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Can I put a concrete floor in my kitchen?
There are many benefits to installing concrete floors for the kitchen, as well as a few potential drawbacks to keep in mind. Concrete kitchen floor advantages: It’s ideal for use with radiant floor heating which is efficient and cost-effective. Concrete is very durable and long-lasting (50 to 100 years).
How thick should a concrete kitchen floor be?
Standard concrete floor slab thickness in residential construction is 4 inches. Five to six inches is recommended if the concrete will receive occasional heavy loads, such as motor homes or garbage trucks. To prepare the base, cut the ground level to the proper depth to allow for the slab thickness.
Can I pour concrete over plywood subfloor?
Many contractors will tell you that pouring concrete over wood can be a tough job to undertake. For example, plywood is notoriously difficult to pour over since the wood is very porous and won’t allow the concrete to settle evenly. You can pour concrete over plywood floors.
How do you lay an internal concrete floor?
Step-by-step Hardcore or a Type 1 floor seal is compacted using a whacker plate. Sand blinding will take place if necessary. A damp-proof membrane is put down. Concrete is poured and left to cure — for a minimum of three days. Insulation is put down. Underfloor heating pipes are put in place if necessary.
Why do kitchens have concrete floors?
Durable, elegant, and sleek, concrete is often successfully used in kitchens and bathrooms to create an ultra-modern look, but it can also be laid in bedrooms or living rooms for an unusual effect. A concrete floor also has practical advantages: it’s easy to clean, hardwearing, and looks even better as it ages.
How do I keep my concrete floor warm?
A layer of dense foam padding under the laminate can help warm up the floor. In slab situations, raising the subfloor off the concrete with a layer of plywood over sleeper strips before installing the surface flooring can also make it warmer on the feet.
How long does it take for 4 inches of concrete to cure?
Your concrete should be solid enough to walk on, without leaving footprints, after anything from 24 to 48 hours. By seven days, your concrete should be cured to at least 70 percent of its full strength.
How much weight can 6 inches of concrete?
Determine the Pad’s Thickness For example, a 6-inch pad with a compression strength of 700 psi can support 1,105 psi. If it was 7 inches thick, it could support 1,194 psi, and if it was 12-inches thick, it could support 1,563 psi.
What is the mix ratio for concrete floor?
A concrete mix of 1 part cement : 2 parts sand : 4 parts coarse aggregate should be used for a concrete slab.
Can I put concrete floors in my house?
Plain concrete slabs have served as the flooring material for basements, garages, patios, and utility areas for many years, but concrete is now also a viable material in home interiors, where it can be polished, etched, or stained to serve as the finished flooring surface.
Whats the difference between cement and concrete?
What is the difference between cement and concrete? Although the terms cement and concrete often are used interchangeably, cement is actually an ingredient of concrete. Concrete is a mixture of aggregates and paste. Cement comprises from 10 to 15 percent of the concrete mix, by volume.
Can a crawl space have a concrete floor?
Any crawl space that offers at least three feet of room is a candidate for a concrete floor and it can be installed by a basement waterproofing contractor.
Is it cheaper to pour your own concrete?
Whether you’re pouring concrete countertops or a patio out back, it may be cheaper to pour concrete yourself rather than hiring someone. Whether you’ll save much in doing so depends largely on the amount of concrete needed and the amount of time you have to invest in your concrete project.
How do you finish a concrete floor on a house?
6 FINISH OPTIONS FOR CONCRETE FLOORS Staining. Acid- or water-based stains impart rich color to concrete surfaces. Dyes and other topical colors. Stenciling. Polishing. Metallic Coatings. Garage Floor Coatings.
Do I need insulation under a concrete floor?
Insulating a concrete floor. When building or renovating a new space, insulation should always be considered. From preventing damp to reducing heat loss and aiding with noise dampening, below-grade insulation is always important.
How much does it cost to pour concrete floor?
At about $50/m2, the average cost of concrete slabs in Western Australia is the most affordable across the country. This is followed by the average price in Queensland and Victoria which is $60/m2. Concreters in New South Wales charge the highest for concrete slabs. Their rate is around $85/m2 on average.
Is polished concrete good for kitchen?
Despite its ‘sheen’ polished concrete is a non-slip type of flooring so is ideal in kitchens, bathrooms and utility rooms. A seamless look between inside and out. Concrete is an excellent heat conductor and is easy to pour over an underfloor heating system. A floor than benefits from solar gain.
Do polished concrete floors scratch easily?
Polished concrete flooring is extremely strong and resilient and is able to withstand the pressure from very heavy foot traffic and equipment. It is very difficult to damage and is nearly impossible to chip or scratch.
Are concrete floors in house cold?
Concrete can be cold, but no more so than ceramic tile or natural stone flooring. Concrete floors won’t become damp unless they aren’t insulated properly or the slab is built on a poorly drained subgrade.
Why is my kitchen floor so cold?
Poor insulation isn’t the only cause of cold floors; air leaks and drafts could also be the blame. Cold air enters through tiny leaks in the home’s exterior, especially down low around house foundations, basement windows, and sill plates.
How can I make my concrete floor more comfortable?
Tips to cozy up your concrete floors Radiant heat floors. One way to combat cold toes is by installing radiant heat flooring. Add a rug. If you have existing concrete floors, you can cozy them up for the winter with a simple area rug. Throw blankets. Add natural light. Decorative lights.
What happens if you dont water concrete?
If there is not enough water, the concrete will be hard to work into place. Concrete that is too dry on the left, and too wet on the right. #3: Once the concrete is poured, you can just leave it to dry, or, better yet, blow some fans on it to help it dry faster.
How soon after pouring concrete should you wet it?
To put it simply, the goal is to keep the concrete saturated during the first 28 days. The first 7 days after installation you should spray the slab with water 5-10 times per day, or as often as possible. Once the concrete is poured the curing process begins immediately.
What if it rains after pouring concrete?
Pouring Concrete in Rain. Pouring concrete in the rain can compromise its strength, increasing the tendency for dusting and scaling to develop. Once the damage is done, it can be hard to rectify and will often ruin the appearance of the finished surface. Don’t let it rain on your parade.
