Seattle Art Group This floor looks like coated with epoxy to give this shine look. The surface of epoxy will scratch after a period of time. The best alternative for this similar look is polished concrete. A polished concrete is more labor intensive, but in the long run it will last a lot longer. The shine of a polished concrete is from the chemical reaction of the concrete with densifier to create a harness of concrete that is able to be polished with different grids of pads. The result of a polished concrete is a "breathable" surface, meaning no coatings. It is a lot more resemblance of a marble natural look.

puddleduck1 Is it possible to install concrete (thinner layer maybe?) above grade. We would like to use concrete as a 'heat sink' on main floor above a walk-out basement. If it's not advisable would there be a substitute you could recommend that is not extremely expensive. We love the look but are trying to be economical and enironmentally 'aware'.

make architecture It is. Look up "Lightweight Concrete". Another option would be tile or stone flooring.

maryphil Those are not seams. They were scored on purpose for the look. Some are scored smaller and makes it look like tile. We have stained and scored concrete floors. Love them.easy upkeep and will never wear out.

make architecture The seams are located strategically for the aesthetic, but they are also necessary for crack control. We try to make these utilitarian necessities and incorporate them in a way that supports the aesthetic of the Architecture.

make architecture Yes, it really comes down to getting a good quality professional who knows how to seal a floor to achieve the look. Not all professionals who know how to seal a concrete floor are knowledgeable about how to achieve this sort of finish look. Ask for images of the work they've accomplished in the past to see if they've achieved the look you're trying to attain.

make architecture Yes, it really comes down to getting a good quality professional who knows how to seal a floor to achieve the look. Not all professionals who know how to seal a concrete floor are knowledgeable about how to achieve this sort of finish look. Ask for images of the work they've accomplished in the past to see if they've achieved the look you're trying to attain.