What does a concrete floor cost in Los Angeles?

Looking to add an eye-catching wow factor to your home? Consider the customized look of a concrete floor. With a stained and polished concrete floor, you can have a premium look for less than tile or hardwood.

The ultimate cost of your project will depend upon how intricate your design is and how large your space is. Here is a basic breakdown of the cost of your different options:

Mid-Range Cost

• $15 to $20 per square foot
• Cost comparable to high-end ceramic tile, standard marble, laminate, wood, and bamboo

Design options include:

• Polished with multiple colors and densifiers
• Overlay with 2 to 3 colors
• Stamped or textured
• Polished overlay with multiple colors, patterns or dyes

High-End Cost

• $20 to $30 per square foot
• Cost comparable to high-end marble, polished slate, and travertine

Design options include:

• Epoxy terrazzo
• Multiple colors and textures
• Glass embeds
• Divider strips
• Stencils
• Airbrushing
• Custom logos or graphics

What factors should I consider in my budget?

When you choose concrete flooring, your design options are nearly limitless. However, each design decision you make will have an impact on the ultimate cost of your decorative concrete flooring. Here are some things to keep in mind when planning your new floor:

• Size and shape: Believe it or not, the larger the floor area, the lower the cost per square foot. Why? Bulk discount. The per square foot price for a small residential floor is likely to be higher than the square foot price for a large commercial floor because your contractor can get a bulk discount for a project involving more materials. You could also see additional charges for surface areas that have angle or curves.
• Obstacles: Multiple doorways, stairs, cabinets, or obstacles to work around lead to increased labor—and sometimes material—costs.
• Colors and materials: If you are using multiple colors or stain or dye, your will increase the cost of materials, but also labor costs for installation. Contractors have to spend time blending colors or applying them separately. Special epoxies or metallic coatings (though eye-catching) also add to the materials and labor costs.
• Design: Bottom line, the more complex your project is, the higher the cost for materials and labor. Customized elements like decorative saw cuts, stencilled designs, embedded objects and the installation of metal divider strips may increase the total cost substantially. But, wow! The results will look amazing!
• Polishing: One large factor in cost for polished floors is the amount of polishing it will take to achieve your desired level of shine. The more polishing, the more time and labor involved, thus raising your costs.
• Surface preparation: Any cracked or damaged surfaces will need to be patched before decorative finishes can be applied. Surface preparations such as cleaning, grinding, removing adhesives or stains, and crack repair can add as much as $2 per square foot to the overall cost of the floor. If a full resurfacing is needed, expect to spend another $2 to $3 per square foot, for a total $4 to $5 per square foot increase in the price.
• On grade vs. above-grade floors: Subfloors or raised decks will need a cement underlay installed before the finished flooring can be applied. Contractors typically install a series of products such as waterproofing and metal lathe before pouring a concrete overlay. These applications can add another $2 to $3 per square foot to the cost of your floor.
• Moisture-vapor transmission: Some floors have a high level of moisture-vapor transmission that will need to be fixed before most decorative coatings, overlays, or sealers can be applied. This is usually not an issue with stained or polished concrete floors, although it can affect the final color.

Will it cost more to redo or to replace my concrete floors?

As long as your existing concrete floor is in good condition, your best option is to repair any cracks or holes and go ahead with an overlay, stain, or polished finish. If there is a lot of repair work to be done, then an overlay may be a better option to hide the repair work. You may want to avoid removing your old concrete flooring, if you can. The cost of removing existing flooring can be expensive and messy.

Why should I choose a concrete floor over other materials? Is a decorative concrete floor cheaper?

When deciding on a flooring option, it is important to consider cost and maintenance over the lifetime of the floor, not just the initial cost. Concrete offers durability, longevity and low maintenance needs.

Many flooring options may initially be cheaper to install, but will actually end up costing you more in the long run. Tile and wood flooring may be comparable in price to some higher-end concrete flooring, but tile and wood flooring require much more extensive routine maintenance, refinishing or replacement.

Will concrete flooring affect the resale value of my home in Los Angeles?

Consider this. If you decide to sell your home at some point, you have no idea what the future owners will want for their flooring. If they decide they don’t want the carpet, hardwood, or floor tiles you’ve installed, they may ask you to decrease the purchase price to offset the cost of removing those flooring options. If you have a decorative concrete floor, any potential homebuyer could simply install wood, carpet, tile or any other flooring right on top without losing time and money to remove existing flooring.

Can I install a concrete floor by myself?

While it is possible to DIY your stained concrete floor, for the most polished, high-end look, you will want to turn to the expertise of a contractor, especially if you are pouring a new concrete floor. That’s why you should call Concrete Decor Contractors. Our expert contractors will help you design a one-of-a kind look for your property and take the hassle out of installing it yourself. Call 1-818-722-8124 for a consultation today.