People are finding that doing home renovations are much more cost effective now than just trading up to a new home. If you feel this way, then adding a nice cover on your concrete flooring can make a big difference. For more tips on applying concrete paint, visit us at Garage Floor Coating Tips.

Xtreme Polishing provides high-quality concrete finishing services for residential and commercial properties and specializes in Epoxy Floor Coatings, Garage Concrete Flooring and other commercial concrete solutions.

You can find more information on concrete flooring at http://life-livewell.com/interior-design/floor-decor

More information on floor types is at http://life-livewell.com/category/interior-design

When you think of concrete flooring the first thing that is likely to come to mind is a warehouse or some kind of industrial type setting. Concrete flooring however has become a very popular choice as flooring in residential homes.

Now the first thing that many are concerned about is that concrete flooring is a very boring drab gray color. This does not have to be an issue. It can be scored to create different patterns, it can also be stamped to gain the appearance of brick or tile. Color can also be added to concrete flooring at several points in time during the installation process or paint can be applied after the concrete has been installed.

If you happen to be suffering from any type of illness especially anything related to having difficulty breathing you will greatly benefit. Carpet can hold dust and all different types of irritants that can make conditions like asthma much worse. Carpet and tile are applied with adhesives that can give off extremely irritating fumes.

When most people choose concrete flooring they choose to have their foundation simply double as their floor. Your foundation is in direct contact with the earth so it can be an enormous help in the energy performance of your home. If you are worried about your floors getting colder in the winter then you can place area rugs in desired spots all over your home. There may be points in time where your home may seem cooler, however, the constant temperature level will make your home much more energy efficient.

There are many that may be concerned at the hardness of a concrete floor. It is really no harder then say tile applied directly to concrete. You can add several decorative rugs to areas of your home where you might like a little more cushion. When concrete is installed properly you will not have to worry about slips and falls onto the floor.

Concrete flooring is really very cost effective. It may be more expensive than other flooring when it is first installed but the chances are very high that you will never have to replace it. And because concrete floors will help you make your home more energy efficient you will be saving yourself even more money. If you utilize any type of solar power you will be increasing your savings even further.

Using concrete in your home is great for the environment. They use a whole lot less energy to create then other types of flooring. You will not have to worry about using any trees like would be used in the production of wood flooring. Concrete flooring is very environmentally friendly.

Should you ever decide to sell your home, concrete flooring would be a great selling point. The new owners could leave the floor as is or change it any way that they like.

When it comes to flooring choices, concrete flooring is very versatile and offers those that choose to have it installed plenty of benefits.

Many people are looking for alternatives to the same old carpet floor covering. If you are one of the people who are thinking about concrete flooring, here are a few things you should know.

Persons with allergies will appreciate concrete floors because they do not hold food for dust mites that are responsible for many allergies.

If you have a lot of snow in the wintertime, a concrete floor is great because you do not have to worry about the water that is tracked in by snow boots. Jut let it dry and mop up the remaining dirt.

Try concrete in your beach house. Sand that is tracked into the house will not scuff concrete like it does wood or tile and will not get trapped like it does in carpet fibers.

When you get ready to sell your home, if the buyer does not like your choice of the concrete floor, he can easily carpet, tile or place hardwood over the floor for a whole new look.

If you still are not convinced, take a look at almost any home design magazine on the market. You will more than likely find that there are many different concrete floor treatments featured in the magazine and you may fall in love with one of them.

The best time to decide for concrete flooring is when a home is new. If you have concrete floors that are currently covered with carpet or other flooring, you will need to remove that flooring and check the condition of the concrete first. Concrete can be polished to remove any traces of the old flooring. If there are cracks in the concrete, there are even options to repair the floor before finishing without replacing the entire concrete floor.

Susan just tore out the carpet in her kitchen and replaced it with concrete flooring. But don’t worry, it doesn’t look anything like concrete blocks.

Concrete flooring has made the transition from edgy to elegant. Once found only in industrial settings, it’s quickly becoming the answer for an affordable, green alternative.

There are a lot of misconceptions about concrete flooring out there, and a lot of advantages that few even consider.

Concrete is hard
Concrete is cold
Concrete is boring and grey
Concrete is only for industrial uses or design style

It’s hard. True, it doesn’t give under bare feet, but then again, neither does any other stone, such as tile or slate. In addition, depending on the finishing technique, it’s not abrasive on bare feet.

It’s cold. Again, true, but so are a lot of other flooring options, even hardwood. One thing about concrete many don’t know is that its thermal properties give it the ability to store and radiate heat. If your home relies on passive solar heating it can help store warmth and reduce your heating bills in the winter. In the summer, cool floors make a room more comfortable, also leading to reduced cooling costs.

Another plus is its compatibility with radiant heating, the process of burying radiant heating cables within the floor itself. This allows the home owner the option of controlling the heat and keeping the floors toasty warm.

It’s grey. Well, it can be. It can also be any color imaginable. One of the biggest pluses to concrete flooring is its versatility. Almost anything you can imagine can be brought to life in concrete flooring. There are additives available, everything from recycled glass to seashells. There are color techniques ranging from acid dyes to stains. Concrete can be etched, stenciled, overlaid and polished, creating looks that put high end flooring to shame.

It’s industrial. Again, it can be. But it can be used with any design style, depending on the finishing treatment. It looks equally well in a metal loft or a room with exposed wooden beams. Concrete flooring is the best option for affordable self expression.

It’s eco-friendly. Concrete flooring is also eco-friendly. There is no more durable flooring around. It can be made from limestone-the most common mineral on earth. It can also be made from waste products like slag cement and silica fume, byproducts from power plants, steel mills and other manufacturing processes.

It’s easy to care for. There’s no need for fancy equipment to take care of it. Just periodic damp or dust mopping is needed to keep it looking beautiful.

It’s cost effective. Compared to other flooring options it comes out on top every time, if you consider the fact that it will never need replacing if it’s properly maintained with a variety of different protectants and sealers. Actual cost per square foot varies, but usually ranges from $2.50 for a basic, one color, one finish application; to $15 for a high end, custom look. Even the high end look comes out well below other pricier options like marble and terrazzo flooring.

It helps reduce allergens. Carpets trap dust mites deep within their fibers where vacuums cannot reach. For people with allergies to dust and pet dander concrete flooring can be a life saving option.

All in all, decorative concrete flooring is long awaited option in housing and commercial flooring. The benefits are many and the costs are few.

Tom “The DIY Guy” Wesley is your quintessential DIYer (aka, “Do-It-Yourselfer”), and shares his experiences and expertise through his growing portfolio of “do-it-yourself”-oriented websites to help make your home remodeling or makeover easier and more efficient. Learn more about concrete flooring and other ways of decorating concrete.