Step 1: Floors

As anyone may know, this is a process. To get the house into living/working condition there are a few things that need to be completed first. Step 1 is the floors. As I have previously mentioned the house has a radiant heated red pigmented cement slab. The kitchen and bedrooms had carpet and both original bathrooms had linoleum that had been painted over. All other areas have the original slab exposed although they have been painted so there is chipping paint and scratches in areas. After pulling carpet we found the pad in the master bedroom had not been colored.

First thing we did was remove the carpeted areas from the bedrooms and kitchen area.

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After pulling the carpet in the kitchen this exposed yet another layer... linoleum with carpet glue on top. Let me tell you this, Removing any of this linoleum is a huge pain! All types of scrapers have been tested in combination with heat guns, hot water, and brunt force all with varying results. We've removed as much as we can with a floor scraper...although this leaves a small layer of paper/glue. Best we've found so far is hot water and chisel/razor. It's slow going for sure. Here are some additional photos.

I'd like to get back to the original floors and try and refinish them in some way. Please offer any options in the comments. I've contacted a few contractors for options and opinions. Here is what I've got so far:

Options are:


1. Having the floors grinded a very small amount to polish them a little, then sealing them. This will fill some of the cracks and sore spots in the original floors while removing the pant, not that I want to remove the flaws/character. First small areas need to be tested for desired results first. This would result in a finish that would be good for years. Price about the same as option 2.

2. Having a thin 1/32 cement/polymer overlay added to the slab to refinish the floors. Colors and finishes are endless. Guaranteed to not chip or crack with time. This iption would also be polished and sealed to prevent stains. This will clean up the floors completely and they will appear new. Contractor also recommended removing floor mounding as it's currently wood and in very poor condition because the cement floors and wall area constantly exchanging moisture with the wood trim. Trim would be replaced with a small curve up the edge of the block walls. This would also result in a finish that would be set forever. Price should be about the same as option 1.

3. Painting the floors. This is the least expensive option but they would need to be done every few years to conceal scratches or chips depending on paint type. This will also not look as nice as a finished and polished concrete but is a budget option.

4. ???? Any other ideas? I'm trying to reasearch difreent options and solutions. If there is something that can de done myself i'd love to do that. Have you ever refinished your cvement floors and can opper another option? add a comment as i'd love to hear from you.

The other decision is color. I once had envisioned another color on the floor but now I'm leaning to keeping the dark red. Only because this is the way that the house was intended to be. the red in any other house would be a highlight color, but here it's more like a nutral.

Decisions Decisions Decisions........

Offer any questions or opionions below!

-IM