How's it going? Here's one expert's comment and photo: Three Legged Pig Design: "Terrazzocrete flooring is a standard concrete slab (not a topping) that was not troweled after a bull float to keep the aggregates near the surface and then polished. Any good concrete slab sub can pour this with proper instructions. There are also options such as shell fragments and recycled glass that can be added for some sparkle or color."

Hope it's a bit helpful.... good 'luck'.

karenszx6r: "The floor is concrete which has been ground (to show the aggregate) and then polished."

What is used to get the glossy surface of the concrete? - My concrete floor has just been screed. What will I need to apply to get it nice and glossy?
PRO First Lamp: "We had these floors done by a commercial floor-polishing company. It's a three-step process where they add an emulsifier and do several steps of grinding and polishing. We paid around $5/sf for this but it was a pretty small job. For larger jobs in our area, market rate is closer to $4/sf. You can add both water-based and petroleum-based products to concrete and get most of the way there, but this finish is more durable and consistent."

Concrete looking like wood:

So it's common to require filler for pits and such? before sealing that is.

I vote for concrete...even if (god forbid) you should have a flood, or "someone" spills a gallon of paint (it happened...and it was RED enamel), or any one of life's events you will be OK.

The problem with doing stained concrete in a basement is that most builders do not put a moisture barrier in the concrete of the basement. Moisture will then become trapped under the surface of the stain and sealer and will cause the sealer to bubble and peal up over time. Porcelain tile would be your best investment for longevity of use as moisture is able to travel through the setting materials and grout and evaporate properly. Use a dark color grout to hide any discoloration over time.

OP isn't answering, but for anyone like me who is trying to learn: which step in concrete is the moisture barrier? We don't even have a basement, but concrete is the slab [under our carpet, etc.] So in future I had thought of improving the slab with a good treatment for new flooring, but not sure what you mean...? thanks.

Both concrete and tile are going to be very cold underfoot in your climate. Have you considered cork? We put Torley's cork planks in our unfinished basement as a cheap temporary covering. We are about to excavate the basement to lower the slab (and connect to a new addition) and we are going with cork again. Some say we may replace it with engineered hardwood to match the rest of the house, but for now we want to make the space comfortable without spending too much.

We put Dri0core and vinyl plank in ours warmer on the feet and keeps any moisture at bay

If you live in a typical Brooklyn connected townhouse do not go crazy finishing your basement. ALL basements have moisture issues. Then add the connected shared walls and if your neighbor has moisture issues you have moisture issues.

Problem is the moisture wicks its way up into the thinset and the tile. If you like the bare look maybe a concrete coating sealer that can easily be touched up as you will have moisture issues. Then add that all the mechanicals are tucked up into those ceilings and its not if you will have water damages but when.

If you are finishing a basement make sure you have a dedicated dehumidifier that self drains. Make sure it is on all the time. Also leave at least one lamp on as the lamp prevents humidity, yes it works. Buy a dehumidifier and put it in the basement they are saying is dry and within a day after a rain or snow if will be full within a couple of hours. When you dump that gallon bucket out you will understand. Those old houses weren't built with todays tech and were never meant to have finished lower level living spaces.