I want concrete flooring in my existing house, is it doable?

6 years ago

Hello!

We just got a new house and want to improve it over time. The house is not huge but definitely not small, and we are planning to update the house in stages because of the budget.

The end goal is to achieve an industrial/minimal kind of look and we really like concrete flooring.

We know that it’s easier to plan if it’s a new build however wondering is it still possible for us to get rid of the current flooring (We believe its laminate) and have concrete flooring? Ideally on all the public areas like kitchen, dining, living and hallways etc. What are the factors we need to consider?

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PRO

Alistair McLean

6 years ago

Wow, what a strange decision!

It impacts on so much else in the house, such as skirtings, door architraves, door thresholds and floor levels. If your floor level is close to the ground (like one step from ground level up to your front door) then you are probably already on a concrete slab which is under your timber floating floor. Existing slabs can be polished but the results with old slabs can look patchy. Sometimes they have hairline cracks and the distribution of the blue metal gravel is usually uneven at the top. I have had two clients who did this and hated the finished patchiness so much they tiled over it!

If you are not on a concrete slab then you will be on a raised timber floor supported by stumps. You will not be able to have a real concrete slab with this, but maybe some of the fake floor levelling compounds may give you a concrete look, but they always feel a bit plastic to the touch.

The best looking polished concrete floors are new slabs where the concretor knows that it will be polished and attempts to get an even mix of blue metal gravel near the top so the polished finish looks fairly uniform. You don't know how good or bad your old slab will polish up until its done. The other thing to consider is the dirt and mess. Concrete dust is fine and goes everywhere. You will need to move everything out, especially all of your electrical equipment.

You need to decide if the mess and cost provides value, or if your budget would be better spent elsewhere,

Best of luck,

Dr Retro

of Dr Retro House Calls/Dr Retro Virtual Visits

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Comments (16)

C P
6 years ago
I'm not really sure why you'd want to aim for an industrial vibe when that's not consistent with the rest of your architectural features and I think changing the floor is not where you'd start off anyway. But you might have some success using some kind of resin or even a floor levelling product which will give the effect of concrete floor.
K J thanked C P
PRO
MB Design & Drafting
6 years ago
Current floor structure?

Budget?

Find a concrete tile thats suitable?
K J thanked MB Design & Drafting
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pascoeyvonne
6 years ago
It depends on whether there is concrete under your current flooring. It would be extremely costly if not.
K J thanked pascoeyvonne
dreamer
6 years ago
If your existing floor is on a concrete slab.....then maybe?
If it is a concrete slab, I would be looking at large format concrete look rectified edge porcelain tiles, not the bare concrete. The tiles would also work, if it is a raised timber structure on stumps.
K J thanked dreamer
dreamer
6 years ago
Look at these, as an example, https://www.beaumont-tiles.com.au/products/concrete-look-tiles
K J thanked dreamer
C P
6 years ago
I had a quick look in your ideabooks and all the kitchens seem to have timber floors. These probably offer the greatest versatility in terms of accommodating a variety of aesthetic styles.
K J thanked C P
Kate
6 years ago
Agree with dreamer if you want concrete look go concrete tiles.
K J thanked Kate
julie herbert
6 years ago
It would be such a shame to rip up your beautiful floors, to try and do polished concrete now would be such a hard and costly job, along with the mess and the uncertainty of getting a good job that you may not like on completion as suggested, why not embrace your floors, decorate with the industrial look that you love , maybe a brick or concrete look wall could look really stylish and cost a lot less in $’s and stress
K J thanked julie herbert
siriuskey
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Great suggestion Julie, it will still give you the look and feel you are after. Perhaps a more satin finish on the floor boards will also work better than the current gloss
K J thanked siriuskey
K J
Original Author
6 years ago
Wow thank you everyone! Seems like concrete is not really cost-effective and the result may not be even ideal. Also we are on raised timber floor supported by stumps so don't think we will go with concrete now. We are exploring the option of microcement. Wondering is it plastic to the touch? Has anyone used this before?
dreamer
6 years ago
Since you do not have a concrete slab. I would not continue with any thought of concrete floor or micro cement. I would concentrate on the interior design of fittings, fixtures, furniture. Leave the floor as timber.
K J thanked dreamer
me me
6 years ago
A lovely coffee shop near me has a definite industrial vibe. It in in an old workshop. They have polished timber floors and there is the industrial vibe. I wouldn't put tiles or any other coating on your floor as it will most likely crack with the floor movement.
K J thanked me me
Austere Hamlet
6 years ago
Check out marmoleum in concrete. It's a commercial lino (not vinyl) designed specifically to create the concrete floor look without the expense or hassle of either polished concrete or tiles.
brizcs
6 years ago
I agree AH. Another vote for Marmoleum. Great product, edgy design feel. Also quiet, easy care, all recyclable. Lovely stuff.
chubbychicky
6 years ago
It's your house so you can do whatever you want but I am wondering if a concrete look floor in a house on stumps is going to look as fake or dodgy as the old exterior brick sheeting (polystyrene stuff) used to look on a house on stumps? You can still attain a real industrial/minimalist look with timber flooring, it would just look more authentic for the house type.

I want concrete flooring in my existing house, is it doable?

Alistair McLean

Comments (16)

C P

MB Design & Drafting

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I want concrete flooring in my existing house, is it doable?

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