Almost every St. Louis home has a basement. While it is often included in a plan, it is often unused or neglected.
You would often find unfinished or partially finished basement flooring or some old carpet and worn-out glue on concrete. In the past, home remodels, specifically in the basement, would require more tedious and more expensive options.
With decorative concrete, basement flooring can be at its most appealing, durable, and functional state, all at an affordable cost.
Concrete Basement Floors for St. Louis Homes and Businesses
The concrete floor in the basement is often exposed to moisture and humidity because it is below grade level and is the lowest floor in an entire home or commercial establishment.
Decorative concrete resurfacing and refinishing solutions can address those issues while making the space more valuable. A structurally sound basement concrete floors make way for noteworthy benefits, such as:
Home or Commercial Additions
There are many things you can do in a basement. You can create a family room in the basement and add bathrooms. Another option is to turn it into a basement laundry room.
The possibilities are endless. However, the floor must be finished and in good condition to keep the area functional and safe. St. Louis businesses can also benefit from a working basement. It must be in great condition, whether used for storage or as a business space.
Property Resale Value
A functional basement adds to the St. Louis property’s resale value. If you need to sell your home, having the basement flooring leveled, finished, or resurfaced will increase the selling price.
Buyers love homes with fully functional rooms. Business establishments can also be sold for a higher price with functional basements.
Common Basement Concrete Floor Problems
The basement flooring is probably one of the most problematic floors in a house or commercial space. The high moisture and humidity level can cause several issues with the basement concrete. Some issues with basement concrete include:
Plain Concrete Floor
You would not want to see a plain floor, especially if you plan to use the basement as an additional room. Concrete tends to dry with uneven tones of gray and brown. Not only is this boring to look at, but it could also lower the value of a home.
Old Worn-Out Look
When you remove the old tile, linoleum, or carpet, you are left with an ugly concrete surface. Grout can be quite difficult to remove.
Linoleum causes mold to develop on the porous concrete because this floor covering can cause moisture from the concrete to get trapped on the surface. Removed carpets leave hardened glue that can be quite challenging to take out.
Cracks
Many things can cause cracks on a basement floor. A moving subgrade, impact, heavy foot traffic, and more can cause it.
For basement flooring, moisture, and humidity play a huge role in weakening the concrete slab. While minor cracks can be repaired, the patch a repair leaves can be quite an eyesore.
Chipping
Chipping concrete is either caused by tremendous impact or a weak concrete surface, often caused by the humidity in the basement. Not only are these unattractive, but they are also hazardous.
Once a part of the surface chips off, more of the concrete’s pores are revealed, making it more vulnerable to damage.
Unleveled
Floors that are not leveled right are dangerous. Leveling work must be done on the slab to restore it to its rightful position. Sunken areas on the basement flooring could indicate that the subgrade is not compacted properly and may have moved at some point, creating a void underneath.
It is highly recommended to consult a pro to assess the sunken slab and check if it can be repaired or if it would be better off removed and replaced.
Recommended Solutions for Saint Louis Concrete Basement Flooring
Any damage to a concrete basement can be dealt with without spending an exorbitant amount. Here are top flooring restoration options and solutions that do not involve slab removal and replacement:
Staining
Staining basement floors are ideal if they are too plain, have ugly stains or unremovable dirt, or are unpleasantly discolored. Stained concrete basement floor is a decorative concrete solution offering a wide selection of color options.
It comes in two types: acid and water-based. An acid stained concrete floors creates random effects, resulting in a natural stone or leather-like appearance and texture. A water-based stain dries in more uniform and consistent hues and has a wider selection of color options than the acid type.
Epoxy
A popular two-part material, epoxy is an impressive coating for basement flooring. An epoxy floor is tough and seamless. It is resistant to impact, abrasion, chemical spills, and more. Epoxy flooring Saint Louis coating can be customized with paint chips to make the resurfaced floor look more appealing.
The resin and hardener are mixed together before being spread on a cleaned and well-prepared concrete floor. Part of the preparations is ensuring that the basement flooring has no moisture issues and that the epoxy is ready to install.
Sealing
Concrete is a very porous material. It is because of the porosity that makes it prone to deep-seated stains, freeze-thaw and water damage.
A layer of concrete sealer can seal off the pores, protecting the slab and making it easier to clean. A polished concrete floor becomes easier to maintain if it is sealed properly.
There are many different types of sealers, so consult a pro to find the most appropriate type.
Mudjacking
This is the process of returning a sunken slab to its rightful position. A hole is drilled through the slab.
This is where the filling material will be injected. The injected material fills any void under the slab, dramatically lifting the slab back into place. The drilled hole is then filled and sealed. This process is also referred to as slab jacking.
Basement Floor Design Ideas
No matter what you plan to use the basement for, there are several designs you can incorporate on the floors with the help of decorative concrete. If you fancy a natural stone surface, you can acquire a stamped concrete overlay or marble floor simply by acid-staining the basement.
If you want something that looks like granite or terrazzo, epoxy with paint chips can replicate just that. You can also polish the concrete floor for a more utilitarian or contemporary look.
If you are not a big fan of the gray color that concrete naturally has, then why not stain the polished floor to a more desired color? A water-based stain comes in various colors, from earthy to pastel. After staining, you can further customize by engraving designs on the concrete floor.
Get a Fast, Free Quote from a local contractor you can trust! Contact us @ (636) 256-6733
Basement flooring is not really something we put at the top of our list when it comes to remodeling. However, it deserves attention since it is a part of your property.
We at Decorative Concrete Resurfacing can help you with that. Whether there is a floor issue you want to address in your patio, garage, or pool deck or you want to finish your basement floor, we have an appropriate solution for you.
We have over 34 years of experience in the decorative concrete industry and have been able to help more than 5000 happy and satisfied customers. Come and be one of them.
Transform your basement into a beautiful, functional space with our expert resurfacing services! Our top-quality products and efficient working methods guarantee a successful job every time.
Let us help you make the most out of your basement spaces, and take the first step towards your resurfacing project today!
Call us today or email us, and our services manager will get back to you within 24 hours to schedule an in-home visit for a free estimate. You will get pricing information and an accurate estimate with no hidden fees. Let us help give your basement a whole new look now!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you resurface the concrete basement floor?
YES! Several options exist to resurface the basement floor, such as: staining, epoxy, and sealing.
How do you refinish a concrete basement floor?
There are three basic steps in floor refinishing. The 1st step is to prepare the floor, followed by roughing up the surface, and lastly is to apply the refinishing application choice.
