skip to main content

Flooring Design Dilemma Basements

Staining Concrete floors for finished basement

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

So we are building a new house and the basement will be additional all entertain/overnight guest space. It’s a walkout with lots of windows. We are considering doing DIY stained concrete floors throughout - we live on a lake so this area also gets a lot of wet, sandy feet action And we thought this would be a good option. We are doing a lot of the work ourselves and we are very DIY savvy, but have never done it before. Would like advice about methods, colors, tips, tricks, etc. I do think we will use a water based stain as the process seems simpler - but I am open to suggestions, advice, your photos! Leaning towards a mix of grays and maybe some dark blue. Thanks!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

chiflipper
5 years ago
Not all concrete is equal, make sure you inform your builder of your intentions. The material components (sand, cement, stone) AND the method of finishing (floating) is very different when a stain is going to be applied. I suggest you contact a company that specializes in stamping / staining as they will know which concrete suppliers to use.

https://www.concretenetwork.com/decorative-mix-design/staining.htm
Wendy thanked chiflipper
PRO
Norwood Architects
5 years ago
Another option to consider is polishing the concrete and applying a clear protective finish. Our office is a converted and renovated auto shop. We didn't polish the floors but left them as is because they have a wonderful character. A fairly glossy protective finish was applied after they were cleaned. The glossyness has since toned down because of foot traffic.
Wendy thanked Norwood Architects
Related Discussions
Prepping very old basement concrete floors for stain
Q
Comments (1)
Do you mean paint it? Isn't it masonry? The PotchGuy Here is a link that might be useful: My Album
...See More
basement flooring - tile or finished concrete
Q
Comments (6)
You are (perhaps intentionally) missing a couple options that IMO have excellent potential in a basement. We had cork floors in our last home and are currently shopping for the same for the house we are remodeling right now. The are warm (much warmer than concrete or tile) and soft on the feet. Also engineered wood products can be made for below grade. With both of these you need to have a dry basement. If you have any chance of water/flooding then not good choices. There is also a product of stone/expoxy (everstonefloors.com one seller) that really would be an excellent choice IMO for a basement that might have some water. I went to their store and it really does look very nice and it will not be bothered by moisture as it allows the slab to dry upwards. It's fairly expensive however.
...See More
stained concrete basement floor - streaky DUST reaction - help!
Q
Comments (3)
Remove the wax would be the first step. You should never put wax over a clearcoat. #2 would be my suspect for the issues here. Whatever clearcoat she used wasn't compatible with the first clearcoat and she tried to disguise it with wax. Unless you have underfloor moisture mitigation like a moisture barrier and insulation, any basement will have moisture issues with the floor. Concrete is a sponge, sucking up moisture from the soil below and transmitting it to the interior. Trying to address that from only above with a dehumidifier is a teaspoon against an ocean. The hydrostatic pressure of the moisure below the slab against the film forming coating would be suspect #2. Was a moisture test on the slab done before starting this project? Stained concrete in a basement wouldn't be my first choice ever, because of the inevitable moisture issues.
...See More
basement flooring - tile or finished concrete
Q
Comments (3)
If you don't want to install underfloor heating mats for the porcelain tile (which I would do, but raises the price) then the vinyl will be your best choice. The stained concrete is an expensive choice, usually amounting to 2x the amount of installed tile. With you investing in finishing the basement, you need to be sure that any moisture issues are addressed first by double checking the key mitigation factors such as proper guttering, overhangs, and the slope away from the house. You can still have all of those things and still have a moisture issue, so again, before you spend money to finish things, make sure that you don't have those issues.
...See More
SJ McCarthy
5 years ago
As much as I love the look of a beautifully finished concrete, it is cold, hard, loud and it can be SLIPPERY. It etches and stains BEAUTIFULLY. Yep. It etches like marble. It stains WORSE than marble. It is harder to maintain then marble. And above all else, many homeowners cover up their concrete inside of 7 years....because it is so hard to live with.

The concrete floors that have the BEST wear and the BEST lifespan and the LEAST amount of problems are epoxy coatings. Not the "over the counter" DIY garage epoxy finishes at Home Depot, but the professional grade epoxy finishes that takes an epoxy specialist to deal with. A basic clear coat epoxy (nothing special that is SUPER slick when wet) can start around $7/sf. That includes the labor and the prep to get the epoxy to stick.

If you need additives (like colour or grit) then the price goes up. A stunning 3-stain finish coated with clear epoxy + grit additive to increase the slip resistance = $15 - $25/sf.

Finished concrete floors are a lifestyle choice and not a cost saving measure. And even then, they are often covered up because they are cold, hard and loud. The echo created by the concrete is impressive. It takes quite a bit of extra noise insulation in the walls and ceiling to dampen the sound bouncing around because of the concrete.

If you wish to try to live with them, I would suggest getting them prepped and add a microtopping that is burnished (ground and polished) to a lovely sheen. Then leave them be for a while. Yes, they will stain. Yes they will etch. And yes they will crack (spider web like cracks are absolutely normal and to be expected/accepted).

Once you have lived with them for a while (even if it is just to get through the renovation) you can decide if they are the floors for you. If you decide to cover them up after all, then the only thing you have done is made a PERFECT subfloor that is ready for ANYTHING.

If you go ahead and "finish" them (with stain, epoxy, urethane, etc) but decide later on to put down something else (like tile or stone), you will find you need to get rid of the product you put on them (grinding or shot blasting all over again). The "finish" is considered a contaminant that must be removed before a permanent floor can be put down....including vinyl.

Related Stories

REMODELING GUIDES Objects of Desire: Beautifully Individual Concrete Floors

By Christine Tusher

Concrete comes in more colors and finishes than ever before. See if these 6 floors open your eyes to the possibilities

REMODELING GUIDES Know Your House: The Steps in Finishing a Basement

By Bud Dietrich, AIA

Learn what it takes to finish a basement before you consider converting it into a playroom, office, guest room or gym

FLOORS Know Your Flooring: Concrete

By Rebecca Gross

Concrete floors have a raw and elegant beauty that can be surprisingly warm

BASEMENTS Basement of the Week: Modern Style Converts an Empty Concrete Box

By Becky Harris

From raw wasteland to fab living, sleeping and storage space, this snazzy basement now covers all the angles

FLOORS 5 Benefits to Concrete Floors for Everyday Living

By Natalie Myers

Get low-maintenance home flooring that creates high impact and works with home styles from traditional to modern

GREEN BUILDING Considering Concrete Floors? 3 Green-Minded Questions to Ask

By Melanie Loftus

Learn what’s in your concrete and about sustainability to make a healthy choice for your home and the earth

CONCRETE Concrete Flooring Stands Up to the Test in the Kitchen

Find out whether this durable and customizable flooring material might be right for your kitchen

BASEMENTS Ideas for Partially Finishing Your Basement

By Nicole Jacobs

Transform your lower level into a living area, laundry, bathroom or office you can use now — without a full renovation

REMODELING GUIDES Contractor Tips: Finish Your Basement the Right Way

By Buckminster Green LLC

Go underground for the great room your home has been missing. Just make sure you consider these elements of finished basement design

DECORATING GUIDES Finish Your Floors to Perfection With Parquet

By Elements of Style

Add value and gorgeous detail to your home with timeless and elegant parquet flooring in a classic design

Sponsored

More Discussions

SOS: need urgently 2 1/4"unfinished red oak with bevel

14

legacy cornerstone floor by midwest in ashen tan

0

Bona Traffic Anti-Slip

0

Need your help fining the right direction to install my vinyle planks

2

Coretec Hayes Oak Crackling Sounds

2