Hardwood floors are the current trend. They are very popular and highly desired, especially in residential properties. They are also very expensive and require quite a bit of maintenance. Due to the price of hardwood floors being so costly a lot of people consider options like laminate or linoleum flooring. While these options will save you money they also won’t last and you will end up having major problems with your flooring and having to replace it well before you want to. A lot of people say, “you get what you pay for”. In the case of laminate and linoleum we would agree that is true, but there’s a better option. Concrete. Yes, that is right, concrete floors can be transformed to look like hardwood flooring. This is one case where the saying “you get what you pay for” can be stretched. Concrete flooring costs range depending on the amount of work, materials, and the level of skill that is needed to complete a project, but overall concrete floors are a great option that will save you money.
So, why should you choose concrete floors over wood? There are many reasons why. Let’s discuss them.
Cost- We’ve already mentioned that the cost can be less than hardwood floors. While the cost of concrete floors can be over $15 per square foot, they can also be as low as $2 per square foot. This depends of what you are having done and what the cost materials are. The average price of hardwood floors ranges from around $8 to $11 per square foot. The average price of concrete floors ranges from $2 to $6 per square foot. The price for replicating wooden floors from concrete will be higher than $6 per square foot due to the skill, time, and steps involved in the process, but there are many more reasons that make concrete a better option.
Maintenance- Maintaining hardwood floors can be a lot of work and over time the wear and tear will show through. Moisture is a big concern with hardwood floors. Moisture causes warping, buckling, and staining to occur to hardwood floors. The floors will need more upkeep and will require refinishing after some time. The type of wood makes a big difference as well for maintenance. With finished concrete floors, you don’t have to worry about moisture. Your floors won’t warp, buckle, or stain. Concrete floors are solid and durable, needing practically little to no maintenance.
Longevity- Properly installed concrete floors can last over 100 years. One hundred years with little to no maintenance?! How much better can it get?! While a high quality(and high cost) hardwood floor will also last for 100 years, there will also be a lot more maintenance required to make that possible. But what about the other options for wood flooring? Engineered hardwood lasts on average from 20 to 30 years for thinner types and 40-80 for thicker types. Laminate flooring has an average lifespan of 15-20 years. Linoleum lasts for an average of 25 years. Let’s face it, if you want floors that last a lifetime and are very low maintenance, then concrete flooring is the best choice!
Design- The great thing about concrete is that it can be customized to look pretty much however you want. You get to choose the look of hardwood that you are going for. You have control over plank length, plank thickness, color, patterns, and more. You can go for a natural look or use interesting hues and colors. The options are endless with concrete.
Area- Yes, you can have concrete flooring inside your home that resembles real wood, but did you ever consider where else you can have the appearance of hardwood floors? You can have finished concrete that resembles hardwood in any room of your home, one walkways, patios, and even as pool decks.
One of the only complaints about concrete flooring is that it can feel cold on the feet. There is a solution for this that hardwood can not compete with - radiant heat. Radiant heat is perfect for concrete floor and can even help cut costs of forced air heat.
There are so many creative and custom options for finishing concrete, but first and foremost important is the concrete itself. At Custom Concrete Creations we have state of the art equipment and a properly trained team with years of experience. Custom Concrete Creations is a premier contractor serving the Omaha area as well at the Midwest. Give us a call or send us an email for your custom concrete finishing needs today!