Polished Concrete or Wooden Floorboards - Which Should I Choose?

Flooring is one of the great blank canvases of a home that can significantly influence how your house looks and feels. Choosing the right material for your home's flooring is an important decision, as various flooring types will affect each room's functionality, appearance, and your budget.

If you make a mistake in choosing your flooring, you might have to suck it up for years ahead, or otherwise face a costly renovation. One of the biggest toss ups regarding flooring options is between polished concrete or wooden floorboards.

Let's look at the features, durability, maintenance, and costs associated with these types of flooring.

Appearance

Polished concrete flooring is a great choice for homes featuring a modern or industrial style, especially if you have the opportunity to build from scratch. This flooring is available in various shades of grey and can be mixed with an aggregate stone. You can find a great design depending on your preferences. From a complete aggregate exposure, matte look, or a highly reflective finish, polished concrete design options are aplenty. 

If you want a rustic, natural, and vintage vibe, wooden floorboards can give your house that timber look and warmth. There are also different types of hardwood that you can choose from along with grains that are unique to each floorboard.

Cost

Concrete floors are cost-effective and extremely functional. The price can vary depending on the grade, if you want more complex patterns and premium stains, the cost would be higher.

When it comes to hardwood flooring, the prices also vary, not just because of the different wood types but even within variations of the same wood.

For example, the price of a basic Cherry wood is reasonable, but if you want to switch to Brazilian Cherry, it can triple the amount per square foot.

Maintenance

Maintaining hardwood flooring requires a little more than your usual house cleaning procedures.  Timber flooring requires polishing every three to four years and termite prevention maintenance. It's essential to keep wooden floorboards clean regularly to minimise any potential problems. 

Polished concrete flooring is easy to maintain. Cleaning is as simple as sweeping and mopping using a mild cleaner to keep your floors looking great. Just avoid over-acidic or alkaline floor cleaners which could damage the surface finish. 

Spills, stains, and water damage

Wooden floorboards are vulnerable to water damage if water seeps in. Take care to avoid any water pooling or water dripping from the mop. Because of this, it’s recommended that you avoid using wooden floorboards in the kitchen or bathroom.

On the other hand, polished concrete is incredibly water-resistant - you can even use it in your pool. It is effortless to wipe down and has the advantage of being spill and stain-resistant. This flooring type is also resistant to bacteria growth, so you won't have to worry about having mouldy spots in the bathroom or kitchen.

Durability and longevity 

Shoes could damage your hardwood flooring.

Hardwood flooring is sensitive to scratches, particularly in heavy traffic areas. Walking in high-heels and pets can also cause damage to your floors. So if you really want timber floors, keep this in mind as you might need a “no-shoes” policy to try and preserve your floors. 

When it comes down to durability and value for money, polished concrete is the best choice. It can last you 10 to 20 years with minimal maintenance. With this lifespan, polished concrete can save you a fair amount of money in the long run. Concrete flooring is a superior option for garages and commercial premises due to the high level of wear and tear that can take place.

The Choice Is Yours

In summary, both polished concrete and timber are excellent flooring materials, both with a respectable track record. If you want the natural, warm feeling of wood in your home, a hardwood floor is the obvious choice.

A polished concrete floor is a great option for a more modern look, providing a sense of industrial style and chic gleam of honed concrete. It is extremely strong and durable, and if it is installed properly and well-maintained, your flooring can last for as long as you own the house.

If you are looking for a concrete polishing, repair, and commercial coating specialist in Queensland, Signature Substrates prides itself on customer service, quality workmanship, integrity, and value for money.

We have years of experience in concrete floor polishing Gold Coast, in Brisbane, Toowoomba and on the Sunshine Coast. We offer a full range of concrete finishing services such as sealing, epoxy coating, concrete floor repairs, and floor stripping.

Call Signature Substrates at 0423 080 270 or send an enquiry to find out more about polished concrete and wooden floorboards.