Natural Concrete Floors look Amazing in this Brand New Contemporary Home in Kelowna BC

Wow, what a stunning contemporary space!  These clients wanted to highlight their natural concrete floors, so Mode Concrete came in and did our top selling seal/wax floor treatment to the surface. It's an easy, cost effective flooring option that elevates the natural beauty that occurs already in concrete.  Usually it only takes us a few days, and ta da, you'll be enjoying your new space before you know it! Our clients absolutely love the concrete floors that we have created. Our contemporary polished concrete floors are the perfect option for any indoor or outdoor space. Polished concrete is often used in many areas like: art galleries, shopping malls, warehouses, retail environments as well many residential, commercial and industrial properties. Basically we finish and buff the floor to give it a stunning finish. Our entire process is VOC (Volatile organic compounds) and emission free, an entirely non-toxic and safe process.

This floor was naturally finished by MODE CONCRETE in Kelowna BC. 

 Here we are, burnishing the floor after naturally finishing the surface. 

 This floor was naturally finished by MODE CONCRETE in Kelowna BC. 

This floor was naturally finished by MODE CONCRETE in Kelowna BC. 

Why do people love concrete floors?

• They are super easy to clean and maintain. You can dry or wet mop (use warm water when mopping), sweep, or vacuum to remove small debris on a weekly basis. Use PH-neutral, non-acidic natural cleaners to ensure nothing strips the sealers and waxes. Then once every few years you will have to apply a moisture barrier sealer and waxes. Maintenance and refinishing, totally depends on wear and tear and the client's preference. Some customers like a pristine highly reflective concrete floors, while others like an industrial, high patina, raw surface look.
• Concrete retains the thermal heat in your home.  Your concrete floors will help store heat and moderate interior heat fluctuations. 
• Amazing longevity, concrete will likely outlive you and your house.  Concrete lasts much longer when compared to other flooring materials.
• Concrete is heat and spill resistant.
• Super durable and easier to repair than other options.
• Concrete is a clean flooring surface, with little worry of bacteria or allergens since there is usually no grout lines.
• Concrete floors wear wonderfully, concrete is totally unique and raw - it ages just like natural stone.
• Future changes (colors, finishes, stains) are usually easy to change and personalize, if your style changes or if you sell your house.  Concrete is easy to cover if you ever want to install other flooring on top.
• Concrete skim coats, micro-toppings and overlays are similar to the thickness and weight of tile.
• The top reason that people love concrete floors, is how shockingly stunning they are!

We can help you with maintenance, refinishing and rewaxing your existing concrete floor. When we finish your floor it will come to life... in a non-toxic, eco-friendly, inexpensive kinda way. For more information on sealing, waxing or staining any interior or exterior concrete surface, please contact MODE CONCRETE.  

We service Kelowna and the entire Okanagan Valley, in BC Canada (and can travel depending on client requirements).

Raw Concrete Floors Naturally Look Clean and Contemporary - A Simple, Inexpensive Process with Concrete Sealers & Waxes perfect for Commerical or Residential spaces - article by artisans MODE CONCRETE

If you like the natural look and color of regular standard grey concrete, we usually recommend sealing and waxing.  It's our favorite look, and totally differs from project to project - every piece of concrete is original in it's coloring, textures, irregularities, and variations that occur naturally when the concrete dries and cures.  And the best thing about finishing your existing concrete floors... usually most projects (like this featured project) only take a few days. Taking the time to put down this final layer of protection not only prolongs the life of your concrete floor, but also greatly enhances and preserves its natural beauty and appearance.

Here is a natural concrete floor we completed for our Kelowna client.  Natural concrete is where it's at.  Look at all that natural concrete beauty + amazingly high ceilings.  This is space feels light, airy, open and contemporary with a pop of sparkle coming from the light fixtures.  Love.

Think of a concrete floor sealer as a protective barrier or sacrificial layer that will improve its appearance, durability and longevity.  Stain protection is the main reason for sealing concrete floors, especially in areas of your home or business where food and drink will be consumed. High traffic areas or exposure to machinery or pets may also cause damage to a concrete floors that can be prevented with adequate sealant and wax. New concrete floors should be sealed after they are completed (make sure concrete is fully dried and cured first), while existing concrete floors should be sealed every few years based on wear and tear.

Here is a natural concrete floor we completed for our Kelowna client.  Natural concrete is where it's at.

Properly sealed and maintained concrete (natural or stained) will give the same beautiful appearance for years to come. It is extremely durable, requires very little maintenance, and will likely outlast the home or business which surrounds it. The materials used to seal stained concrete include water-based sealers, waxes, alternative green sealers and solvent based sealers. Always make sure that the concrete contractor preforms tests on small areas, or shows you samples of what to expect. Also make sure that your concrete is protected during the construction phase to minimize visible marks, staining and concrete damage that often occurs.

The top question we get 'AREN'T CONCRETE FLOORS COLD AND HARD?' and our answer is always, 'expect the same temperature and hardness as tile or other natural stone flooring options.'

And there's your daily dose of concrete flooring information from the artisans at Mode Concrete in Kelowna BC.  Please contact us for pricing or more information for any services we discuss in our blog.  We service Kelowna and the entire Okanagan Valley, in BC Canada (and can travel anywhere depending on client requirements). 

Considering Concrete Floors? Main Benefits of Concrete Flooring Discussed by the specialists at Mode Concrete in BC Canada

If you want your space to be ultra-stylish and have major design impact, consider concrete floors... the flooring for the stylish at heart.  Concrete floors get better with age and like freckles, concrete floors help to camouflage wear as it gets older.  With concrete we embrace and look forward to variations, irregularities, and the patina that develops with wear over time. There are good reasons why interior designers often choose concrete for their most cutting edge spaces. Stained, colored, textured or smooth, concrete boasts limitless design options. It provides a blank canvas upon which homeowners can leave their mark.  But beyond the design advantages, these surfaces are low maintenance and they blend seamlessly with the architectural aesthetics of various design styles.  

Clients who want a meticulous, predictable, pristine material that will always look flawless; steer clear of concrete.  It develops wear marks, patinas, natural irregularities, marbling and hairline cracks naturally as it ages.  If you are staining your concrete floor, the darker or more vibrant the stains you choose, the natural patinas may be more obvious. The reason is simply because there is a greater variation between the top layer of stained concrete and the concrete material itself. Concrete is a natural material, and regardless if you keep your floor natural grey concrete or stain the surface, the natural patina and variations is what makes concrete so fab. We are true concrete lovers, are you?

These are pictures of natural concrete floors that MODE CONCRETE finished.

 These are pictures of natural concrete floors that MODE CONCRETE finished.

Concrete Flooring Benefits:

• Sustainable. Concrete does not contain the harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that many synthetic carpets or materials do.  Our finishing processes are totally green, safe, dustless and provides the ultimate natural protection.  Concrete floors avoid the consumption of new materials and utilizes the materials already present.  
• Easy Care. Maintenance is simple. Just vacuum or sweep and follow up with a warm damp mop. The amount of traffic your floors receive will determine the amount of maintenance it will need. A concrete floor with normal traffic will probably need a reapplication of the finish every 2-3 years.
• Longevity. A floor that has been finished and maintained can be expected to last a hundred years or more. Let's appreciate how an aged and cracked concrete floor is not hidden under new tiles or carpet, but instead celebrated for the history and life it holds. Concrete floors create an incredible impact when put on display along with other architecturally salvaged materials.
• Energy Storage Capacity. Concrete floors can help you save energy. They feel cooler in the summer, so there is less of a need to use air conditioning. During the winter, concrete floors absorb the solar heat from the sun or your fireplace, helping to keep your home warm. For those with radiant-heated floors, concrete is the best flooring surface to maximize heat conduction and minimize energy usage. Some worry that a concrete floor will be cold and hard on their feet. The truth is that finished concrete floors are no colder or hard-feeling as other common flooring types like ceramic tiles, stone and marble.
• Economical. The cost of finishing your existing concrete floors is very low, about $2.50 to $3.50 per square foot to finish/polish/buff a plain gray slab, giving it a lustrous sheen. The concrete's natural tonal differences, subtle cracks and aggregates take on a stonelike, natural feel.  You get ultimate longevity and durability when comparing concrete to other flooring options.
• Non Combustible.  An exposed concrete floor is non-flammable, non-combustible, and more robust in a fire situation than alternative materials.

Referencing websites and for additional information, check out the Concrete Networks article about Concrete in the Kitchen - http://www.concretenetwork.com/kitchen-floor.html.  Also check out http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/7977902/list/5-Benefits-to-Concrete-Floors-for-Everyday-Living at Houzz.com, where they discuss the 5 main benefits of concrete.

If you have any questions about any of the services we discuss in this blog or on our website, please contact us today.

Wowza... Check out this Ultra-Cool, Contemporary and Modern Concrete Floor

Here is a before/after picture of a untreated contractors grade concrete floor that we finished. 

The best thing of all… it usually only takes 2 days, it's cheap, is a long term flooring option and we go anywhere in the Okanagan!  You may ask, how cheap is cheap?  Well the cost of finishing your concrete floor is usually less than installation of other flooring materials, that's not including the actual flooring material cost.  Definitely a cost effective option when deciding on flooring.

Get in touch with us today for a free estimate, or if you have any questions.  

Home Gym with Concrete Floors - concrete floors are the perfect solution for any room... they are super stylish, durable and easy to maintain

Here is a concrete overlay that MODE CONCRETE created in the Okanagan.  A concrete floor is the perfect solution to any home-gym, basement, garage, or any space you want something super durable that is easy to maintain.

MODE CONCRETE provides concrete floor services throughout the Okanagan Valley.  Please contact us for more details or an estimate.

Hip and Modern Basement Concrete Floors - we are specialists at finishing your new or existing concrete floors

MODE CONCRETE - Finished Basement Concrete Floor Contractors, that service the entire Okanagan.  The best thing about finishing your basement or existing concrete floor... we are usually in and out within 2 days!  A quick and stylish fix to any new or existing concrete surface or floor.  

Enhancing the concrete rather than covering it up is fast becoming the gold standard in basement floor treatments, with benefits that extend well beyond aesthetics. You'll notice that the natural variations in concrete and permanent staining or marks get camouflaged into the floor and add 'beauty marks' and marbling - all characteristic of concrete.

This blog is about a recent job we completed for a client in Kelowna.  They wanted their existing concrete basement floor finished.  Their house was only a few years old and the concrete floor in the basement hadn't ever been treated or sealed.  We had to spend a little extra time preparing the surface, removing and buffing out stains. Gareth did a great job removing lots of the deep penetrating stains that developed naturally to the surface, with regular wear and tear.  Any untreated concrete surface needs a good cleaning and preparation to make sure the finishing products adhere to the surface of the concrete.  After the preparation stage is completed, we apply numerous applications of sealers and high traffic wax to achieve this look and protect the surface.  

Here is what the floor looked like before.

And here is what it looked like after we were done with it.

The finishing sealers/waxes we apply to concrete floors give it a luster or uniform reflective quality...  oh gorgeous natural concrete, how we love you all bare and naked and simply beautiful!

We are specialists in concrete acid staining or coloring, sealing, and waxing new and old concrete (great for concrete floors, garages, driveways, walls, patios, decks, pool decks).  We also specialize in all concrete repairs and maintenance - contact us for more details.

Modern Kitchen with Concrete Countertops - made in the Okanagan by MODE CONCRETE

Another project completed by MODE CONCRETE for our clients in Vernon. Check out those views, wouldn't it be lovely to wake up here every morning, make a coffee and be spellbound by all that gorgeous Canadian speldor?  Superb design choices, wonderful clients and a stunning view... we love everything about this house!  The concrete countertops that we created for them, is the perfect finishing touch to an amazingly designed kitchen.

For this countertop we added black pigment to the concrete, to integrally color the concrete product mix.

MODE CONCRETE specializes in creating custom concrete countertops and we can customize the concrete in a multitude of ways, to perfectly fit within your space.  As for cleaning and maintaining, like most countertops, a mild soap and a cloth are all that should be used for routine cleanup. Be sure to avoid harsh cleansers or anything abrasive.

We recently joined houzz, and it has some amazing ideas if you are needed some design inspiration check out this site!  Here is our MODE CONCRETE Houzz profile.  Here are some articles from Houzz about concrete countertops...  Kitchen Counters: Concrete, the Nearly Indestructible Option and Amazing Ways with Concrete Countertops.

We also can assist you refinishing or maintaining your existing concrete countertop, concrete floors and any decorative concrete surface.  Contact us today for more details on our services.