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It is no surprise that staining concrete is becoming a popular choice. This is a good choice whether it’s placed inside or outside your home. Concrete has been known as the most durable material for a very long time, but has always been ugly. The numerous options now available for concrete floor stains let anyone choose a color and method that will be suitable for their situation.
Durability
Concrete is a material known for its great durability and it is known to last longer than any other type of flooring choice. It has always been common to be used outdoors but it is becoming actually popular to be used indoors as well. Many homeowners have chosen this surface for a lot of areas in their homes. It has been turning especially popular in kitchen and dining areas. This is a well-known choice also for kitchens of restaurants.
One reason why they are so popular is the ease of maintaining clean concrete flooring. They only have to be swept off and mopped when they are dirty. There is no way for dust mites or allergens to hide on the surfaces. Concrete is also resistant to scratches better than other options such as wood and tiles.
Various Design Choices
Stains for concrete floors can be made in any color. Various kinds of stains can be used in various ways to give different levels of saturation. There are a lot of possibilities and that means making a match to any décor is effortless. At present, there are three kinds of stains that you can use in coloring concrete.
Stains that are acid-based have the longest life and they are more durable than the rest. They have been applied on floors for a very long time. There is an occurrence of chemical reaction between the hydrochloric acid and the lime found in the concrete. It sinks into the material that makes it thoroughly saturated. The resulting color is irregular and it gives the look of a natural stone. Stains that are acid-based do not fade but the only available shades are in earth tones.
Solvent-based stains have a reaction that is comparable with wood stains by sinking into the concrete material. The color is then absorbed into the top layer. It also lasts for a long time but cannot beat the acid-based. Solvent-based stains are prepared in any hue or exact shade desired.
Recently, acrylic and water based stains have been formulated because of serious concerns with the environment. They are not hazardous and are eco-friendly. Since they cannot create a chemical reaction, they are much safer than dyes that are acid-based. They are available in a wide selection of colors including spectacular metallic. They can be made in any color you want from the translucent ones to opaque.
Concrete floor stains can make an old garage floor look refreshed or renovate the back porch. They are a great option for inside floors like kitchen and dining. This is a concrete treatment that will last for a very long time and remain great looking for several years.

Natural cork floors can look fantastic but only if you look after them properly. It sounds obvious but you have to try to keep your floors clean and free from liquid. If something spills, make sure you don’t let it dry in.

Although cork tiles are cheap compared to other flooring, they are not maintenance free and won’t suit a home where the owner doesn’t like housework. They don’t suit areas of high traffic, for example you would never lay cork flooring on your stairs and they will fade if you put them in a room that gets plenty of direct sunlight through the window. If you try to lay them over under floor heating they will lift and if you have heavy furniture, the dents made in the floors are impossible to get out.

You are probably now wondering why people bother with this type of flooring especially in light of all of the problems outlined above. The answer won’t really surprise you. Natural cork flooring offers an eco friendly solution to your flooring needs. It is spongy to walk on, naturally warm to the touch and will insulate your home against loss of heat. In the days before fiber glass it was used to sound proof buildings. It is great for kids as it doesn’t become dangerous if something spills on it. The same cannot be said for ceramic tiles which have caused more than one household accident.

You can buy large cork board in various different colors and you can paint it too so you really couldn’t find a more versatile flooring material. You can choose a color to match how your home is decorated. When buying natural cork flooring, you need to make sure they are not wall tiles. These are a lot thinner and often cheaper than floor tiles but they will not wear well. They will be an expensive mistake if you decide to put them down on the floor as they will need replacing very quickly and your work will be in vain. Buy the thickest cork floor tiles you can find as they tend to last the longest. Pay attention to the manufacturer’s instructions and make sure to keep them clean. If you cannot face the maintenance required with a natural cork floor, you may want to opt for a vinyl backed floor instead. It is possible to buy floors that look like the real cork but are in fact a composite material made up of a mixture of different products.

Looking for that perfect piece of decor for your little girl’s room? Why not try a pink shag rug? Shag rugs, especially flokati or wool, make excellent floor coverings for bedrooms. Your daughter can enjoy walking about barefoot in her own space with a pink rug on the floor keeping her toes warm. She can also enjoy time on the floor with her rug when her playmates or girlfriends come over. A pink shag rug will suit girls of all ages. If you have decided that a shag rug is what your daughter’s room needs, you can use the following guide to help you find that perfect piece.

Measure the room’s floor space. This will give you an idea of the size of the rug that you should get. It will also help during the selection process if you know in advance whether her room is rectangular, square or has an irregular shape as this can help you decide what rug shape best suits the room and where it should go.

Decide which fabric suits you (and her) best. If your child has allergies to synthetic or natural fibers your choices may be limited. The same goes for allergies to certain dyes. An alternative that you can consider is bamboo shag rugs. These are innovations in floor coverings and environment friendly. It is possible to dye the bamboo though you may be limited in choices for color and pink may not be available. You can opt for white or a lighter shade that will still blend with the pink walls or furniture of your daughter’s room.

Choose the shag length. Nowadays you have the choice between long shag and the short or mini shag rugs or carpets. The pile on the long shag is what could be considered “original” shag which is about one inch long while the short shag is about three fourths of an inch long. When choosing which type will best fit the room, do remember that shag rugs require regular cleaning in order to maintain their beautiful and luxurious appearance. Long shag rugs will require more care than the short or mini shag ones. So if you think cleaning the pink shag rug will be a problem go for the short shag types.

Choosing a rug doesn’t have to be difficult. Try to involve your daughter especially if she is old enough to understand the process and all the factors to be considered in buying a rug or carpet. You can both browse online stores or visit carpet shops to get a better idea of which shag rug to get and what shade of pink will look best in her room.