Anthracite concrete floor in a terraced house in Hemiksem

Project · residential concrete · Hemiksem

A terraced house does not have to be large for a concrete floor to come into its own. In this house in Hemiksem, the residents chose anthracite residential concrete on a ground surface of approximately 40 m². The photos show the execution between the existing walls, from distributing the concrete to the fresh, dark floor surface.

A concrete floor in a small house

In a compact house, not only the surface area counts, but also the shape of the spaces. A passage, a corner next to a wall and a larger floor area each require a different approach. In Hemiksem, the work extended through various parts of the house. The photos show that it was not an empty, rectangular hall where you can easily manoeuvre a machine everywhere.

A smaller surface area is therefore no reason to immediately rule out residential concrete. However, the execution must fit the house. We review the access for people and materials, the space for finishing and the location of connections together. Where a machine has insufficient space, the surface requires an adapted finish. Also read our article about this. hand polishing concrete.

First the concrete floor, then the plastering

The client chose to have the concrete floor installed before the plastering works. You can see this from the still visible masonry. That sequence is a project choice: on another site, the plastering may already be completed when the concrete team arrives.

Both situations require preparation. For already plastered walls, the finish must be protected during the concrete work. If the plastering is done later, the new floor must be protected against contamination and damage from those subsequent works. So agree not only on the pouring date but also on who may access the floor afterwards and how it will be covered.

The appropriate protection depends on the condition of the floor and any subsequent treatment. A random sheet of plastic or adhesive tape directly on the surface is not a universal solution. Have the chosen covering material and timing coordinated with the floor so that follow-up work does not unnecessarily damage the result.

Why this fresh floor looks so dark

Anthracite gives a concrete floor a distinctive character. In these photos, the timing of the execution also plays a role: the floor is still wet and reflects the light from the windows. The final dry appearance can therefore be lighter and less glossy than in the site images.

For a small house, it is useful to consider the colour choice together with walls, kitchen and windows. A dark floor can provide cohesion, but the effect strongly depends on daylight and the other materials. In this project, we deliberately show the actual construction phase, without presenting the images as a finished interior.

Shrinkage joints and connections are part of the design.

The original project description includes both the installation and the sawing of the shrinkage joints as part of this execution. Such a saw cut helps to accommodate shrinkage at a chosen location. The floor layout, corners and connections also determine where joints are needed.

A floor with large, calm surfaces is therefore not the same as a guaranteed jointless or crack-free floor. Discuss the jointing plan before execution, especially where the floor runs through narrow passages. More explanation about the purpose and execution can be found at cutting concrete floors.

What determines the price of a small concrete floor?

You cannot evaluate a quote for 40 m² simply by adopting the square metre price of a large hall. Preparation, transport, accessibility and deployment of people and machines remain necessary. The floor construction, colour and protection also influence the assignment.

Therefore, provide us with a floor plan, the desired floor height and photos of the access points. Indicate which works have already been carried out and which will follow. This allows us to more accurately consider how a polished concrete floor in your home is feasible.

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