What do you think of the transformation?

Yet another basement flooding led to this homeowners desire for a more resilient solution. We prepped the floor (which had been covered in carpet glue) and applied a multi-color concrete staining application. None of these materials contained solvents or VOC's so the entire project was completed with them living upstairs...

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As we have cleaned and prepped the room, when dry, the floor looks white
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Although cleaned, you can still see the character of the floor...
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You never know how the concrete will take the stain.... there will be variations in colors and depths.
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It can be as bold or sedate as the homeowner wishes.
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We were pretty happy with the way this one turned out!

23 Comments

AK Complete Home Renovati... Marietta, GA

Great to make note of the fact that concrete is not something you're "stuck with" - it's a desirable and functional design choice! Beautiful finish. Do you know how the homeowners plan to use the space?

on Feb 01, 2012 · Like 1
Rachel Lawrenceville, GA

I just had a flood last week from the water heater and it ruined half of my basement carpet. Trying to decide to save the carpet or pull it up and put flooring down.

on Feb 01, 2012 · Like 0
Amazing Improvements and ... Marietta, GA

If you had a flood over your carpet, its a matter of time before the mold shows up. You'll be able to smell it. Very Unhealthy. It needs to come out regardless at this point... then decide what to do...

on Feb 01, 2012 · Like 0
Peace Painting Co., Inc. Alpharetta, GA

That's making the most of what you have.
I'm reminded of a job where the floor was poured, scored and stained but not before they put hot water pipes down to keep the floor warm.
Your work is fun to see.
CP

on Feb 01, 2012 · Like 1
Teresa D Snellville, GA

Love the color. Will it stay that shiny?

on Feb 01, 2012 · Like 0
Homework Remodels ~ Tri-L... Phoenix, AZ

Concrete stain is better than carpet in a basement any day. Good choice!

on Feb 01, 2012 · Like 1
Amazing Improvements and ... Marietta, GA

Thanks for the comments, @Charles... That was not the only time that has happened.... AK & HR, appreciate collegue comments anytime...! @ Teresa, Yes... it has an acrylic sealer upon it that can be waxed. It's the wax coat that can be revived quickly, maintaining the shine

on Feb 02, 2012 · Like 2
KMS Woodworks Nederland, CO

That should last a few years...next up some wall painting

on Feb 02, 2012 · Like 1
Faidra at CA Global Inc Marietta, GA

Amazing, that's amazing! Can't wait for you to freshen up my paths and driveway this spring!!

on Feb 02, 2012 · Like 1
Thomas P Charlotte, NC

I have friends that did this. They love how easy it is to maintain. Nice job.

on Feb 03, 2012 · Like 1
Nancy G Mc Connells, SC

Will that product hold up on a garage floor? I have been thinking of paint, but that is so much nicer.

on Feb 08, 2012 · Like 0
Kathy G Winter Springs, FL

i have an unfinished basement in a cabin that we are finishing and thought about doing this... it is a new home but there are some small cracks in the concrete.. what is the best approach to doing this successfully with those present? is there a step by step for this project??

on Feb 08, 2012 · Like 0
Kathy G Winter Springs, FL

also, are you available for hire?? cabin is in ellijay, ga??

on Feb 08, 2012 · Like 0
KMS Woodworks Nederland, CO

Kathy G...click on amazing improvements name (next to their pic) that will bring you to there info page which has contact numbers and such

on Feb 08, 2012 · Like 0
Amazing Improvements and ... Marietta, GA

Hi, back again. Thanks KMS ! Kathy, give me a call and we can discuss all aspects of the project, we may have a window of opportunity as I have another staining job on a home under construction in Waleska and may be able to handle your Ellijay cabin in the same week. Click on my profile, then show my number... its all there..

on Feb 08, 2012 · Like 0
Amazing Improvements and ... Marietta, GA

@ Nancy, if you are planning on doing it yourself, you can expect it to peel off. Over 90% of the floors done with garage floor epoxy kits fail. Its really all in the prep. When we realized this, it became the direction of the company. Focus on prep. Those remaining 10% got lucky or got the prep right. Sometimes its a fluke. As smooth, hard concrete is more likely to fail a coating than a porus soft one would. Stains and epoxy are looking for a surface that feels like 100Grit ...»
sandpaper. Being sure the floor is so clean, you can eat off it before you apply coatings will keep you from putting a layer of dirt between you and your coatings. Again, its all in the prep. If you cannot achieve the 100grit surface profile, the coating will flake off. For a garage, we don't recommend staining and sealing. Again, the bond is only as good as the material and the prep. Acrylic stains and sealers can only hold back 2-3 lbs of moisture vapor pressure from below. An industral epoxy can hold back 10-12 lbs. An Aspartic or Urea, 1-3 lbs. For a garage, you are introducing very heavy items that twist and pull at the floor. Its not like a patio or basement floor.... Its why we recommend and warranty solutions that are based upon industrial epoxy's. They have worked for over 50 years and there is still NOTHING that can beat its application in metro atlanta garage settings where high heat and humidity will wreak havoc on polyaspartics and polyurea bonded floors. If you are planning for durability and ease of cleaning, industrial epoxy is the only way to go - only POST proper surface profiling and prep. If you want to take a chance on peeling, but better "look", you can always try the acrylic stains. We will install them, Properly, but I can't warranty the long term durability.

on Feb 08, 2012 · Like 0
Sandra S Norman, OK

My brother & his wife pulled up all the carpet, (except the bedrooms), in their 2645 SF wide open house, & had the concrete stained. It's absolutely wonderful, & perfect for 4 little boys, ages 5 to 12...

on Feb 08, 2012 · Like 0
Kathy G Winter Springs, FL

do you come out for estimates and consultations?? :)

on Feb 08, 2012 · Like 0
Janice A Walterboro, SC

My washer caught fire, which then melted the waterlines, so then came hundreds of gallons of city water flooding three rooms....living with the mess of ripping up the wood floors and redoing subfloor and now putti g down 18 by 18 tiles...dust dust everywhere! But hopefully a bit more waterproof!

on Feb 08, 2012 · Like 0
KMS Woodworks Nederland, CO

Janice...too bad you did not have those "flood safe" hoses installed.

on Feb 09, 2012 · Like 0
Maureen H Blairsville, GA

can you use marine paint?

on Feb 11, 2012 · Like 0
Amazing Improvements and ... Marietta, GA

@ Maureen.... what would marine paint do? It is not designed for this application. Are we missing something here? Is your comment based on the "flood" aspect of this thread?

on Feb 13, 2012 · Like 0
KMS Woodworks Nederland, CO

One type of "marine" paint is used on the bottoms of boats...not that this makes it more water proof...these special paints contain copper and this mineral helps prevent algae and other things from "growing" on the bottom there by causing drag and fouling.

on Feb 13, 2012 · Like 0