You have already added this product to the project The samples from which you selected your floor typically exhibit less than two square feet, while your floor will typically comprise hundreds if not thousands of times that area, and again no two pieces are exactly alike. Do not expect a sample to exhibit all possible color and light variation you will see in your floor. Natural stone samples may not show all possible variations in the sample. Only a manufacturer makes flooring, only an installation professional can turn it into a completed floor, and only you can maintain your flooring. You should be familiar with and observe all floor care and warranty information. Use appropriate cleaning supplies suggested by the manufacturer to keep warranties intact. Failing to follow manufactures maintenance recommendations may cause entirely preventable damage to the floor. See additional maintenance, care and warranty information below. Just as no two floors are alike, no two houses are alike, even though they might be next-door neighbors.
Consider a few variables: Was the floor installed under exactly the same conditions by the same crew? Is the floor the same brand, grade, thickness, and identical in all respects? When your floor is inspected, it stands on its own merits based on industry standards, not compared to another floor. While the durability of “glazing” or glass wear layers protects the surface from stains and moisture penetration, they are not scratch or damage proof. Manufacturer warranties cover “wearing through” the finish over a certain period of time under normal living conditions, but not scratches and dents caused by pets, unprotected furniture or other negligence. All tiles will show natural variances in shape, color, and caliper. The sizes of grout lines are used to alleviate the noticeability of variance. Allowable thickness variation of the tile modules when judged in accordance with manufacturing standards found at Tile Council of North America (TCNA) website. Occasionally, tiles will crack or break in transit.
It is industry standard to use these tiles for fill or cut pieces. A small percentage of these tiles do not warrant replacing entire boxes. Correct installation methods and overage are used to account for this issue. Industry standards suggest adding 5-12% of flooring to the measured amount needed for the project. This added amount will account for cut pieces that cannot be used, breakage, and installation professional error. Larger tiles call for a larger percentage of necessary overage. Bullnoses, mosaics and trims are meant to complement flooring styles & colors and are not exact matches. ProSource Product Specialists are trained to answer all of your questions or concerns. Providing you the information you need to make the best buying decision is our priority. We are here to assist with all your project needs. Home Remodeling Projects Made Easy Whether you are updating a little or doing a full-scale remodel, you’ve come to the right place. Browse stunning spaces created by ProSource trade professional members.
Get inspiring tips and advice from experienced design specialists. Share your ideas with friends and family. Stay on budget with wholesale prices on more than 40,000 products. Connecting You to the Right People When you’re ready to connect with a trade pro in your area, ProSource can help. Since 1991, we’ve grown to a network of more than 320,000 trade professional members and over 145 showrooms, offering the perfect team to make your projects successful. 5 Million Successful Projects. Find Concrete Floor Contractors Common Questions about Concrete Floors: Are they cold? Popular Flooring Types: Kitchen floors, garage floors, basement floors and more Interior Floor Finishes: A comparison of finishing options available Caring for Concrete Floors Concrete Floor Design Ideas: Get inspiration from floor installations across the country Concrete Products:Concrete Stains | Design Ideas: Concrete Floor Info When people are first introduced to the beauty of decorative concrete flooring, they are initially "floored" by its good looks (sorry, the pun was too tempting to pass up).
However, once that love-at-first-sight reaction fades, it's often followed by skepticism about the practicality of concrete flooring, especially in a home environment. Many homeowners will ask: Beyond its aesthetic attributes, is concrete really a flooring material I can live with for the long term? Like any flooring material, concrete does have some inherent drawbacks. However, many of them are easy to overcome, and in the end, the positives of concrete flooring far outweigh the negatives. Are decorative concrete floors right for your home or business? To help you decide, here are answers to common questions about concrete floor benefits, appearance, performance, and maintenance. For more information, watch the recommended videos. Are concrete floors prone to cracking?The most common objection to concrete floors is the potential for cracking. However, some people actually love the rustic, organic look that can be achieved by staining the floor and leaving minor random cracks exposed (see Polishing and Dye Enhance Cracks in Existing Floor).
If cracks are perceived as an eyesore, microtoppings offer the ability to hide them under a smooth, new surface that can accept a wide array of decorative treatments, including staining, stamping, and stenciling. Learn more about what you can do with decorative concrete overlays. Read: Incorporating Cracks in Concrete Floor Design Are concrete floors cold and damp?Concrete can be cold, but no more so than ceramic tile or natural stone flooring. Plus, it’s possible to warm up concrete floors by taking advantage of concrete’s ability to store and radiate heat. For example, you can embed radiant heating cables in concrete floors to keep them toasty warm in the winter. You can also design your home to maximize the amount of sunlight entering through windows in the winter, allowing concrete floors to absorb and radiate the heat Concrete floors won’t become damp unless they aren't insulated properly or the slab is built on a poorly drained subgrade. In properly constructed newer homes, today's building codes typically require installation of a vapor barrier under concrete slabs to block moisture migration and that feeling of dampness (see Choosing a Vapor Barrier).
Are concrete floors loud and hard on the feet?Concrete is a hard material, so it won't cushion or "give" under bare feet. But concrete's hardness is also what contributes to its durability and abrasion resistance. In a commercial or warehouse setting, hard is good. You need a hard surface that can stand up to forklift traffic and heavy foot traffic. For a residential floor, you can help cushion concrete with area rugs, which are easier to clean than wall-to-wall carpet. While concrete may be hard, it's not abrasive to the feet, especially if it's polished or has a smooth finish. Concrete floors can be loud and produce an echo effect, but no more so than ceramic tile, natural stone flooring, and some hardwood or bamboo floors. You can muffle the echo effect by using sound-absorptive materials in the room, such as area rugs, curtains, pillows and wall fabrics. Are decorative concrete floors expensive?When compared with high-end floor coverings, such as ceramic tile, slate and marble, decorative concrete is often an economical alternative.
Plus, skilled concrete artisans can duplicate the look of these pricier materials. The life expectancy of a concrete floor will also far surpass that of low- to mid-priced floor coverings, such as carpeting, vinyl tile and wood laminates. That means in the long run you can save money because you'll never need to rip out and replace worn or damaged flooring. See this overview of the average costs for installing basic to high-end decorative concrete floors. Watch: What Do Concrete Floors Cost? Is decorative concrete flooring maintenance-free?While concrete floors are relatively easy to maintain, compared with other types of floor surfaces, they aren't completely maintenance free. How much maintenance your floor will need largely depends on the amount of traffic it receives. The maintenance needs of a residential floor will be much different than those for a floor in a high-traffic commercial or retail environment. In most cases, residential floors experience light foot traffic, and a simple cleaning regimen of occasional sweeping and damp mopping will keep concrete floors looking like new for many years.
Protecting concrete floors with a good sealer and a coat of floor finish or wax will make them even more resistant to stains, chemicals and abrasion. In areas of heavy traffic, such as entrances and foyers, you can reduce maintenance and wear and tear by using floor mats, both inside and outside of the entryways. Watch 7 videos about concrete floor maintenance Are concrete floors slippery?As with other hard flooring surfaces such as vinyl, linoleum, marble or ceramic tile floors, concrete floors can become slippery when wet. Applying a high-gloss sealer to protect and enhance decorative concrete may also reduce traction somewhat, but that's easily remedied by mixing a nonslip additive into the stain or sealer before application (see Making Concrete Slip Resistant). What about polished concrete? When kept clean and dry, polished concrete floors are generally no slicker than plain concrete surfaces. And they tend to be less slippery than waxed linoleum or polished marble (see Can Polished Concrete Be Slippery?).