Concrete flooring can be a remarkable way to upscale your home flooring at a fraction of the cost, with many different designs and overlays to choose from that will spruce up your home. The main thing needed here is concrete mixers, which will be used to whip up smooth and seamless batches of concrete for your flooring. Read our quick guide if you’re in the market to revamp your living area, or even office area, with our top concrete flooring picks offered in both traditional and modern furnishings, at a price that isn’t through the ceiling!

 

 

Many people opt to use concrete mixers for flooring tasks because of the large amount of concrete needing to be mixed, which would be impossible to mix manually. Mixing manually would mean that you could only do small batches at a time, and as such they would set and dry at an uneven pace which will lead to an uneven and unsightly finish. Concrete poured from concrete mixers is the perfect base to set you up for numerous different furnishings, textures, designs, colours and patterns. This could also be seen as a fun family, couple or even solo DIY project where you get to see the fruits of your hard work every day.

 

The versatility of concrete flooring, mixed with concrete mixers, also means that you can add finishing’s that appear to be something they’re not, such as sticking a wood printed floor paper down which gives the effect of glowing wooden floors. By using a concrete floor base, which you’ve mixed using concrete mixers, allowing you to add effects on top, you will also be able to keep up with the ever-changing home décor trends and can frequently change the overlay, all while staying within budget.

 

 

Another reason that decorative concrete flooring is coming back in style in 2021 is because of the pandemic, whereby homes, offices and any buildings are looking for floors that are easy to clean and maintain, and that don’t trap dirt or bacteria. Unlike carpets or wooden flooring, concrete has one continuous surface that is incredibly dense, which means that if there is dirt or germs or bacteria, it won’t seep into the flooring, and can easily be cleaned up with most cleaning agents without the risk of damaging the flooring.

 

Stained concrete flooring using concrete mixers

 

This first option on the list is one of the most common and popular concrete flooring options available because it is so easy and simple to pull off, and is also incredibly cheap in comparison to other flooring options. Stained concrete flooring is also a smart and efficient way to repair and cover any damage that has occurred to your previous flooring, which you can now cover with a seamless layer of concrete, mixed in concrete mixers, which will fill in any gaps, cracks and holes and leave a pearly and even surface to work with. Here are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to stained concrete flooring, mixed with concrete mixers:

 

 

When staining the concrete, it is vital that you use the correct product and that you do not use a regular wall paint. Using the correct stain on the concrete will ensure that it achieves the desired effect and also that it lasts for a longer period of time, without chipping or peeling away, which is what will happen if you attempt to use regular paint.

 

You can layer the stains, and apply multiple coats as well as different colours if you are looking for a more vibrant and bold finish.

 

You can always change your mind and add a fresh layer at a later stage if you wish, but a popular colour choice for concrete flooring is to stick to the neutrals, keeping it simple and monochromatic with greys and light browns.

 

If you are looking to achieve a translucent colour effect, or a marble effect using the depth and natural greys of the concrete, then you could opt to use an acid-based concrete stain which will chemically react with the concrete to produce the aforementioned effect. This is a great idea if you are looking for the sophisticated and elegant look of marble flooring, but are on a concrete budget.

 

If you are looking for a stronger, bolder and more vibrant overall finish then you should try using a water-based concrete stain which is non-reactive with the concrete and will deposit significantly more colour than acid-based stains.

 

If you are looking for a funky and colourful floor that needs to fill the room with life, such as for a coffee shop floor or classroom floor, then you can achieve this effect at a fraction of the price. You can do this by stenciling out specific areas, designs and patterns across the floor and decide what colour you would like each segment, and then add these colourful stains!

 

Faux wooden flooring using concrete mixers

 

 

Wooden flooring has long been a popular choice for both homeowners as well as office owners, and there’s something about walking into a house with beautiful wooden flooring that instantly makes you feel at home, with a dash of nostalgia. Lighter toned wooden floors can also do wonders to brighten up a living area and make a room look more inviting and cosy. Wooden flooring however, does cost quite a pretty penny so it’s no wonder people have developed a faux wooden floor option, that looks virtually identical, using concrete mixers.

 

The trick here, is that instead of placing wooden slats or even fake wooden slats on top of the concrete, you are actually going to be using the concrete itself to produce the wooden aesthetic. For this method to work, you will need to use concrete mixers to mix the cement, and will need to have a few things on hand to create the effect as soon as the concrete has set a small amount, but is still basically wet. This cheap and easy option for faux wooden floors allows you to continuously change and refresh the flooring as you please, because you are able to change the colour of the stain so easily.

 

You will need the desired stamp or stencil of the faux wooden plank beforehand. Consider getting a rubber stamp for this, because they are made using genuine wooden plank moulds so they are able to mimic the natural lines, textures, grooves and feel of an actual plank of wood.

 

If you are using the faux wooden concrete flooring and are using a stain to get the desired colour, your floor will overall be more seamless and will have an even colour, which is not always the case in genuine wooden floors which vary in tone and depth and often have dark marks and patches. This is fine for a more rustic feel, but faux wooden flooring using concrete mixers offers a more sophisticated option.

 

Because you are using stamped concrete and because you are not pressing the stamp that far into the concrete, you will still have a strong continuous seal that will be resistant to all weather as well as water and cleaning products, which is not an option for genuine wooden planks, which tend to rot, splinter and chip over time, and also catch more bacteria than concrete.

 

Doing the faux wood technique using concrete will also save you significant time and effort in comparison to laying down individual planks of wood.

 

Floor tiles using concrete mixers

 

Another cool and unique way to spruce up your flooring is to add a tile effect, which can bring together any room. There are so many different tiles on the market in a variety of different materials, and they also come in an array of colours, textures and designs. Tiles are, however, often incredibly pricey and when shopping for tiles you are also limited to specific sizes, colours and designs which may not meet the specific aesthetic, structural or budget specifications that you have in mind.

 

Using concrete floors to create a tile effect means that you can customise the tiles so that they fit and match the surrounding area. This is done using stencils as well as stamps, as well as colouring, to achieve the tile look. This also means that you could choose a different tile look for different rooms, all while using the same base pour of concrete. Here are some tips for creating a tile floor using concrete:

 

 

Larger rooms call for larger tiles, which can make a floor look incredibly classy. Large tiles are even more expensive and difficult to install, so using the stamped concrete method means that you are essentially producing the tiles on site, and will have a large tiled floor in no time.

 

You don’t have to be limited to regular square tiles, you could also look into geometric designs, mosaic designs, chevron, herringbone and subway tiles which will add a modern flare to the tiles.

 

Using the stamp method means that you don’t have to order or cut specifically sized tiles to fill spaces where a tile doesn’t reach the edge of the wall. Using the stamp, you can choose the spacing yourself.

 

This method is also popular because concrete is much stronger and more durable than regular tiles and therefore won’t chip, crack or break as easily as tiles would.

 

Faux Stone

 

A faux stone look using concrete is a great way to add a rustic and artisan effect to your floors. You can use concrete to create the look of various different stone finishes including cobblestone, natural, brick, flagstone and real slate. This also comes in significantly cheaper than purchasing and laying actual stone, which would take a considerable amount of time.

 

 

The faux stone effect is also achieved using the stamp and mould method whereby a mould of your desired stone effect is created, and is then used on a pour of concrete to mimic actual stone. A faux stone effect can be applied as soon as you’ve poured the concrete floor for the first time, or could also be imprinted on top of an overlay of concrete, to hide damage on the floor below or just to upscale to a more modern finish. Here are tips and tricks when it comes to creating a faux stone effect:

 

The stamping method ensures that the imprint is not too deep and does not break the concrete surface, which means that the concrete is easier to clean and will not trap dirt. The nature of the material, being concrete, means that you can clean the surface with almost any cleaning detergents and don’t need to worry about damage.

 

Unlike with genuine stone, you can change the colour of your faux stone floor whenever you like, to keep up with the seasons.

 

You can add any designs or patterns to the stone finish and can increase the depth by adding more stain in certain areas.

 

You also have the option of applying an overlayer once the faux stone cement has dried, such as a glossy layer or a grip layer if you are applying the stone by a swimming pool.