Blog Post

Concrete Polish vs Laminate Flooring

Rockstars 3 June 0 Comments

You are building a new home or renovating your current forever home and you’re not sure what to do with flooring. A couple of options to consider are concrete or laminate. There are many factors that go into this decision, so let’s see if we can help.

Option 1 – Concrete

Do you have concrete floors? If this is a second floor you may not have the option for concrete, but let’s assume you do. You may have ripped up old flooring and under that is concrete just sitting there waiting to be beautified. There are a few things to note with concrete: The first is the look. When grinding concrete there will be aggregate showing which is what really gives it the character. If this is a new floor you can ask for it to be finished smooth and simply have a professional polish the floor. If this is an existing floor the odds are it has glue or at least needs to be ground down to prepare the surface for polishing. There are generally two types of finished looks such as Salt & Pepper of full aggregate. There are options regarding colour using dye’s and tint’s as well as how smooth you want the finish. For the interior living spaces you generally want the finish to be very smooth. In a garage probably not as smooth. 

Aside from the look there are other Pro’s and Con’s to concrete.

Pro’s

1. Concrete is extremely durable (will last 25 plus years)
2. Concrete can be repaired of cracked or chipped
3. The look of concrete is very rich and modern
4. Concrete polishing is fairly cost effective (average between $6-$10 per SF)
5. Concrete can be updated by repolishing or further grinding.

Con’s

1. Concrete needs a bit more cleaning
2. Concrete can be colder – possible more throw rugs required
3. Concrete can crack over time but can be repaired (that is part of the natural look)

Option 2 – Laminate flooring

Laminate flooring has come a long way over the years. The product is much more durable, not as easily scratched and has some amazing designs. While laminate is not as durable or as long lasting as concrete it can last for many years if looked after. These products are available in designs that look like concrete, real hardwood or tile and come in a variety of colour options. Laminate is somewhat softer to walk on and a bit warmer than concrete. We always recommend keeping some extra pieces around as designs change and become unavailable for replacement if one is damaged. One thing to keep in mind is laminate is not as forgiving as concrete when it comes to water so there is potential replacement coming if you have a leak.

Pro’s

1. Laminate is quite durable (will last 7-10 years)
2. Laminate has lot’s of design and colour choices
3. Laminate is cost effective between $4-$7 per SF
4. Laminate is warmer than concrete
   

Con’s

1. Laminate can be hard to repair if damaged
2. Laminate is subject to design changes
3. Laminate is susceptible to water damage
4. Laminate needs a level floor before installation

Either way you choose both options are a good choice. It really comes down to your own design taste and how long you want a product to last until your next renovation. Laminate has much more options on the colour and design side and concrete may have fewer design choices but will pretty much last forever.