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September 18, 2010 at 1:17 am #596416
BBGuestMemberMy home is built on a concrete slab and the ground floor is wall to wall carpeting. I want to remove it and get something I can wash thoroughly (dogs)that isn’t going to cost a fortune. A friend said that a stain for concrete would look great.
Is there anyone who has done this? I started to look online and am dizzy from the information. Thanks for any information you share.
September 18, 2010 at 2:24 am #703849
waterworldParticipantI just had my concrete basement floor stained a couple months ago. I hired a guy named David Cates, who owns Maverick Specialty Contracting. His firm does staining of existing concrete in residential and commercial settings. He’s very experienced at this, having done it for many years, and he’s done some big commercial projects in addition to many homes.
I did my floor in a semi-transparent greenish/brownish kind of tone, and I absolutely love it. The process is quite straightforward: they grind off just a tiny bit off the top, to prepare the surface and smooth out rough spots. Then they apply the stain in a couple of coats, a sealer, and a non-glossy wax. The result is more “organic” than a painted floor — many of the imperfections in the concrete show through, but in a really cool way. Staining is not no-maintenance; it’s just low maintenance. And you can wash it down without losing color. The price is not that much different than stripping and painting, based on the bids I got.
Here’s the one part of the process that disappointed me. Because my project was relatively small, David subbed out the grinding part, and those guys did a terrible (as in non-existent) job of sealing off the rest of the house. It was a veritable dust storm, and I had to bring in professional cleaners. David was apologetic and reduced the bid to cover my cleaning cost, but I would have preferred that it had never happened.
Other than that, I am a very happy customer. I definitely recommend him, just be careful about who handles the grinding, and don’t rely on them to seal off your house from the dust. Do it yourself.
Here’s his contact info:
Maverick Specialty Contracting
(206) 285-0703 (phone)
(206) 841-3426 (cell)
September 18, 2010 at 2:37 am #703850
cjboffoliParticipantBBGuest: That floor might look great if you had it stained. But that slab is going to be awfully cold under-foot through the fall, winter and spring. Just a consideration.
September 18, 2010 at 3:27 am #703851
yes2wsParticipantI’ve gone to concrete as well and haven’t found it too terribly cold. I do remember that having been a concern of mine though.
September 18, 2010 at 4:42 am #703852
BBGuestMemberGreat information. Thank you! I thought about the radiant heating but think it would be cost prohibitive. I guess I could always put carpets on top if it is an issue.
By low maintenance… is that beyond vacuum and mop?
September 18, 2010 at 6:48 am #703853
waterworldParticipantSweep and vacuum is all I’ve done so far. I haven’t mopped once. The guy who did the work recommended putting down a new coat of wax every so often, by which he meant every year or two. For us that’s easy, because there’s not much furniture or anything in the way.
September 18, 2010 at 12:38 pm #703854
yes2wsParticipantMine’s the raw concrete right now, with a couple of area rugs, so maintenance is super low. The person who encouraged the concrete look for me, and who had done his as well, was surprised at how relatively unblemished and smooth my concrete already was once the carpet came up. I’ve taken advantage of this and have been able to hold off on the staining. BUT, once I stain, periodic waxings/sealings will be in order, from what I understand.
BBG, you’re going to be amazed at how different the look is once the carpet comes up. The concrete’s such a cool look. I absolutely love it.
September 18, 2010 at 7:48 pm #703855
BBGuestMemberI’m going to start pulling up the carpet and pad today. I am hoping that the pad was not glued down to the concrete.
Kind of excited to get the project started. Pulling off one of the trim boards, lift the carpet, pry up the carpet tacking strip, pad and see what is there.
Thanks everyone. It almost seems too easy a solution so don’t quite trust it yet ;-)
September 19, 2010 at 6:06 pm #703856
funkietooParticipantDo you ever rest BBGuest? ^..^
September 20, 2010 at 12:43 am #703857
BBGuestMemberRest? Nah.
The carpet pad is a breeze to pull up. Looks like the glue that was there has completely deteriorated creating snake tracks. Adds character?
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