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We're in the final stages of remodeling our house (THANK GOD) and we're kind of at an impasse about the floors. Our house is on a slab, so we have concrete underneath all our flooring. H has installed hardwood in all the bedrooms, the large living room and the hallway. The kitchen, bathrooms, and family room are all bare concrete at the moment.

Initially, I wanted ceramic tile (specifically the kind that looks like hardwood flooring) - looks like this:

Then I started talking with some co-workers who had just finished their own remodels and they both raved about stained concrete. I did some research and found that it is a bit cheaper but very durable. I am love with this look:

For those that know, what would you recommend? From what I've read, stained concrete lasts longer and is less expensive to repair, should the need arise.

I'm interested in hearing some feedback on this.

Thanks in advance!

I don't know if this will make a difference to you or not, but that concrete that you like will be SUPER, DUPER, EXTRA slippery. I had a colored concrete walkway installed over the summer with a glossy sealer. It has a texture stamped into it. It is so slippery it isn't funny, and I will have to redo the sealer in the spring so people stop falling.

Do you have lots of area rugs, upholstered furniture or window treatments for those bare floor areas? If not they're going to tend to be quite noisy.

I don't think the tile looks much like hardwood (good hardwood, anyway) and will look strange if you chip it into the body of the tile.

The stained concrete could be interesting ... is it popular in your area? (thinking about resale). Does the slab have to be etched with acid first to get it to stick (like paint)? Etching, if required, isn't a whole lot of fun.

How slick is the concrete (looks 'slippery when wet') and do you have pets? Dogs, for instance, can be injured slipping on really slick floors (even laminate flooring).

Just a few thoughts.

Don't go for the super shiny stuff, it IS very slippery.

Explore more options with stained concrete that has some texture to it, like a faux granite look.

But I really like that brown swirl look. Can you do it, but with some texture so you don't slip all the time?

I'm not a big fan of tile. It chips, cracks, and you have to re-stain the grout every couple of years.

k9

Do you have lots of area rugs, upholstered furniture or window treatments for those bare floor areas? If not they're going to tend to be quite noisy.

No, not yet but we have two sofas in the family room and I plan on incorporating more furniture in that room once we have the flooring done.

is it popular in your area? (thinking about resale).

Good question - I don't know. We don't have any plans on moving for a long time, so I don't think resale is a factor but who knows what the future holds for us.

Does the slab have to be etched with acid first to get it to stick (like paint)?

It might - it's pretty smooth right now.

How slick is the concrete (looks 'slippery when wet') and do you have pets?

At present, it's just bare concrete. Given what I've read from you guys thus far, shiny is NOT the way to go. No pets - just kids. Same thing, no?

I'm not a big fan of tile. It chips, cracks, and you have to re-stain the grout every couple of years.

This is PRECISELY why I don't want tile - the rooms that are bare are high traffic areas and the tile & grout will take a beating.

I hadn't thought of the high shine = slippery but it does make sense. If I could get a textured look while having the brown swirl look, I'd be a happy gal.

We had initially considered hiring someone to do the floors because tile work is so labor intensive and H knows the work involved from having to lay the hardwood. Should we go in the stained concrete direction, I think it'd be best to hire someone who knows what they're doing.

I have stained concrete in my house. It was done by the previous owners. The type that I have isn't the super shinny, slippery type. It actually has a little bit of texture to it and you see some of the imperfections in the floor...which I like. It gives the house a "vibe" that I enjoy, if that makes any sense? It is also shinier in some areas than it is in others.

Everyone that comes to the house always asks about the floor and says they love it. Most people have never seen it, so it looks and feels very original. Another plus for me is that it disguises a "dirty" floor very well...so I can get away with going a little longer before cleaning it...and with the dog around, that definitely helps. I can post some pictures for you if that will help. Good luck!

It chips, cracks, and you have to re-stain the grout every couple of years.

My husband is a tile mechanic and he said ceramic tile is lousy for flooring. Especially in high traffic areas like you're describing. Ceramic tile will chip, crack, and carry on. Porcelain tile is way more durable and better suited.

Also, you would want to use Prism or Color-Cure grout. Don't use "regular" sanded grout. That cheap crap at big box hardware stores will stain. It's better to go to a tile outlet or supplier. And it wouldn't hurt to seal the grout joints after install with an industrial sealer.

Jessy, please post pics. The more info I have the better because we're looking to finish the house in the next 3-5 months. Thanks, Aubrie. I will look into the porcelain tile. Is it more expensive than ceramic?

Is it more expensive than ceramic?

QS said it sometimes runs a little higher. All depends on where you get it, if they have a sales. Also size and pattern. If you can find tile outlet places, (usually giant warehouses with pallets of tile everywhere) they usually have really good pricing.

Commercial jobs use porcelain tile on their floors. (Think lobbies, atriums, elevator lobbies, bathrooms, patios, hallways etc. ) It can take a beating and lots of heavy traffic. The only place they usually use ceramic is on walls, where the most people will do is lean up against it as they wait for the next available bathroom stall.

[This message edited by Aubrie at 5:18 PM, January 21st (Tuesday)]

My last apartment had bronzed concrete floors. They were gorgeous, and probably every other person who set foot in my home gushed over them. No one was able to just comment, seriously, everyone went nuts, totally in love. They were neither slippery nor shiny, sooooo easy to take care of, and just wonderful. I was quite sad to leave them, and will install in my future home in a heartbeat if I get the chance.

The only downside was how cold they were on bare feet.

Keep the info coming, guys! Thanks so much

We're on a slab and right in the middle of a floor re-do right now. We considered stained concrete, but frankly the slab underneath was a mess, done very badly, and we'd have to resurface the entire thing before proceeding with stain, etc.

Because of that, we opted for porcelain tile and I have to say I'm completely in love with it. We've chosen a chocolate-colored grout and we're doing it slowly because we have to think about the traffic patterns in the house and lay tile accordingly.

The photo below was a quick snap taken in iffy light.

I agree with Aubrie that your best bet is to go to a warehouse to price-check. We are saving over 30% for the tile, the colored grout, etc. compared to the big box stores.

Why not hardwood all the areas?

I just don't know enough about stained concrete to have an opinion. I've personally never seen it in a home where we live, but our area is unique. Mostly older homes, very few slabs.

I like the first example you posted (hardwood type ceramic) and the other example posted (natural ceramic) if you keep the grout lines thin, it won't look dirty.

If you are doing large areas, for example a family room, you just have to think about adding a large area rug for warmth and to ground your furniture stylistically.

We've remodeled many homes and I've always found better prices and service from local flooring places than from big box retailers. I've only had carpeting done by a big box but and the contractors did a good job but if I had a problem I imagine it would have been impossible to rectify. What a local dude, you can say "WTF" directly to who installed your flooring.

I'm not a big fan of tile. It chips, cracks, and you have to re-stain the grout every couple of years.

Not if you use the right grout - like Laticrete SpectraLok Pro (just make sure the installer is experienced).

All tile has a PEI rating that will give you the resistance to chipping and staining. Look for 3 or 4 in that rating.

Most quality tile mechanics can replace a damaged tile so that you could never tell it was done.

This is good info, guys.

the slab underneath was a mess, done very badly, and we'd have to resurface the entire thing before proceeding with stain, etc.

This is a concern for me. Our slab isn't awful, but it needs prep-work. My mom had H install indoor/outdoor carpeting in the family room (I have no idea why - the room is 100% indoors )and told him he had to glue it - he did what she said. Fast forward a couple of years and he decided to take it out (thankfully). But, it's been a bitch because of that stupid glue. I don't know if a simple sanding of the floor would suffice.

Thren, I like that tile!

Why not hardwood all the areas?

We had hardwood in all but the bedrooms when we first moved in. After a while, the wood buckled in the high traffic areas. We just prefer something more durable (we'd do bamboo but that is SUPER expensive).

Not if you use the right grout - like Laticrete SpectraLok Pro (just make sure the installer is experienced).

Good to know, TR! I'm having it professionally done. H could do it but it's back-breaking work and really, I want it done this year. If I wait on him, it'll be 2020 before I get my floors.

We had hardwood in all but the bedrooms when we first moved in. After a while, the wood buckled in the high traffic areas.

That sounds more like laminate flooring. You also need to be sure that you have a vapor barrier between concrete and wood.

We just prefer something more durable (we'd do bamboo but that is SUPER expensive).

I'm aware of some *spectacular* bamboo flooring failures ... just saying.

That sounds more like laminate flooring.

I believe you are correct - it was Pergo.

You also need to be sure that you have a vapor barrier between concrete and wood.

Is that like the thin sheet of foam that goes down before the wood goes down?

I'm aware of some *spectacular* bamboo flooring failures ... just saying.

Do tell!

My sister has stained concrete and it's beautiful. Only complaint is it's hard on the legs. She wears her tennis shoes inside the house.