For buildings built on a concrete slab, it may be worth considering whether the slab could serve as the finish flooring. Usually this represents a considerable material savings over the application of standard finish floorings.
There are pigment colorants than can be added to concrete during a pour, to provide the slab with integral color. There are also some concrete flooring systems that apply a very thin layer of brightly-colored concrete over the slab near the completion of construction, to create the finish floor. In addition, there are a variety of concrete stains that can be applied to a new or existing slab to produce a marbelized color and texture.
Stained or colored concrete provides a durable finish flooring that is especially water-resistant. It is popular in commercial applications, but has also been highly successful in residential settings. Some systems combine a stain or colorant with a stamp or stencil that can be applied to the wet concrete, allowing it to replicate the appearance of laid stone or tile. With some systems, custom color combinations that reproduce a logo or other unique pattern are possible.
A concrete finish floor may be especially applicable for projects with in-floor radiant hydronic heat that will keep the slab at a comfortable temperature underfoot. In some applications, separate flooring material installation may be desirable as additional insulation for the slab.
Bottom line:
Using a colored or stained concrete slab as finish flooring can be quite resource efficient, when it results in Reduced Material Use. However, the environmental costs of producing and applying the stain product must be weighed against those of the flooring system that might otherwise be used.
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