Basements aren’t like the rest of your home. They’re dark, cold, and sometimes wet. Still, no one wants their basement to feel like a creepy dungeon—they want it to feel like home. What’s the first step to getting there? Finding basement flooring options in Kansas City that will give you the homey vibe you’re after.
But here comes the catch.
It’s not always the best idea to install that fancy plush carpet you have in your upstairs living room, especially if your basement is prone to flooding. Plus, you may notice that basement floor options are a lot more limited because a lot of materials don’t lay over concrete very well. Unfortunately, with that limitation comes more damage to your pockets.
Thank goodness our flooring specialists at Big Red Decorative Concrete have a different option. Instead of spending money to cover up your concrete floors, why not transform the concrete itself? No stiff carpet. No vinyl planks. No tiles. Just beautiful concrete floors that will surprise everyone.
Keep reading to learn more about our favorite decorative concrete basement flooring options in Kansas City that will make your concrete floors look brand-spanking new.
But why should I stick with my concrete?
Right now, your concrete basement floors may look bland and not very inviting, so it could be hard to imagine not covering it up. But trust us, decorative concrete is often the best choice for most homes. Don’t believe us? Let’s look at three factors:
- Moisture
- Cleanliness
- Sustainability
Moisture
It goes without saying that basements tend to hold more moisture than other areas of your home. Though moisture isn’t ideal, and you should definitely take steps to avoid it, you should still plan for mishaps. The last thing you want to do is install carpet or another non water-resistant basement flooring option that will leave your house smelly and riddled with mildew.
On the other hand, decorative concrete is moisture resistant and helps prevent mold, mildew, and other allergens.
Cleanliness
Concrete gives your floors a smooth surface that is super easy to clean and maintain. Instead of wasting time vacuuming or trying to clean between planks, all you have to do is pull out your handy dandy broom and mop. That means you can spend more time enjoying your basement instead of only going down there to ensure it’s not covered with filth.
Sustainability
We all want floors that are going to last, meaning sustainability is key when searching for basement flooring options. The truth is, most basements are built with concrete floors anyway, and that’s because concrete is the best long-lasting solution for an underground or ground-level space. In other words, you won’t have to replace your concrete floors every few years or so.
On the other spectrum of the sustainability definition is concrete’s environmental friendliness. Decorative concrete is the “greener” option because it doesn’t involve other flooring materials. Since you’re using something that already exists in your home, you’re taking away the need to manufacture something new. And we all know how manufacturing plants affect our atmosphere.
But my concrete floors have cracks? That won’t work then, right?
Don’t let cracks stop you from getting the beautiful floors you deserve! A great decorative concrete specialist will help you fill in most cracks. Plus, they can also work with minor cracks and incorporate them into the design of your floors. That way, you gain a unique, rustic feel that you can truly call your own.
Now that you know some benefits of upgrading your concrete, let’s move forward with some of our favorite concrete flooring options in Kansas City.
1. Stained Concrete Basement Floors
Stained concrete is a simple way to enhance your natural concrete floors while improving its durability and longevity. With its satin finish, stained concrete gives your basement a more sophisticated look that can complement your furniture and decorations.
You can also choose between a variety of dyes to enhance depth and the range of color (there’s even white stained concrete!). For a more customized look, specialists can use stencils and concrete scoring (i.e. border and tile-like patterns) to give your basement a more “finished” appearance.
Learn more about stained concrete in Kansas City →
One of our favorite options for stained concrete is acid stained floors. An acid stain works through a chemical reaction with the salts in your existing concrete to create a one-of-a-kind finish that adds warmth, depth, and richness to your floors.
If you’re interested in acid stained concrete, the ideal floors are new concrete with no cure and seal or very old concrete without previous flooring installation. But just because your floors don’t fall under that category, doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from stained concrete. We simply recommend sticking with dyes as the best basement flooring option.
2. Polished Concrete Basement Floors
Polished concrete requires a more intensive process, making them a sturdy and great flooring option for families that spend a lot of time in their basements. A diamond-honing process tightens the concrete, which allows for a visible shine and helps with stain resistance. After, chemical hardeners create a dense, durable layer to protect your floors from long-term wear and tear. Then, dye designed for polished concrete boosts the floor’s color followed by a stain guard once the floors are finished.
Keep in mind, polished concrete is around 20 to 30% more expensive than stained or dyed concrete, but many people find that the benefits and value outweigh the initial cost. For example, polished concrete is extremely easy to maintain, especially since the pores close after the installation process. That means it’s less susceptible to future staining and damage.
Similar to dyes or stains, you can customize your polished concrete to bring out your own creativity and personalized touch. So if you want to change that dull gray to a rich, glossy brown, polished concrete can get the job done!
3. Epoxy Coating Basement Floors
Your first thought on basement flooring options in Kansas City may not be an epoxy coating. In fact, you may not even know what it is. Basically, epoxy coating is a two-part chemical mix consisting of an epoxy resin and a hardener. It applies to surfaces as a liquid, but once it cures (when it’s 100% dry), epoxy coating becomes an extremely durable solid.
With basement epoxy coating, not only do you get more durable concrete floors, you also get floors that could last around 10 years (or more!) if they’re taken care of properly.
If you’re new to the epoxy world, here’s one thing you should keep in mind: an epoxy paint is not the same as a quality epoxy coating. For those avid DIYers out there, you may be tempted to visit your local hardware store, but more than likely you’ll only find epoxy paint (an acrylic paint with some resin).
Does that mean paint doesn’t work? Not necessarily. It will make your floors look better. However at the end of the day, paint is just that— paint. Outside of aesthetics, it’s not going to do much to protect your floors, and you’ll end up repainting your floors over and over again.
A true epoxy coating is designed to withstand high traffic, making it another great flooring option if you’re in your basement often. Plus, it comes in a variety of colors and finishes that can give plain concrete a sparkling metallic or even luxurious marble-like effect.
4. Concrete Overlay Basement Floors
Really want to up your basement floors? A concrete overlay can take your basement to the next level by replicating the look of more expensive (and less ideal) materials. Instead of ripping away that old concrete, a concrete overlay can restore and enhance older floors.
After a thorough preparation process, an overlay is a micro-thin layer of concrete that’s hand troweled over your existing basement floors. As a result, you can add color, dimension, patterns, texture—almost anything your mind can think of—to your concrete flooring. Plus, the overlay is designed to preserve your floors so you don’t have to worry about them looking worn down again any time soon.
And what would be decorative basement flooring options without customization? With a concrete overlay, you can still decide on the unique look and feel of your floors; you can even add a family crest if you have one!
There are different overlay options available that may surprise you. For example, the Tuscan Wood Plank Overlay System replicates the look of actual wood planks. In fact, many of our customers are surprised at how real it appears! Plus, no trees were harmed in the making of the floors.
Another one of our favorites is the Sundek SunStamp Overlay (as a bonus, this works great for indoors and outdoors, so feel free to extend it out to your patio!). With the SunStamp Overlay, we can create custom interior floors that rival elaborate tile and imported hardwoods, all without the fear of moisture damage or extra expenses.
Discover the best basement flooring options in Kansas City at Big Red Decorative Concrete
When it comes to basement flooring options in Kansas City, don’t you want to choose from the best of the best? At Big Red Decorative Concrete, we serve people in the Kansas City metro area on both sides of the stateline, and our results speak for themselves!
Our wide variety of basement flooring range in color, blends, and finishes. Plus, we’ll work with you to make your floors flow flawlessly with your home.
From start to finish, we pride ourselves on having a seamless customer service experience, so all you have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy your upgraded basement floors.