I live in a 1st floor flat (relatively new build) that has concrete underneath the carpet. I'd like to remove the carpet and treat the concrete and have concrete floor.
The floor seems pretty solid and has channels for pipework that are covered with wood. Excuse the dirt but this picture underneath the bath gives an idea.
My questions are:
Is there a way to tell what kind of concrete floor I have?
Is there any risk to just putting down a sealant in terms of damaging the floor structurally or is it a pretty safe thing to do. I don't want what is a relatively cheap floor treatment turning into some kind of expensive major damage.
Thanks for any suggestions!
Best Answer
Once concrete is fully cured, you're not going to damage it with paint or other sealer. On the first floor of a building chances are good that it is a solid concrete floor rather than a thin coat of something. As far as the "type of concrete", that shouldn't matter much when you choose a coating.
What does matter is the prep work that you do. When you decide on a coating, read what the manufacturer recommends. In most cases it will call for a strong cleaner/degreaser and some type of concrete "etching". Etching might sound like it could damage the floor, but we are talking a very mild etching that happens on an almost microscopic level. Don't let the term scare you.
The amount of prep you do is directly related to how long the coating will last. Skimp on the prep, and it will start to peel and flake off prematurely. It's not going to hurt the concrete, but it could make the floor look very ugly.