Most Trending Concrete Floor Finishes in 2021 | Xtreme Polishing Systems

henry gerstel • Oct 19, 2021

There has been a strong trend in modern design for house interiors to employ more sophisticated, contemporary, and low-maintenance materials.

Undoubtedly, concrete has always been a material of choice in flooring projects due to its durability and style versatility. Today, this attractive material gets taken up a notch. As a long-term design option, people have begun incorporating various concrete floor surface finishes into their spaces.

If you are looking to reinvent your home flooring, you have come to the right place!

Here is a rundown of options for sprucing up your concrete floors.

The Advantages of Concrete Flooring

It is important to know what it means to install concrete flooring. Here are some of the main benefits of concrete flooring.

There are three primary reasons why so many homeowners are choosing to use concrete in their homes:

  • Versatility: Concrete floors allow a wide array of finishing options.
  • Durability: Concrete is a durable and reliable material. It can bear pressure from various sources, including furniture legs, high heels, pets, and others.
  • Low-Maintenance: Concrete flooring is extremely low-maintenance. These flooring options are not only easy to clean, but they are also water and chemical-resistant.

Concrete floors are very popular in basements, kitchens, living rooms, and garages; however, you can use them anywhere throughout the house.

Trending Concrete Finishing Options

Here are the most popular concrete floor finishing options in 2021.

Polished Concrete

Simple, natural, and crystal gleaming surfaces are among the most desirable when choosing a new flooring option for your home or business.  Polished concrete  has skyrocketed in popularity over the years because polished concrete surfaces are extremely long-lasting and absolutely reliable, very cost-effective, and easy to maintain, and it can be incorporated in practically any type of environment, whether it be residential, commercial, or industrial settings.

Concrete Sealers

For concrete floors that are constantly exposed to water or get connected down the road, concrete floor sealers may be the best choice.

Concrete sealers are excellent finishing options to achieve a gorgeous sheen that provides a thin, protective layer over your floor. Apply concrete floor sealers evenly to achieve a consistent, uniform matte finish that hardens once dry.

A word of caution, though: if you choose this alternative, when compared to other finishes, this one will show wear more quickly than the others on this list. However, you will not have to spend a fortune to finish the work. Contractors advise that, despite the strong finish, concrete sealers are more flexible than other flooring materials.

Concrete Dyes and Stains

Our supply of concrete stains and dyes enhance the overall look of concrete while complementing the architectural features of the surface.

Concrete dyes and stains produce earth tones and vibrant colors on concrete surfaces. There are a few important factors to consider when you choose decorative concrete methods like staining or dying your concrete floors; determine the type of concrete you’re coloring, pigment selection, water content, mixing ratio, and unique finishing techniques to help you achieve a beautifully decorated surface.

Color Hardeners

Color hardeners are frequently used in conjunction with chemical staining to get darker colors on concrete floors. This finish comes in the shape of a powder that you sprinkle on top of freshly built concrete. The moisture will provide an appealing color on the surface when the powder gets blended with water in wet concrete.

Acid Stain

If you want to add color to your concrete floor, you can use chemical staining, particularly acid staining. Acid staining is one of the most popular ways of staining concrete floors in homes.

​Because it leaves behind random details, acid staining transforms plain cool gray concrete into something more appealing. When choosing a color for your concrete floor, you have two options: a neutral that blends in with the rest of the room’s design or a bold color that stands out. You can use a protective epoxy coating or a mechanical polish for the finishing touches.

Water-Based Stain

A water-based stain is a fantastic choice if you want to move beyond the delicate color palette of an acid stain and explore the complete spectrum of hues. Water-based stains are less vibrant than oil-based stains, but there are dozens of shades to pick from, including metallic tints.

Moreover, water-based stains contain fewer Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), making them safer to use. Furthermore, because each chemical reaction occurs upon application, the final color will be pretty constant throughout.

Epoxy Resin

Epoxy resin is the most common approach and surely one of the most popular finishes to seal and protect concrete floors. Also referred to as epoxy coatings, these materials are long-lasting, come in a wide range of colors, and produce a beautiful gleaming finish.

Epoxy coatings provide a pleasant, glossy finish to concrete floors which are subject to heavy foot activity, however, this material should not be used on outdoor concrete projects.

Epoxy coatings are the way to go if you want a consistent color with a foundation that can withstand abrasion and chemicals. Epoxy finishes getting introduced by manufacturers today are self-leveling, self-dispersing, and anti-static.

Metallic Epoxy

Metallic epoxy is simply a design option out of the multitude of epoxy resin finishes available in the market and produces such rigid durability, just like a standard epoxy resin finishes. However, this finishing option gives your floor a STUNNING metallic sheen as well as a unique movement and decorative flow of color.

Contractors and DIY’ers around the world are exercising their abilities by installing these decorative floor coatings to create a true one-of-a-kind surface that is unique to you and your style preferences. Metallic epoxy is a fun, inventive, and artistic way to develop the most extraordinary surface finishes that are aesthetically appealing, cost-effective, and maintainable surface finishes that are safe enough for your family, friends, guests, and clients.

Epoxy Flake/Chip

Epoxy flake/chip finishes are excellent methods to give your concrete floors and the surrounding environment some texture and a distinct aesthetic appearance. This durable finishing option is incredibly resilient, UV-resistant, sustainable, and very easy to clean.

Furthermore, decorative epoxy color chips/flakes get dispersed into a liquid epoxy of your choice in these procedures. Epoxy flakes/chips are available in a wide range of color combinations, designs, and blends that will appear uniformly textured and then sealed with a resilient clear topcoat for extra protection.

Epoxy flake/chip finishes are designed to accent, balance, complement, and influence any décor. Our unique approach to customization efficiently personalizes any space. 

Conclusion

Nowadays, there are various treatments from which to pick to make your concrete floor look appealing. Remember, however, that regardless of the finishing style you choose, your concrete floor’s long-term and high-quality appearance is contingent on good surface preparation and continuous floor maintenance.

Resources, Guidance, and Support

Our complete  Concrete Floor Guide and Epoxy Blog  each exhibit helpful industry knowledge and resourceful product expertise for contractors, do-it-yourself individuals, businesses, and property owners seeking instant direction support.

The professionals at  Xtreme Polishing Systems  understand that each individual concrete surface must be treated differently based on the slab’s current condition, and it’s very common for unforeseen complications to occur after hours while still on the job site. Our clients deserve immediate access to expert tips and customer support that may be useful for various reasons which may occur in this ever-changing industry.

Questions?  Our professionals are readily available to answer any questions or assist with your inquiries, so feel free to contact us at  (877) 958-5732  with your questions and inquiries. Browse our website  www.shopxps.com  today for  online purchasing , or call for our  in-store/curbside pickup  services.

by henry gerstel 16 Nov, 2021
The end of the year is approaching us quickly! Most will take this magical time to celebrate the holidays, enjoy togetherness with loved ones, and of course eat some really good grub! In addition to all the holiday cheer, many of us will endure extremely frigid climate changes. In fact, each year about 33% of the Earth’s landmass endures seasonal snowfall and subzero temperatures. BRRR!! …
by henry gerstel 26 Oct, 2021
Concrete is a hard material by design, and changing its surface requires force. When you use industrial concrete flooring equipment to clean, repair, grind or polish a concrete slab, you’re doing damage to the surface, however, it is controlled damage so the concrete they leave behind is micro-fractured meaning the concrete cap has been opened. These methods are very aggressive and each one has only …
by henry gerstel 28 Sept, 2021
Surface preparation is by far the most important aspect of the installation process for both applications refinishing and resurfacing applications on concrete floors. In this article, we will discuss the different ingredients to achieving proper concrete surface preparation. A Beginners Guide to Concrete Surface Preparation The process of concrete surface preparation is the beginning step for properly achieving beautiful surface refinishing, whether it be polished …
by henry gerstel 07 Sept, 2021
Typically, an epoxy moisture vapor barrier is unnecessary. Properly constructed garages that are at or above grade will have a stone base under the concrete slab. So, moisture vapor emission rates (MVER) will be very low. Garages that are below grade or located in geography that has high water tables may have a high MVER, but often the issues can be mitigated by leaving the control joints …
by henry gerstel 31 Aug, 2021
Cementitious materials are used in concrete patching and crack filling applications to repair cosmetic surface flaws, defects, or hairline cracks in concrete substrates. Some of these repair materials are modified differently to enhance specific bonding properties, like polymers. Though, other options are designed with specialty cement-based materials for fast-setting purposes. Why is Concrete Repair Important? All in all, concrete surfaces are, unfortunately, naturally prone to …
by henry gerstel 23 Aug, 2021
Essentially, a surface finish that displays such immense beauty as that of a finished epoxy surface certainly helps describe just how extraordinary and unique epoxy applications are. Especially when compared to other floor covering options. Whether a personal DIY project or you simply hired a contractor, epoxy coating finishes are absolute one-of-a-kind masterpieces! In this article, we discuss the most effective procedures for routine epoxy …
by henry gerstel 03 Aug, 2021
People spend billions of dollars worldwide due to corrosion from surface application failures. Improper application of floor coatings and surface treatments will likely degrade faster, thereby corroding assets that now require repair or replacement. However, you can prevent this remarkable yet unnecessary cost by learning and properly performing the process of surface preparation. To ensure that floor coatings and surface treatments will last, surface preparation …
by henry gerstel 20 Jul, 2021
Concrete is a versatile material due to its immense durability and overall cost-effectiveness. Through the years concrete has gained overwhelming popularity for various structural purposes, including walls, countertops, flooring, and even furniture. It is inevitable, however, that certain occurrences such as heavy foot traffic, continuous erosion, and regular wear-and-tear will fade or dull the appearance of concrete surfaces in due time. As a result of …
by henry gerstel 06 Jul, 2021
Safety hazards are something in which we cannot ignore. It has quite literally become a viable part of life, especially in the workplace. So what are some of the most common job site safety hazards associated with the concrete flooring industry, and how can you avoid them while on the job. In this article, we will discuss how you can prevent major bodily injuries as …
by henry gerstel 29 Jun, 2021
By possessing an arsenal of design techniques you can bridge the difference between your client’s vision and the reality of a project. Today, the clients who present their inquiries are more sophisticated with their personal preferences. Needless to say, they expect more. Plain gray concrete is simply no longer good enough for them. Revenue Increases with Good Customer Service  When you sit down with a client you …
More posts
Share by: