7 Reasons Why We Chose to Use Concrete Flooring in our Flip

When we were deciding to take the leap and start flipping houses we researched as much as we could to understand the nuances in making a house as eco-friendly and green as possible (within reason). Concrete flooring made the most sense for us to move forward with. Here are some pros as to why we decided concrete flooring was the way to go plus we sprinkled a few cons for full transparency.

1. It’s Getting Hot in Here:
Summers in Mazatlán can be brutal. With an average dew point of 71°F, simply being outside can be a bit uncomfortable. Concrete can get hot or cold quickly when it’s exposed to different levels of thermal energy. It is generally cool to the touch and this can help make a house feel naturally cooler. Using window shades and shielding the floors from the sun will help keep the area cooler for longer periods of time thus keeping your house cooler.

2. Avoid Heating Up the Joint:
During the winter months, the exact opposite should happen. Keep those window shades away and allow the sun to radiate through the windows. The thermal mass and ability to retain heat allows for concrete floors to take advantage of the heat that comes through. As this happens, the concrete floor will absorb the heat during the day to release it at night helping keep the space warmer.

3. Allergies, Dust Mites, and Mold Oh My:
Carpets are a big contributor for allergy sufferers as they are hard to clean and can be havens for dust mites, pollen and other allergens. Concrete floors are easy to clean and do not trap those crazy allergens that can linger around in carpets. In addition, organic materials like wood and carpets made from natural fibers can still support the growth of mold and mildew, of which concrete does not. To cap it off it is naturally fire resistant and does not support the growth of bacteria.

4. Pet-Friendly Is a Must:
Concrete can withstand the scratches and claws of your loved ones. It also helps prevent odors from accidents by not absorbing the urine or excrement. Its ease of cleaning up messes and also helps prevent future accidents since it’ll be harder for your pup to notice their smell in the area.

5. Lowers A/C Needs:
Because concrete can help buffer free heat gains from the direct sunlight by absorbing a large part of it, it helps make air-conditioning unnecessary as it reduces peak temperature and if needed, when combined with A/C, it can help reduce the energy needed for cooling by up to 50%.

6. It Helps with Air Quality Control:
Most of the 90% of the time we each spend indoors is spent in our own houses, according to Angela Dean, author of Green By Design. She warns that even though we spend so much time inside, we are increasingly creating an air quality that is 20 to 30x more toxic than outside. This happens when we use products that can contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Some examples of products with increased VOCs are wood products that use glues high in formaldehyde, mildew, toxic paints and finishes, dust mites, and even some cleaning products.

And yet while these are the most obvious pros for having concrete flooring throughout the home, we want to be completely transparent that nothing in life is perfect and there are a couple of cons that we would like to point out.

Here are some cons to having a concrete floor in the home.

1. Tough on the Feet:
Even though it's cool to touch on those hot summer days (assuming you placed shade on all the windows) it is still a hard surface that doesn’t conform to the balls of our feet. Because of its durability against items dropped on it, whether they be human or glass, we can see some injury. Area rugs certainly help prevent these accidents from getting too severe.

2. Cracking Like Eggs:
Over time concrete can develop cracks. It generally happens due to the expansion of the poured concrete needing to endure changes in temperature and moisture. Yet, we think the vein-like cracking gives the floor history and texture creating a beauty that is unique to the house.

3. Ghost in the House:
Concrete can create an echo like effect causing a simple walk down the hallway sound like elephants pounding through. That’s an exaggeration, but instead of creaks on a wooden floor you get the echo of your footsteps bouncing off the walls. An easy fix would be to add texture on the walls with paintings or bookshelves.

After all is said and done, for us the pros outweigh the cons. When we’re proactively looking for ways to create a healthier house for both the inhabitants and Mother Earth, concrete wins!