Discover why decorative concrete might be a better choice than hardwood floors for durability, versatility, and cost-effectiveness.
When it comes to choosing new flooring, hardwood flooring and ornamental concrete are among the leading candidates. While hardwood floors have long been a popular alternative, decorative including concrete floor polishing, offer many advantages that make them attractive.
Creative options
The word “decorative” in decorative concrete is sometimes overlooked. With recent technical advancements, decorative concrete may now simulate a variety of materials, including the traditional appearance of hardwood floors. This versatility allows you to choose from a wide range of colours, finishes, and patterns to fit any aesthetic preference. Unlike hardwood, which is limited to natural wood species such as maple or bamboo, decorative concrete may be used to produce practically any design, from raw wood to sophisticated stone finishes, and is often less expensive.
Diverse Floor Restorations Melbourne specialises in colour coordination to offer the ideal foundation for your design. This versatility enables homeowners to enjoy the look of rare and exotic flooring materials without incurring the accompanying costs and inconvenience.
Versatile Applications
Hardwood floors are not recommended in areas with high moisture and humidity, such as kitchens, laundry rooms, and mudroom entryways. You don’t have such a restriction with decorative concrete, which can be installed anywhere. Its adaptability allows it to be used for both indoor and outdoor purposes, including:
- Driveways
- Pool decks
- Patios
- Sunrooms
- Gardens
- Fireplaces
This versatility allows you to create a consistent design across your property, both inside and out, without fear of moisture damage.
Comfort and warmth
Many people believe that concrete’s hardness makes it an unpleasant flooring material. However, hardwood flooring is equally hard. To prevent pain and tiredness, use cushioned mats in high-use locations, such as in front of the kitchen sink or stove. Area rugs and cushions may also provide comfort and are simpler to clean and maintain than wall-to-wall carpeting.
Similar to real stone or ceramic tiles, concrete may have a frigid sensation. However, radiant heating components may be put under concrete floors to provide warmth in the cooler months. Furthermore, smart house design may optimise sunshine exposure, enabling concrete floors to absorb and radiate heat, thus making your home more pleasant.
Cooling properties
In areas like Melbourne, where summer heat may be extreme, ornamental concrete floors provide a cooling benefit. Due to its thermal bulk, concrete remains cold to the touch even after extended exposure to sunshine. This feature allows for a more pleasant home temperature without relying heavily on air conditioning, resulting in cheaper utility expenditures.
Health benefits
Decorative concrete floors have the potential to enhance the overall health of a dwelling. In contrast to porous materials or carpeting, sealed concrete surfaces reject pollutants, dust particles, and bacteria. They also resist moisture, which prevents the growth of mould and mildew, improves indoor air quality, and lowers the risk of respiratory problems and other health concerns. Additionally, due to its impermeable characteristics, concrete remains chemical-free, rendering it a more secure alternative for households that include pets and children.
Safety
Any home should be concerned about slippery flooring, but older people or families with small children should be especially concerned. Hardwood and concrete may both become slick in the rain, but the latter can be lessened by including a non-skid element in the sealer. Before pouring, Diverse Floor Restorations Melbourne may include fine grit in the concrete mixture to improve traction and reduce the possibility of slips and falls.
Durability and Longevity
While hardwood floors are long-lasting, they are prone to scratches, dents, and damage from high foot activity. In contrast, ornamental concrete is very hard and resistant to wear and strain. It does not scratch readily, even with mud or sand underfoot, and is unaffected by furniture movement. Spills are also less of an issue since water and other liquids cannot readily permeate or taint properly sealed concrete surfaces.
Lovely concrete floors may last for many years with the right maintenance. Tough polymer sealers may preserve the flooring from UV damage and fading, ensuring it stays durable and appealing for many years.
Simple to maintain
Hardwood floors need extensive upkeep to appear their best, including specific cleansers, frequent stripping and refinishing, and occasional repairs. Decorative concrete, on the other hand, requires very little care. Concrete floors can normally be kept clean with regular sweeping and the odd wet mopping. A simple hose-down may clean up dirt and trash in outdoor locations. Sealing the concrete may help to preserve it from stains and damage, and a light layer of floor wax can provide further protection in high-traffic areas.
Cost-Effectiveness
Decorative concrete is frequently less expensive than hardwood flooring. If you already have a concrete slab, putting ornamental concrete might be far less expensive than installing hardwood, which involves more supplies and manpower. Over time, concrete’s reduced maintenance expenses might result in significant savings.
When deciding between ornamental concrete and hardwood floors, you should consider cost, adaptability, beauty, durability, and care. With its many advantages — cost, durability, maintenance simplicity, and creative flexibility — decorative concrete may be quite beneficial to many homes. Decorative concrete is an elegant, useful, and affordable flooring option that will endure whether you’re building a new house or modifying an existing one.