Concrete Flooring Is Cool, but Warmer Than You Think
It can get a bad rap for being cold and industrial, but concrete flooring can also bring warmth into your home, making it cooler than ever
Liz Durnan
20 September 2014
Houzz Australia Contributor. Previously a freelance writer and editor at a variety of magazines and websites in London, New York and Sydney. Now I live in the Blue Mountains bush in a strawbale house that we built from scratch. I write about my passions – mainly books and sustainable housing – while writing a book and attempting a permaculture garden.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Previously a freelance writer and editor at a variety... More
There was a time when having an exposed concrete floor might have prompted your friends to chip in and buy you a carpet, assuming that you couldn’t afford to buy one yourself. How times have changed…
The warmth of concrete
Although we traditionally think of concrete as a ‘cold’ material, if used with access to direct sunlight, it can act as an effective thermal mass, meaning it absorbs heat, stores it and then slowly releases it over the rest of the day and into the night in a way that timber or carpet can’t. This is why many solar passive houses have concrete floors. Of course, concrete can ‘look’ cold, but it can easily be warmed up by teaming it with warmer-looking materials. In the kitchen above the concrete creates a lovely contrast to the warmth of the timber.
See more of this Sydney beach house
Although we traditionally think of concrete as a ‘cold’ material, if used with access to direct sunlight, it can act as an effective thermal mass, meaning it absorbs heat, stores it and then slowly releases it over the rest of the day and into the night in a way that timber or carpet can’t. This is why many solar passive houses have concrete floors. Of course, concrete can ‘look’ cold, but it can easily be warmed up by teaming it with warmer-looking materials. In the kitchen above the concrete creates a lovely contrast to the warmth of the timber.
See more of this Sydney beach house
It’s also easy to add warmth to the concrete visually with the use of strategically placed rugs and other soft furnishings, like in this lounge room.
Plan ahead
If building a home from scratch, it’s a good idea to plan on the look you want for your floor well ahead of starting the build. The concrete pour happens early on and if you want to achieve certain finishes, they might need to be done at this stage. Underfloor heating is installed at this stage, too, so needs be planned for.
BONUS TIP: If you are finishing the floor before completing the rest of the build, you will need to protect it. Architect Mick Moloney of Moloney Architects in Victoria recommends protecting the slab with a “layer of plywood to prevent damage by a million different sets of boots during construction.”
If building a home from scratch, it’s a good idea to plan on the look you want for your floor well ahead of starting the build. The concrete pour happens early on and if you want to achieve certain finishes, they might need to be done at this stage. Underfloor heating is installed at this stage, too, so needs be planned for.
BONUS TIP: If you are finishing the floor before completing the rest of the build, you will need to protect it. Architect Mick Moloney of Moloney Architects in Victoria recommends protecting the slab with a “layer of plywood to prevent damage by a million different sets of boots during construction.”
It’s all in the mix
This floor took lots of forward planning – the slab was finished 12 months before the rest of the building but was worth the wait, according to Moloney. The exposed aggregate is a mix of 60% bluestone and 40% quartz with a black oxide added to the concrete mix. The surface was finished with a semi-gloss water-based polyurethane.
“It’s not all about colour and gloss levels, though,” says Moloney. “We’ve found it’s important to think about how the mix is prepared and how the builder approaches the construction sequence around the grinding process.
“When using a feature aggregate such as the quartz, we find that we get better results if the aggregate is mixed through the entire mix rather than ‘seeding’ it in by hand during the pour. We also like to grind the entire slab prior to erecting any of the walls. This way we get an even finish all the way to the edges.”
This floor took lots of forward planning – the slab was finished 12 months before the rest of the building but was worth the wait, according to Moloney. The exposed aggregate is a mix of 60% bluestone and 40% quartz with a black oxide added to the concrete mix. The surface was finished with a semi-gloss water-based polyurethane.
“It’s not all about colour and gloss levels, though,” says Moloney. “We’ve found it’s important to think about how the mix is prepared and how the builder approaches the construction sequence around the grinding process.
“When using a feature aggregate such as the quartz, we find that we get better results if the aggregate is mixed through the entire mix rather than ‘seeding’ it in by hand during the pour. We also like to grind the entire slab prior to erecting any of the walls. This way we get an even finish all the way to the edges.”
To colour or not
Another option to consider is adding colour to the floor. This can be incorporated into the mix at pour stage, in which case you’ll need to think about your colour selection early on. If you wait and add colour later, you can you use water-based dyes or acids. Again, plan ahead and seek advice from your builder, architect or your concrete contractor as there is some unpredictability involved with adding colour to concrete and mixed results are sometime reported. It’s not an exact science so take care and do your homework…
Another option to consider is adding colour to the floor. This can be incorporated into the mix at pour stage, in which case you’ll need to think about your colour selection early on. If you wait and add colour later, you can you use water-based dyes or acids. Again, plan ahead and seek advice from your builder, architect or your concrete contractor as there is some unpredictability involved with adding colour to concrete and mixed results are sometime reported. It’s not an exact science so take care and do your homework…
A colour hardener and acid wash was used to bring a blue hue to this living room walkthrough…
A natural look
I personally love the look of a concrete floor that is left a plain old grey – that might sound dull, but look at this beautiful floor, as well as the following one. They both provide a neutral backdrop for really strong feature colours.
I personally love the look of a concrete floor that is left a plain old grey – that might sound dull, but look at this beautiful floor, as well as the following one. They both provide a neutral backdrop for really strong feature colours.
There are many choices for the final finish and look of your concrete flooring. High-gloss or matt looks can be achieved according to preference. There are also many different levels to the concrete floor ‘polish’. It all depends on personal taste and budget. If you like, you can simply grind back and cover with a polyurethane, which will be less expensive but will require more ongoing maintenance as it will need to be re-done every few years.
Take a tour of this Western Australian house
Take a tour of this Western Australian house
The most expensive method of polishing will achieve the most hardwearing and long-lasting result and can produce a look of such high polish that it can almost resemble marble. Once a floor is polished to this degree it will no longer require any further coatings.
Seamless transition
This beautiful finish manages to achieve a seamless look with the exterior, blurring the lines between outdoors and in.
See more ways to connect indoor and outdoor areas
This beautiful finish manages to achieve a seamless look with the exterior, blurring the lines between outdoors and in.
See more ways to connect indoor and outdoor areas
Employ a pro
For owner builders, if you’re going for an exposed concrete floor, this is one part of the build I would recommend not doing yourself and employing the services of a professional, unless you really know what you’re doing. While imperfections and limited cracking can be an intrinsic part of the character, it’s going to be your floor covering for a long time so you want it to remain looking good for all that time, and it’s hard to go back.
For owner builders, if you’re going for an exposed concrete floor, this is one part of the build I would recommend not doing yourself and employing the services of a professional, unless you really know what you’re doing. While imperfections and limited cracking can be an intrinsic part of the character, it’s going to be your floor covering for a long time so you want it to remain looking good for all that time, and it’s hard to go back.
In the bathroom
If you like concrete but are unsure about having it throughout your house, you could try it in limited areas, like the bathroom. Look how stunning it can look in these two very different styles of bathroom.
More: Seize the Day: Bathrooms That Dare to Be Different
If you like concrete but are unsure about having it throughout your house, you could try it in limited areas, like the bathroom. Look how stunning it can look in these two very different styles of bathroom.
More: Seize the Day: Bathrooms That Dare to Be Different
Hard on the feet?
One issue with concrete is that some people say they find it hard on their joints – backs and feet especially. If you’re concerned about this, one of the ways it can be dealt with is to put rubber mats or cork cushioning on the concrete in areas where you expect to spend lots of time standing, such as in the kitchen. Or you could always wear slippers or soft-soled shoes indoors.
One issue with concrete is that some people say they find it hard on their joints – backs and feet especially. If you’re concerned about this, one of the ways it can be dealt with is to put rubber mats or cork cushioning on the concrete in areas where you expect to spend lots of time standing, such as in the kitchen. Or you could always wear slippers or soft-soled shoes indoors.
Clean and dust-free
If you’ve ever ripped up an old carpet and seen all the dust and dirt that has been collecting over the years, you’ll be aware of one of concrete’s advantages over carpet. It’s cleaner and won’t collect dust – it only requires a sweep and the occasional light mop. Rugs can be taken outside and shaken in the old fashioned way to get rid of dirt and pet hairs.
If you’ve ever ripped up an old carpet and seen all the dust and dirt that has been collecting over the years, you’ll be aware of one of concrete’s advantages over carpet. It’s cleaner and won’t collect dust – it only requires a sweep and the occasional light mop. Rugs can be taken outside and shaken in the old fashioned way to get rid of dirt and pet hairs.
Is it green?
Concrete has a high ‘embodied energy’ meaning there is a lot of energy used in its production. However, this is balanced against its ability to save on future energy by acting as a thermal mass, as previously mentioned. It is also very durable and hard-wearing, so a well-installed concrete floor will far outlast other flooring materials. That’s why it’s a popular floor choice for ‘green’ homes.
TELL US
Do you love a concrete floor? Or do you find them too cold and industrial? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section.
MORE ON FLOORING
8 Surprising Ways to Use Concrete that Won’t Leave You Feeling Cold
Underrated, Alternative and Affordable Hard-Flooring Options
Floor Art: 16 Patterned Floors That Pack a Punch
Concrete has a high ‘embodied energy’ meaning there is a lot of energy used in its production. However, this is balanced against its ability to save on future energy by acting as a thermal mass, as previously mentioned. It is also very durable and hard-wearing, so a well-installed concrete floor will far outlast other flooring materials. That’s why it’s a popular floor choice for ‘green’ homes.
TELL US
Do you love a concrete floor? Or do you find them too cold and industrial? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section.
MORE ON FLOORING
8 Surprising Ways to Use Concrete that Won’t Leave You Feeling Cold
Underrated, Alternative and Affordable Hard-Flooring Options
Floor Art: 16 Patterned Floors That Pack a Punch
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Hi Meggo89,
It will depend on the siting of your house and the position of the kitchen as to the amount of warmth your floor will hold. I am south of Melbourne, with a north facing house with lots of windows to the north. The sun heats my slab during winter and keeps the temperature around 20 degs C. We put infloor heating pipes into the slab but have not connected them to a heater or even considered it. If it is a sunny day our house and kitchen will reach 25 deg and overnight the house temp will drop to around 17 deg in the back of the house. I think that if we had infloor heating we would be overwhelmed with a much too hot house and not able to cool it off at night for sleeping comfortably. Underfloor heating is very effective background heating and I would only use it to enable of 18-20 deg to be reached and if more heat is required at night then use a second source that can be turned off quickly when sleeping.
We had concrete in an extension we did and it was fantastic, position of house is important but not critical. When you think about it not any colder or warmer than tiles laid on a concrete slab.