Building a home that is “green” and environmentally-friendly has become more and more important to homebuyers and homebuilders. Concrete often lures people in because of the multiple benefits that come without having to sacrifice aesthetics or going over budget. Going green not only helps our planet, but it also saves money over time. Polished concrete flooring is a perfect example of a mixture of beauty, sustainability, and economy that will give you a durable, low maintenance floor that will last for decades. Concrete floors conserve resources and eliminate the need for carpeting and other flooring that would eventually need to be replaced. Concrete also offers many environmental benefits such as energy efficiency and indoor air improvement. Design techniques such as polishing and staining give you unlimited design versatility allowing you to create floors that look like other types of flooring (but last a lot longer) such as wood, tile, slate, granite, or a completely customized design of your choosing. These are some of the reasons why people often choose to go green by installing custom concrete floors for their home or business.
When concrete is properly installed and sealed, a concrete floor should last a lifetime and will never need replacement - other flooring options cannot say the same. For example, carpet, tile, and even wood floors will eventually need to be replaced which uses resources and creates more waste. Sticking to a neutral color for your concrete floors will help to accommodate any future interior design changes that you may make over the years.
Concrete floors also utilize sustainable materials. The primary raw material that is found in the cement used to make concrete is limestone, the most abundant mineral on earth. Concrete can also be made using waste byproducts, crushed glass, bits of recycled plastic, marble chips, metal shavings, and even seashells! The concrete that we pour is also manufactured locally in the quantities needed for each product - cutting down the amount of waste produced. If the unlikely event occurs that you need to replace your concrete floor, the concrete itself can also be recycled at the end of its long-lived work life.
One unique feature that concrete has is its ability to retain heat. If you have a concrete floor that is exposed to sunlight, the concrete will absorb the heat that the sun gives off and release it as needed at night to keep rooms warm. Conversely, concrete floors that aren’t exposed to any sunlight will stay cool longer and can help lower air conditioning costs! Cleaning your floors is also very simple. Periodic sweeping and wet mopping with pure soap and water is all it takes for a decent upkeep of your polished concrete floors.
* * * * * * * * * * *
There are so many creative and custom options for finishing concrete, but first and foremost 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 as the Midwest. Give us a call or send us an email for your custom concrete finishing needs today!