If done well the investment of $700-900 can be well spent.

Best applicatios are for patios and sidewalks and those area where foundation repairs have ripped up adjacent cement and the patch job looks really bad..this happened to me..my front pourch had three supports and the "new"concrete patches looked very bad...the concrete paint/stain is the way to go..better than ruipping up old patio and replacing it.

Troy in Texas

Call 214 543 0122..I can give you some vedors to call I have trusted to do the job properly.

We had a house in Plano and we had a combo of travertine/stained concrete floors - The guys that did our concrete staining did an amazing job. It cost WAY less than anything that could look at good (was about $4/sqft - but that included removal of carpet & pad, cleaning up glue, removing the carpet tacks and filling them in and faux painting them to look like the rest of the floor and two colours of stain). The only thing we did not do, was to have the floors scored. I was going for a giant slab of rock on the floor look. Oh and per the comment of it being a resale issue - well our house ended up selling in less than 48hrs and for full asking price. That was in April of 2008.

Good Luck -

After we did it the two downfalls were they are pretty cold in the winter - even in Plano, TX so if you decide to do get some rugs, and two if you do it in your bedroom and have dogs, the clicking of their nails can wake a light sleeper.

It really depends on the market audience, if it's a contemporary in uptown or a loft downtown it may be fine. If it's a home in Plano, I'd go with wood or tile/carpet. staining is an easy job, just cost and labor, as they say. I'm also a contractor, I could have my guys do that stain if needed. Also if carpet/tack or other material has to be removed it's more costly. Demo and prep is usually the most costly.

Love stain concrete floors if done correctly, I just completed 2 rooms in my home looking forward to remainder of home. It depends on many factors low priced homes buyers dont like, luxury homes buyers have liked. Many factors take inconsideration prior investing time and expense.

Great Question

I'd say most buyers don't get it, unless it is in a loft type apt/condo. I've liked most of what I have seen, but I've never been able to convince one of my buyers it was a good thing. Probably better to go with anything else depending on the location....tile, wood, laminate, or carpet. Probably for now it is best left outside the home. Same thing with concrete countertops. I've seen some neat stuff done, but buyers just couldn't seem to connect with it.

As a Designer and Realtor, I have to say that you are better off investing in the wood. I personally LOVE polished concrete, but it is a bit "progressive" for most. A lot of buyers may not "get it" just yet. The price of the concrete flooring is comparable in price to wood (sometimes runs a bit higher).

JMO...to broaden your buyer market, stick with wood. But if this installation is for you, and you're not selling right now...go with the polished concrete. I feel it will become a desirable flooring option, in the next few years.

Good luck!

My experience with buyers and stained concrete flooring would be the type of stain and design that is used. The only negative on an older home would be the likelihood of seeing the cracks in the foundation through the stain, if it is not done correctly or if it has been applied moderately. Hardwood flooring is always considered an upgrade in resale and normally would appeal to buyers in a positive way. Remember, neutral is key when staging a home. If you would like more information on staging or preparing your home for resale, please let me know.

Regards,

Henry Ramirez http://www.henryramirez.com

PLANO,
I would not do it as a resale upgrade. If you were going to be in the house a while and you liked it - fine.
Do the hardwood or tile.
Margaret