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Flooring Bathrooms Kitchens

Concrete bathrooms (walls and floor) and kitchen (counter and floor)?

3 years ago

We're redoing our kitchen and bathroom. The bathroom will have a standing shower with a linear drain. I've seen some nice looking concrete for both the floor and the wall. Has anyone done this? Advice?

Same with kitchen counter and kitchen floor.

I like the unbroken, clean look of no seams on the wall (and no grout lines on the floor), so concrete seems like a good idea. It would be far less expensive on the install and the materials than big slabs of porcelain. Thoughts? Recommendations?

Thanks!

Comments (5)

AJCN
3 years ago
Isn’t concrete porous? If so, not a good choice for a shower.
hillary thanked AJCN
SJ McCarthy
3 years ago
Concrete needs 'expansion joints'. Which means a massive slab on the wall is still going to have joints. On the floor the same issue will occur.

Finished concrete surfaces are a lifestyle finish not a 'cheaper than tile' finish. Finishing concrete is expensive and it must be worked by a finishing concrete expert (more of an artist than a handy man). Concrete is porous. It is MORE POROUS than marble. I STAINS easier than marble. It ETCHES more than marble.

Concrete as a 'finish' is considered a 'living finish'. It is always changing. It is always staining/etching. It is a whole lot of excitement to live with! If you love a surprise every single time you step into the shower or every time you make dinner or every time you step on the floor in bare feet then concrete is the finish for you.

A HIGH END polished FINISH on concrete can be $7-$25/sf. The only thing that slows down the staining and etching (floors) is epoxy ($5/sf).

A concrete counter top is stunning...and annoying...and surprising...It will show little spider cracks (as will all of the concrete surfaces). The finish on the counter top must be 'food grade' which makes it less resistant to things like water, orange juice, olive oil, red wine, white wine, etc.

And you still need a better level concrete finisher. They can be hard to find.

Ask yourself how much you want the imperfection of a living concrete surface? Can you handle the changes that you will notice on a weekly basis (if not daily...it depends on how much of a 'Type A Personality'.
hillary thanked SJ McCarthy
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hillary
Original Author
3 years ago
This was super helpful. Thanks.
Michael Flannery
2 years ago
I think polished concrete is okay for a bathroom floor with a tub shower?
millworkman
2 years ago
"I think polished concrete is okay for a bathroom floor with a tub shower?"

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