Basement Floor Overlays

Basement floor overlays are the perfect solution for a basement floor that has too many imperfections in the concrete to achieve a nice stained finish. Overlays are practical, durable, and economical for floors that may susceptible to flooding or moisture damage.

Reasons to Choose Basement Floor Overlays

• Fix uneven floors caused by settlement or improper installation.

• Too many imperfections in the concrete for staining.

• Decorative concrete with texture is desired

Many contractors, including myself, prefer to apply an overlay versus staining the existing concrete. The outcome is much more predictable due to the consistency in material. Staining existing concrete can be very unpredictable and any imperfections may stand out. Any patching to fix holes and chips will be highlighted with acid stains.

There can also be unforseen problems with staining that don't rear thier ugly head until after the stain is applied. Dry concrete will not reveal the inconsistencies and variations that exist on the surface. To give an example, we stained a basement floor with acid stain because the surface appeared to be in good shape for that type of finish. When we finished applying the stain, there were very noticeable lines running across the floor. The lines were caused by uneven curing and weren't visible before. After the concrete was poured, insulation blankets were placed to prevent freezing. The concrete cured differently along the overlapping of the blankets which caused the stain to react differently.

Overlays can also cover cracks in a basement floor. Don't get this confused with fixing cracks. A crack should be treated first with a crack filler. There's always a chance that cracks will come back through the overlay. But when they do, it's generally just a hairline crack that's barely visible.

The biggest worry most people have when it comes to overlays in a basement is delamination. If it floods, will the bond between the overlay and concrete break? This is a possibility if installation isn't done correctly. The concrete needs to be bare and free of any other coatings prior to application.

There are some systems, such as Elitecrete Overlays, that contain polymers which are drawn into the pores of concrete to create a mechanical bond. The overlay actually becomes an intergral part of the concrete rather than just adhering to it.

An advantage that overlays have over staining the existing concrete is the increased versatility. The ability to incorporate texture adds a whole new dimension. There are many styles of texture, from simple trowel texture to patterned stamping. The right contractor can give your basement floor any look you want.