A couple older threads might be a good place to start:

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2259547/for-those-of-you-with-stained-concrete-floors?n=16

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2257531/anyone-with-stained-concrete-floors?n=19

There are a number of ways to do it but our architect told us that in order to get the finish shown in the Houzz photos, it would cost more than medium priced tile. We chose the tile. You think something like this would save money but it doesn't. Unless you are OK with a pretty rough finish.

Not directly related to concrete flooring, but I've saved the link to this thread which has a lot of good ideas on design elements that help keep costs down when building.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2327494/which-design-elements-cost-more

I can't speak for everyone, but we stained approximately 3,000 SF of concrete for $650 and obtained the 'show quality' stained concrete floors that you see on Houzz. It's all in the prep work. Protect the concrete during constructions, then clean until you would let your family eat off the floor, and then clean again. Stain, seal, wax (according to directions), protect again until home is finished, and enjoy your flooring that friends and family will love. Even a builder friend of mine wants me to help him do his personal home. So, it's possible with a bit of elbow grease. Some people are allergic to work these days. Are you?

One more thing to add. If you do it yourself, you save a substantial amount over any other flooring. But in my area, if you were to pay someone to stain concrete, it was comparable to having tile and/or lower end engineered hardwood installed. It's quite labor intensive, and they have to deal with picky homeowners.

We have stained concrete and yes, it took about three months for my body to get used to walking on concrete all day.

In my area of Central TX, stained concrete is fairly popular so there are a lot of contractors and prices are competitive. For new construction, it would cost about $3.50sf.

The hard part is keeping every trade on board with the fact they have to baby the slab the second it is poured. The concrete contractors have to put extra care in smoothing out the slab when it's poured, no spills, no nailed temporary framing supports, no adhesive glops that don't get cleaned up, no dropping a hammer that chips the slab. Then the staining happens before sheetrock is installed and the floor has to be completely covered and must stay that way until the very end. So replacing and repairing the coverup is constant. There's a trade-off as with everything.

After all that care you're rewarded with a beautiful and indestructible floor.

Why do this? Are you planning to hose down your house? I'm reminded of concept houses where everything inside *could* be hosed down. Comfy, eh?

I hate to walk on hard surfaces all day. Even runners are advised to run on dirt whenever they can and avoid sidewalks or roads. See those poor folks who work in big box stores? Look at their footwear.

Yes, I'm old, and I have two hip replacements, but you'll get to that stage faster by abusing your joints.

Living on a slab is terrible for anyone with allergies or respiratory problems. Even a crawl will elevate you above the moldy earth.

Ah yes, the classic joint and orthopedic concern. If this was true, which it might be, you would think there would be medical studies lending validation. I have yet to see any research to back up these concerns. Closest thing was a study on dog's toenail problems which should be applied to all hard surfaces.

Code built wood framed floors have no measurable deflection from normal foot traffic. Carpet with thick padding is the only finish I notice a difference and that's a poor choice for indoor-air quality. A better strategy for joint problems and the like is orthopedic insoles. I glued Dr shole arch supports to my Oli Kai sandals and wear them religiously throughout my old home, which probably does have measurable deflection. Bouncy wood floors are nothing compared to good insoles.

Whoa, just noticed the allergy and respiratory comment. What are you referring to? Concrete slabs are actually one of the better choices for indoor-air quality in my opinion.

We have polished concrete, but the color is integral, not a stain. Pigment was added at the time of mixing. I wear supportive slip-on shoes in the house because it does make my feet feel tired if barefoot, but my husband is fine with just socks. We did it because we wanted hydronic heat in the floor and tile throughout the first floor was estimated to be 10k and would have been just as hard. No joint issues have emerged in Year One.

Our GC has been down this road before and is a fanatic about protection. The floors had a layer of Ramboard and a layer of paper placed before any other work took place. I'm sure the extra care cost something, but it is hard to say how much. People either like it or are repelled by it, that much is clear! Well, a few relatives who have probably never seen or heard of such a thing probably remain mystified...

I sure like it when it's time to clean it-- no place for anything to hide! We have cork upstairs, which I love, but I guess you don't want to add insulation between your heat source and living space, otherwise, I'd have had that everywhere. Woyld have a very different look, though!

make sure it's protected!!!!! We tried to do stained concrete in our basement by using the slab. Somewhere down the line the communication to the subs was lost and our painters sprayed the doors down there, they nailed into the floor and it was covered with paint. My GC kept saying "it'll clean up...it'll clean up" Needless to say, it never did and I ended up putting down flooring. I would love to tell you how fantastic it is but I didn't end up with it. So, I guess I'm just saying, if have your have your heart set on stained concrete and are using your slab, be prepared to be flexible...there's a lot that goes into building a house and a lot of people in and out while your slab is sitting there :)

You have only to ask an orthopedic doctor about concrete. (Ask their opinion of your 'inserts' while you're at it. You should not need those...unless you're walking on concrete all day.)

You have only to ask a pulmonary doc or allergist about living ON the earth. (Best place for respiratory ills is above the first floor, over a basement. I can manage on the first floor over a basement. Make me sleep on just a slab and I wheeze.)

We have basement and site finished hardwood at home. We have tile at a condo on Maui. I must wear supportive shoes on Maui -- not at home.

Ah, chisue, the details no one thinks about.........

We have polished floors that have been ground down to show the peastone aggregate. I think it is more sanitary than carpet, easier to clean than tile, and more durable/less maintenance than wood. It is a great option for radiant heat (we have hydronic radiant heat). BUT it costs more to have a floor that will last a lifetime with zero maintenance and easy cleanup. They use diamonds to grind the concrete down to a polished sheen. I about cringed everytime they had to put new blades on their grinder knowing that a handful of diamonds was just obliterated on my floor. And I also agree that you have to protect the floor from contractors. We told them repeatedly how important the concrete was, yet it was the tarps and plywood we laid down that saved it. They are used to the mindset "it gets covered" and are forgetful or lazy.

Neon -- a truly beautiful floor!

Yes, nice floor. Same process as authentic terazzo isn't it?

Thank you. We love our floors. We have some incredible friends, so ours was done with the friends and family discount - if you know what I mean. For 1176sft it was $6,500. That was just for the grinding and grout line work. Located in northern indiana.

We had concrete floors in our old lake home and we loved the easy maintenance and look. We have always lived on tile and stone floors on a slab and when we built recently we were able to build a basement and have site finished wood floors on the main floor above the basement. Based on most people's comments, I was expecting an easy on your feet floor with wood. I have found my feet actually hurt worse on the wood floors than my tile, slate or concrete floors. Go figure:)