Even for home owners who love wall to wall carpet, there is one room in the house that always has hard flooring. That’s the kitchen. Tile is currently the most popular option for this area, but alternatives are starting to garner attention in the home improvement world as well. Finishing the surface of bare concrete to create a variety of attractive effects is a great example.

Of course, concrete needs to be relatively unmarked for this to look good. The slab must be protected during construction or repaired after the existing flooring is removed. It should be free of pitting, flaking, dips, and uneven patches. Hairline cracks are usually ignored since they can be masked with a visually interesting pattern.

The Finishing Touches

Stained Concrete

Multi-colored stains or glazes are often used to create a faux marble or natural stone look for concrete. The floor may be scored or etched to add interest. For large, abstract designs, dyes are often used over staining to develop eye popping colors. Sealer and wax are applied on top of the colorant to preserve it and protect the underlying surface.

If your concrete slab is too damaged to be easily smoothed out for staining, an overlay may be your best bet. These can be sprayed on, poured on, or applied with a gauge rake to ensure a perfectly level result. The surface may be stamped or stenciled to create the look of tile. Color can be incorporated into the mix or applied after the overlay is dry depending on the product used.