clean or mop the floor periodically.

● Environmentally Friendly

Concrete subfloors, in most cases, already exist beneath other types of flooring materials in both below-grade and on-grade locations. This means that if you think about installing a concrete floor, you just need to uninstall whatever is placed over it. Moreover, no depletion of resources takes place, and there is absolutely no carbon footprint as no new material needs to be produced.

Cons of Concrete Flooring

It is true that concrete flooring comes with myriad benefits. However, in addition to those advantages, there are some drawbacks too.

● Hardness

The durability and strength of concrete can also turn into a liability at times. The surface of this floor is quite hard. This means that if you fall on this surface, you can seriously injure yourself. Moreover, if items are dropped on concrete, they will likely crack or shatter.

● Discomfort

Concrete’s hardness also turns it into something a bit uncomfortable to stand on when it comes to long periods. The thing with concrete is that it does not yield and so, if you are standing on it for too long, your legs and feet will likely pay the price. Concrete floors are therefore excellent for areas that exposed to foot traffic that employees some form of footwear.

● Moisture Susceptibility

Finally, if you do not seal concrete adequately on both the bottom and top surfaces, it is more susceptible to being penetrated by moisture, particularly if it is installed over bare soil. This can lead to mold or the growth of mildew in your home. Employing a quality installer will ensure that you are well protected from such issues.

As with any flooring applications, consulting a quality experienced professional is always advisable. Doing so with a reputable firm ensures that they will not oversell the application and will make sure that Concrete Polishing is right for you and your application. Home or Business. A concrete polishing business should not be so interested in selling you that they will sell you something that you will later dislike.