I have a client asking me for scored and stained concrete inside the house. I ahve seen the product in residential and commercial applications, but never included it in a house.
We just poured the slab, and they want to come in prior to framing and score and stain. Alternatively, they will come in after walls are framed, score and stain.
Sealing and wax finish will be just before closing.
One company will cover with Tyvek prior to framing, and the other wants to cover with a heavy cardboard. Rain on the cardboard will be a problem, rendering it ineffective.
My thoughts are to wait until the house is dried-in, score and stain and then cover. In the after framing scenario, we would need a border at the walls, and probably careful layout so the border works well with improvements such as cabinets.
In all cases, the floor will need protection through the construction process, and more onsite supervision than normal.
Any experience, advise?
Replies
Here is what amounts to all my knowledge of stained concrete.
1. the slab must be fully cured for a nice job, so why not wait until after you paint the interior walls.
2. Dont score the concrete, it just makes a hard place to clean and is a messy process. the staining process can give you the appereance of scored lines if thats what you want.
I did buy a phamlet on staining concrete and have done some in homes. I think it looks good.
I have seen several stamped walkways and even a stamped interior floors they look very nice. The acid staining looks pretty cool too I would like to try it on my patio, anyway here is a site I have run across. Jeff
http://thestampstore.catalog.com/browseGroup.cfm
I have no experience - but saw the applicaiton in a home one time. The score was on a 24 inch grid so the end result was a "tile" effect. I think they may have grouted the score lines - or at a minimum did not stain them so that they looked different from the "tile"
http://www.ourcoolhouse.com/images/construction/acidetch.htm
We just poured the slab, and they want to come in prior to framing and score and stain. Alternatively, they will come in after walls are framed, score and stain.
Who is they? Client?
The slab does need to be cured.
Joe H
"They" is da folks dat does da werk.
Two things...
If they score and stain now, with borders...how funky is the layout going to look if a Change Order rears its ugly head and a wall is moved, added, or excluded? You can also look on the bright side...with the floors layed out, it's less likely that framing will be altered.
It's easier on those doing the work to score and stain now. No walls to work around. However, are they doing the protecting of the finished floor? Or will you be responsible.
The safest thing is to have them do the work far along into the process so their finished work stands less of a chance of getting dinged or donged during thte interior work.
I'd still protect the slab now, but if something nasty were to happen...like you had to crack the slab open for access...iy could be patched and then you could use an overlay to hide the patch.
Hiding a patch or a repair in an already scored and stained slab isn;t the easiest thing to do.
Hunt down brownbag, ask him how far along he was when he stained his floors, and if they got beat up in the finishing process.
here2+3=7
BB,
Floors look nice. Did you do interior wood framing? How did you protect the floors during construction? When were the floors completely finished? What size is the tile pattern?
The home I am doing is 3260 SF LA, with complex wall and roof framing. Any suggestions?
Seems to me I would be better allowing the framing to take place and then cut borders and the tile pattern, then protecting the floor.
Both companies I have been talking to have an obligation to protect the floor. they come in before closing and finish.
Great concrete info at OurCoolHouse.com
He's definitely "anti-scoring"
If you want more input, post here
http://www.acidstain.com
I acid stained my slab, after framing with one coat of sealer. Protected with rosin paper and added more sealer prior to move in.
Big things to watch out for are wild chalk lines and oil/ chemical spills
Mike
Trust in God, but row away from the rocks.
Edited 11/18/2005 10:10 pm by ruffmike