Flooring Trends: Concrete

Formerly cast as cold, hard and gray, concrete flooring is making a comeback. Major retailers and home owners—tired of labor-intensive tile floors that can chip when something is dropped on it and grout that needs routine cleaning—have been ripping up their floor coverings and replacing them with economical, durable and versatile concrete.

In some cases, consumers are even exploiting the design options that concrete floors offer such as staining and stamping to give their concrete floors a more attractive finish. Although laying concrete floors is not a simple “ready, set, pour” process, contractors that are serious about providing their clients with a concrete option could increase their revenue stream. Before you plunge headlong into the world of concrete though, here are a few tips to consider.

Getting Started
Given the inherent complexities and higher financial stakes of learning how to lay concrete floors, a training program is one way to learn both the basics and the more nuanced aspects of the craft. Organizations, such as the American Concrete Institute (ACI) and the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA), offer certification courses. The Concrete Flatwork Finisher and Technician offered by the ACI, for example, provides instruction on concrete technology and skills related to hand tools. Many local, trade organizations and unions offer training and certification programs as well.

Make Contacts
Just like any other specialization, maintaining solid contacts is an important part of the world of concrete. Ready mixed concrete producers can act as a huge technical resource for smaller contractors, says David Hollingsworth, director of technical services /training at the Michigan Concrete Association. “They have the experience and the knowledge,” he says. “The producer wants to make sure that the project turns out OK. The last thing they want on their hands is a problem: so they’ll work hand–and-hand with the contractor.” For contractors that do not have the resources to attend seminars or undergo extensive training, ready mixed concrete producers are a great alternative.

Don’t skimp on supplies
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is “assuming that concrete is concrete,” says Pat Harrison chair of the ACI 302, Guide for Concrete Floors and Slab Construction. In fact, concrete products can vary in terms of quality and price. “Find a competent supplier. Too many times because of the cost, poor materials get shipped out.”

Pay attention to Pounds per Square Inch (PSI)
“Make sure you follow those criteria,” says Steve Fineis, operations manager and decorative specialist at Mich.-based, Hanneman and Fineis Concrete Construction. “For residential contractors, the minimum PSI would be 3,500, rather than the standard 4,000 for an interior floor.”

Do plan for cracks
As concrete dries, hardens and settles, it cracks. When the water that is added to make the concrete more pliable evaporates, or when the weather changes, cracks can form. A contractor’s job is to identify the joints and eliminate unintentional stress cracking. By introducing joints or lines and angles for cracks to follow, contractors can prevent uncontrolled cracking.

Account for moisture
In addition to unsightliness, unwanted moisture can create a host of problems. Placing pea stone and polypropylene underneath your floor is required by law in some states, Fineis says. Another technique to reducing moisture is radiant floor heating. A mechanical contractor (or plumber) will run tubing every foot or foot-and-a-half that hooks up through a boiler system and the floor is placed on top of that.

Don’t get too fancy
It’s easy to get carried away with the addition of admixtures to concrete. Admixtures, for the uninitiated, are ingredients other than water, aggregates, hydraulic cement and fibers that are added to the concrete batch immediately before or during mixing. They can alter the properties of concrete by changing its color, texture or temperature. Although the potential for such products is endless, “don’t get too enamored,” Harrison says. “The more admixtures you add, the more variables you have in the finish. For this type of work, keep it simple: the key is to use admixtures in moderation.”

Educate the client
Many consumers may have been told that crack-free concrete exists, so it’s important to explain to clients that concrete always crack, but by putting in joints properly, it can be greatly reduced.

Move beyond the basics
If you’re already proficient with laying floors, you should consider expanding your repertoire with decorative finishing techniques such as texturizing, scoring, chemical staining or stamping. On top of being able to provide client’s with the option to use concrete floors, adding decorative concrete techniques can sweeten the pot and make a sale easier. In order to deliver on this promise however, contractors will have to learn how to use color release agents, sealers and waxes.

Each of these techniques boosts the versatility of concrete and can eventually diversify your revenues. Fineis learned the tricks of the trade through classes given by the manufacturers of the coloring and stamps. The specialties he learned about are now a significant part of his business. “The decorative area is definitely growing,” Hollingsworth says. “It’s value added in terms of the type of service you can provide and in terms of differentiating yourselves from the competition.”