One of the first things you notice when you walk into a home is the flooring. Is it tile? Is it wall-to-wall carpeting? Is it wood? Is it laminate? Given all the different types of flooring options out there mimicking wood, it’s pretty obvious what choice most homeowners would make for their flooring. They would want wood! Who wouldn’t want the classic beauty of wood floors in their own home?
While the allure of wood flooring is definitely there, the cost can be prohibitive for many homeowners. And while products such as laminate, vinyl, and tile can give the look of wood flooring, they may not be as durable as another material -- concrete. That’s right. Concrete can give the look and feel of real wood flooring at a fraction of the cost and provide a high-quality, durable surface. Not only that, but with concrete, you can get the luxurious look of hardwood inside and outside of your home! You can use this wood looking concrete stamp on your concrete patio, concrete porch, concrete walkway, concrete driveway, concrete stairs, or concrete pool deck.
You may be asking yourself, how can a boring grey slab look like wood? Excellent question. A layer of concrete is placed on your existing concrete slab. That layer of concrete, also called an overlay, is carefully stamped and stained to mimic the look of wood grain. The molds used to stamp the concrete are made from real wood molds. That means the molds are made from real wood planks, so the finish on your concrete flooring is authentic with the look and feel from real wood, unlike vinyl or laminate. Once the concrete is sealed, you are left with a beautiful wood-like floor.
Durability: With a little TLC, concrete will last for decades and look the same. Wooden concrete decks need regular maintenance. Also, concrete does not rot.
Maintenance: Concrete is far easier to maintain than real hardwood. Real wood is impacted by moisture and can be damaged by water, food spills or pet accidents. Not only that, but wooden decks needs to be refinished frequently and checked for rot. Concrete decks are waterproof. The maintenance consists of washing it off as needed and resealing it every few years. Also, with a stain-resistant finish, spills are easily picked up concrete flooring.
Cost: When paying for a concrete floor, you pay for everything - the cost of the concrete, surface prep, overlay, stamp and custom staining. Real wood is priced per square foot depending on the type of wood you choose. Also, with wood floors, you have to pay extra for cut and fit issues that may arise.
Design Options: With concrete, you can choose from all kinds of wood finishes for the same price -- distressed wood, wider planks, stronger graining, reclaimed wood, color, etc. With real wood flooring, the cost can vary wildly depending on availability of materials, different cuts of wood and color.
Ease of Installation: Forget all those weeks of cutting and installing hardwood. With concrete flooring, the main work can be done in less than a week -- from preparation to pouring and sealing. You’ll be back on your floor much faster than if you were installing a hardwood floor.
How much your new concrete floor costs is going to depend on how realistic you want your floor to look. Of course, if you want your floor to look and feel like real wood, there is more preparation, work and planning involved. Since this technique uses stamped concrete, you do have some choices. The most affordable stamped concrete uses just one color and one pattern. More expensive installations include multi-pattern designs with special coloring effects.
Here’s a breakdown of the costs:
Mid-Range Project:
$20 to $25 per square foot
Contrasting patterns
Borders
Multiple colors
High-End Project:
$25 or more per square foot
Most realistic looking
Multiple stamp patterns and colors
Scored designs
Detailed hand-coloring
The total cost will vary depending on location, size and complexity of the project, cost of materials and labor.
If you love the idea of wood floors without the cost of installing them and maintaining them, then stamped and stained concrete is an excellent choice for you. There are many ways you can style your new concrete floor to look like any type of wood floor you want. We are ready to put you on the path to the flooring of your dreams. Call us for a free estimate.