Concrete works well as a flooring in kitchens for the same reasons it works well in the usually places, like garages, mudrooms, and basements. Namely, it’s virtually indestructible. It’s also easy to clean with a quick sweeping after a meal, and it won’t be damaged by any amount of water. Of course, the toughness of concrete is also one of its main drawback. Its natural look is another, but that can be overcome with any number of decorative treatments to give you a beautiful kitchen floor that’s nearly worry-free.
Kitchen Concrete Design Options
A concrete floor can be enhanced with a variety of treatments, whether it’s an existing floor or a newly poured slab. Like the concrete itself, all of these treatments are tough and permanent and never need to be refreshed or reapplied.
Polishing and honing: It is a relatively simple process for a professional to take a sanding or grinding machine to a concrete floor, to smooth and polish the surface. The result will be a perfectly flat, even surface, that’s easy to clean and isn’t rough on your feet. The only problem with polished floors in busy kitchens is that the surface can be slick when wet, depending on the surface sealer used. It’s best to use a sealer that adds some traction to prevent slipping.
Tinted concrete: Powdered pigments can be added to wet mixed concrete before it is poured to achieve a color that is true through the full depth of the slab. This is often used for patios, driveways, and other outdoor concrete projects so the exposed edges have the same color as the walking surface. It also makes sense for a kitchen floor that steps down to an adjacent floor level or simply to get a solid color without the variation in hues typical of most surface-applied color treatments.
Acid-staining: Acid-stain is a popular coloring treatment for cured concrete. The stain is a solution of water, acid, and inorganic salts that is applied to the surface of concrete, creating a chemical reaction the permanently colors the material. Staining can yield a variety of unique colors levels of visual texture or depth.
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