$12,000 Concrete Floor MISTAKE - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

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My first project on the desert house is finally done! And I'm not going to lie, it was almost a complete disaster. We ran into some serious issues with our contractor and our floor guy, and a job that was supposed to take 14 days took over 2 months, but we FINALLY made it. Sadly, they did not turn out the way I wanted them to and I am still trying to decide if I can live with them? Or if I have to come up with the budget to do something else. $12,000 is a LOT of money to ultimately not be happy at the end of it. What would you do? Would you keep the new concrete floors as is? Or would you invest in new flooring? HELP!!!!
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[@SamuraiPilotGirl]

I am a concrete coating contractor and the number 1 rule about removing tile is that THE GROUT JOINTS WILL SHOW THROUGH! Because tile and grout are two different materials, moisture will dissipate at different rates and always leave what is called "Ghosting" of the grout lines. This can also happen with hardwood floors (although not as much). The ONLY way to get rid of ghosting is to apply an additional 1/2"-3/4" of self leveling product (i.e. ARDEX or SCHONOX) (about 80% effective) or to install a metallic epoxy floor. The black base coat of metallic epoxy will hide ghosting (100% effective). Metallic epoxy is unique, beautiful and decorative (but not cheap). Polished concrete is probably the WORST choice for replacing tiled floors because there is nothing being done to the concrete except making it harder and shinier (Think of polishing rocks when you were a kid....same rock, only shinier). I LOVE polished concrete floors! They're beautiful in their imperfection. HOWEVER, I would never recommend (and always warn my clients) that polished concrete will show EVERY imperfection--cracks and all. Sorry you had such a horrible experience with your concrete flooring guy. There are a LOT of contractors who SAY they can coat concrete, but my advise to anyone looking to have your floors polished or epoxied.....STAY AWAY FROM PAINTERS, CONCRETE INSTALLERS (concrete "finishing" is not the same as concrete "coating"), HANDYMEN, FLOORING INSTALLERS (Carpet, hardwood, tile, LVT, VCT, etc...). Find a contractor whose ONLY job is to coat concrete. And, added tip, STAY AWAY FROM THE BIG BOX STORES AND DIYers. Coating concrete is NOT something most (95%) homeowners can do themselves. Even skilled concrete coating contractors do not always understand how to prepare floors and install certain products. There are myriad variables that cause coatings to fail or turn out poorly. This is one job best left to the pros.

[@CR45H760]

my first thought was using a leveling cement that is also a wearable surface…. I am a flooring contractor I would never leave my customer high and dry like this. Tomorrow is a big day. We are going to be pouring approximately 80 bags of Schonox xm..😊 to ensure our glue down the hardwood herringbone pattern comes out nice… wish me luck!

[@saran3214]

Thank you. I am researching having a concrete finishing done and you are correct, I do have grout lines on mine and will take your good pro advice.

[@walkermediaworx]

This guy is 100%

[@svietka202]

most useful comment

[@contytub]

What you spoke about happened to someone i know leaving a dip in the middle of the room just because what was underneath just still absorbed stuff and an incredible rate even after the concrete started to harden. In the center of the pour there was about 1cm dip. I could tell te person knew nothing because he then filled the void with foam strips that grinded in time leaving a dip into the hard wood after ... cowboys

[@Zeldybear]

I feel like as soon as the workers ripped up the tile and saw the state of the concrete below, they should’ve told you that you would never be able to get the result you were hoping for. At that point, they should’ve recommended to cover with a new layer of concrete or something else. Sorry you had to put up with this for so long!

[@ErinRobinson]

I feel like looking back, the kitchen floor was a dead giveaway.

[@davidhunt6508]

Yeah, I was thinking some sort of topcoat of concrete/cement or epoxy would have been the way to go. I think a lot of headache and possibly money could have been saved.

[@ErinRobinson]

@@davidhunt6508 Agreed!! I was so pissed that I let them go about their business for two weeks before I was able to check in on it again

[@shiningsophia]

@@ErinRobinson something i learned from watching my parents deal with construction is: you have to be on top of the contractors. show up to the work site unannounced to check progress. be firm and complain you hate it and that's not what u asked for. make them redo stuff they screw up. try to check the house as much as possible. ideally 1x a day. NEVER leave them be "working" unsupervised for days or weeks on end bc they will charge u for work they never did and rip u off. best of luck w this project

[@grassabrutta]

Ashley, you're almost right. The owners should have made that assessment for themselves.

[@centralcoastpolishingresto671]

Polished concrete contractor here. Your “floor guys” definitely dropped the ball. There are better options like polishable overlay. To achieve a more uniform look.

[@ErinRobinson]

Is that the same thing as adding a layer of new, self leveling concrete on top?

[@VeroStarlite]

@@ErinRobinson Yes, that's what the person is suggesting. It's really easy to lay one down. Epoxy is my #1 go to. It's easy and you can stick w/ a dull concrete finish or dang near a mirror concrete finish. We did one floor with epoxy for a bar that looked like flames, mixing black, red and orange. Your imagination is the limit. I know you're disappointed and spending more money is a real pisser but spending money on rugs that are going to slip around (even w/ grippers and they leave a mess on the floors) are going to be a constant reminder. The big box home improvement stores have all types of self leveling finishes for concrete. Bottom line, your floors really are cool looking as they are right now. They're just not as perfect as you wanted them to be for $12k.

[@casan0gal]

@@ErinRobinson just get epoxy

[@brandibadger3036]

@@ErinRobinson have you seen Scraffino? that is what we did on top of our gypcrete

[@alexg8849]

@@VeroStarlite I would never put flames in a rental place..

[@OHSloopyIO]

I'm a Project Manager in the industry and I am here to tell everyone that removing older tile in hopes of revealing a good looking concrete floor NEVER comes out good. The only way to get a decent looking polished concrete floor is pour a new one. Sorry you had this experience. I hope others, sadly, can learn from this.

[@ErinRobinson]

Thank you Beth! I needed you like 3 months ago!!!!!

[@OHSloopyIO]

@@ErinRobinson Message me if you have any other issues. Glad to help if I can.

[@ErinRobinson]

@@OHSloopyIO You're the sweetest! Let me know if I should know anything crucial about ordering new custom kitchen cabinets lol

[@minenoturs4271]

yeeeep me knowing contractors n stuff .. sorry erin ,this video made my anxiety go UP

[@ErinRobinson]

@@minenoturs4271 Sorry to make you sweat!!! lol!! I didn't even tell you all the WHOLE story because it's scandalous, so you can only the imagine my real life anxiety....plus, there are for sure aliens out there LOL!!

[@gigiw5896]

For some reason I thought you were going to pour a thin layer of concrete over top of the bad concrete to get an even finish.

[@labrigful]

That's is the right way. they ripped her off.

[@ohthankg-dforthebourgeoisi9800]

I’ve been told by hubby who has been in the trades that the skim coating doesn’t last.

[@Tweezie1111]

thin layers of concrete will break. It jusr sirs on top of the old one so it must be thick to not crack

[@craiglist879]

I totally thought you'd have had a layer of concrete poured over the floor once the tiles had been removed. Communication with your tradesman is key. Can't overstate that enough. You must both be ABSOLUTELY on the same page.

[@bingefox4056]

@@ohthankg-dforthebourgeoisi9800 Hes right it doesnt. The reason is its never done right. It has to be primed first. Then the skim coat has to be 1/8 of an inch. They sometimes do it to new construction to add color. Then they polish the skim coat.

[@mariasalgado2818]

I gotta say you are keeping it together pretty well with all things not going how you plan. Remodeling something is always fun when is done... during the process is a pain. Like you said the floors are not the best but the living area looks really good. Great job!

[@ErinRobinson]

Thanks, Maria. There have been lots of tears and even MORE drama since I edited this video. So, subscribe if you want to see all of THAT lol

[@jerrymorrow5209]

@@ErinRobinson perfect is the enemy of good, well showed in this video

[@haileysisco8002]

You are doing an amazing job. I’m 22 years old and just bought a house and I’m stressing every time something news comes up that needs to be fixed. I don’t know how you hold it together. I love what your doing so far and can’t wait to be the finished product.

[@ErinRobinson]

22 and a homeowner?!?!?! That's big! Congrats you!!

[@rosseesor1234]

Love a concrete floor, even though they’re not perfect I’m sure your styling will make it look amazing!

[@ErinRobinson]

Perhaps I can style around it??? Not sure I am talented enough, TBH

[@rosseesor1234]

@@ErinRobinson I liked your idea of strategic rugs! I have also seen people do amazing things with epoxy pouring for floors… no idea if it would be feasible but just another option! I’m excited to see what you end up doing :)

[@ErinRobinson]

@@rosseesor1234 We considered that as well, and it's not completely off the table. It would have to be the right style to keep it from looking like a car dealership floor or a hospital floor, lol!

[@derryXDINES]

Great video, Erin. I love how you put the edit together with the before and after shots cut to the beat of the music. Following this project is gonna be so much fun! Whatever Quickbooks gave you for that brand deal isn't enough! That section of the video is amazing too!

[@ErinRobinson]

Jerry! You're always down here being the most supportive. I love editing before and afters. The payoff gets me every time...even when I don't love the afters lol

[@derryXDINES]

@@ErinRobinson fine, I'll bring some negativity next time! Lol. It'll come together and then you'll be able to kick back and enjoy it.

[@ErinRobinson]

@@derryXDINES It will! I can't wait for those kick back days!

[@Aloho50]

it’s so true about the value of being there for the reno, which sucks. My friend was getting hardwood floors installed and had to go to the office. When she came back she found out they were installing them diagonally across the room. I mean, come on, how did they think that made sense?! Worse is that her boyfriend at the time was there and thought the work looked weird, but didn’t say anything 🤦‍♀️ the floors and the boyfriend have since been replaced

[@ErinRobinson]

Yeah, it's exhausting managing people when you've paid them so much money to be the experts, but it truly has to be done!

[@ShiningSakura]

My father who is a carpenter installed their wood floor diagonally. Its considered upscale to do so in all the uber rich homes where I live. Lucky friend.

[@VeroStarlite]

😂

[@frankgonzalez1631]

I love the ending.!!

[@HistoricHomePlans]

Most wood flooring can be installed diagonally or straight. But your point is valid in that it should have been installed they way the owner wanted it. This is one reason why people hire architects. The architects do 2 things. They create a very clear set of documents that describe exactly what the homeowners want. And they keep an eye on things to make sure they're done right. There should have been drawings and photos included in the contract with the flooring installer that described the exact flooring they wanted and also its installation. If it's not written down in advance contractors will do whatever is best for themselves, not what is best for the client.

[@sharonzona4346]

I know the floors didn't turn out how you wanted, but honestly, they give the house some character. I like it. I believe in your skills and know you'll decorate your heart out and it will look stunning when you're done! Can't wait to see phase 2!!

[@hickoryhollowhomestead4734]

I agree I like the character you can’t even replicate that if you tried and the finish makes it look nice and deliberate. It adds texture to the whole house

[@kolitiokada9825]

Hey Sharon! I agree! I like it that the floor has a history with all the character & cracks!

[@TheLazzzyStudent]

Amazing to see Erin! Hope the renovations continues to go well 🙏🏻

[@ErinRobinson]

Thank you friend!!!! We’re making progress…albeit snail progress but progress

[@cassandranichols3819]

Can't wait to watch the final transformation and all the in-betweens!

[@ErinRobinson]

Thank you sweet friend! It's a slow burn but I think we're picking up some speed now!

[@awallswifek9075]

I'm so glad you posted this video. I couldn't wait to see the remodeling you done so far. You break done the cost and extra expensive you may come across. I love the little things you mention and certain details you put focus on. Thank you One Love ✌🏼❤🧡💛💚💙💜🖤

[@ErinRobinson]

Thank you for being here! I like to share that stuff because I think it's helpful if anyone is ever doing this themselves in the future!

[@wickednailsrylee]

I get so stressed out about home stuff. I really admire you taking on a project like this and am excited to hear more. As always…your honesty and transparency in your videos is so helpful and appreciated 🌸🥰

[@ErinRobinson]

Isn't it so stressful? Even the easy/pretty stuff gets that way sometimes. I do think that there is so much learning in the "stress" of it all. So, I'm leaning into that!!

[@chemistryflavored]

We gutted our 40s kitchen, redid all the electrical and plumbing, and changed the layout. Ran into issues with mold and asbestos (eeek) but all good now after remediation. I appreciate the transparency with costs as so many people don’t realize just how much the budget needs to be! I think your house despite any mistakes, which are inevitable with remodels, will still come out beautiful.

[@ErinRobinson]

Remediation is SO expensive isn't it?? I thought about doing that for lead in our main house but am afraid it might just be too expensive

[@chemistryflavored]

@@ErinRobinson it’s definitely something I wouldn’t do unless you absolutely have to (we had to since it was in the ceiling drywall ugh). Otherwise grandfather it in by just encasing it.

[@ErinRobinson]

@@chemistryflavored that was supposed to be "remodeling" not remediation lol!

[@ElsaRhae]

Hey Erin! This is really neat! My husband and I are building a concrete home ourselves and have a concrete floor. We will wait to seal and stain the floor till more of the process is complete. Even though we have never had anything on top of the concrete floor like you, this video was very helpful! Sorry it was such a pain in the butt for you! I subscribed and am excited to follow along!

[@flowerseva]

Thanks sooo much for your honesty! So sorry you had to deal with the weirdness. It served me to know you recommend being ON SITE for the renovation/ build process.!!

[@friaspr]

I'm surprised they did not offer you to acid stain the concrete floor so they could look uniform. Also with that crack it would have been better to pour a 3/4" or 1/2" concrete with a nice aggregate polished to have a nice terrazo floor. But yeah the last part of been there more is crucial also never mention to a contractor that you're busy, that you can barely come or live far away. Tell them you are in the area and always show up to projects unannounced.

[@mikereddy18]

Acid staining the floor will not make it look more uniform lol. Also doesn’t work with polishing. Color dye is used for polishing, and this would actually highlight the tile ghosting. Also pouring a terrazzo floor is about $30 a SF polished lol.

[@herward1047]

Right now the floors are the main focus which makes them stick out like a sore thumb. Once you get all the furniture and other design elements into the house the floors will just be the backdrop and hopefully will work for what you are going for.

[@ErinRobinson]

THIS is what I am hoping for!!!!!

[@joannierice7435]

Cant wait to see what it looks like when it's all finished. Love ur style BTW.

[@ErinRobinson]

Me too Joannie! Hopefully it will be done before I retire lol!

[@joannierice7435]

@@ErinRobinson don't worry, all good things comes to those who wait patiently.

[@ErinRobinson]

@@joannierice7435 Yes, patience is surely a virtue

[@taylorr.s8082]

I just spent a month moving and getting my old house ready for the rental market. It was nuts and I am sending lots of good vibes your way. Can't wait to see the finished place!

[@ErinRobinson]

Bless you! You need a break. That is so much work! I hope your realtor knocks it out of the park for you!

[@taylorr.s8082]

@@ErinRobinson The renter is moving in on Monday. Good luck on the renovations. A 2 1/2 hour drive is dedication.

[@ErinRobinson]

@@taylorr.s8082 Oh you're at the finish line!!! Yay!!! Now go take a vacation. And yes...with my arthritis in my knees that 5 hour daily drive is KILLER

[@sambur6480]

After my mom hired two people to work on her house and they literally scammed her outta 10k I have decided I don’t pay a contractor until the job is done to my standards.

[@ErinRobinson]

Yep! This is a hot tip. I will pay for supplies upfront, though.

[@stacyrosa6672]

Contractors and tradesmen often require a deposit of at least 1/3 of the project cost, over and above material costs. My mister is a tradesmen, he requires 1/3 @ start, 1/3 halfway through, and the final payment upon completion.

[@Foreverenpointe]

I have NEVER had a single contractor do the job they said they would do. They always cut corners and I think that's probably what happened with the crack filler. They had that on hand and instead of getting what was appropriate for the job, they just used what they had already in the truck. With some rugs in certain areas and perhaps if some rooms are really bad doing a thin composite flooring on those would be fine. I think those floors add a TON of character!

[@7.3powerstroke6]

Probably because your too cheap to hire a real contractor and expect a lot for nothing.

[@OHSloopyIO]

@@7.3powerstroke6 😲

[@dw4525]

@@7.3powerstroke6 lots of cowboys still charge top dollar. Not all are honest enough to adjust their prices based on their shoddy work.

[@7.3powerstroke6]

@@dw4525 a LOT of shitty work is done by the guys who charge the least

[@7.3powerstroke6]

@@dw4525 and then homeowners wonder why and bitch at high prices contractors

[@rhysferguson-gander1146]

We just bought a house and are thinking of doing similar renovations. Really glad i watched this. Thank you!

[@isac6459]

HIIII ERIN ILYSM!!! ❤️❣️

[@ErinRobinson]

Love You all SO MUCH

[@vhoov2218]

We stained our concrete floors and they look great! Covered most of the concrete issues - rugs covered remaining issues.

[@stubbornmuel2675]

Thank you for sharing the true side of renovating. It makes me feel better that our slow progress isn’t unusual! 😵‍💫

[@ErinRobinson]

Yah, depending on who your team is it can be excruciatingly slow. Are you doing major reno's too?

[@stubbornmuel2675]

@@ErinRobinson Yes! 3.5 years in but we are doing it all ourselves and working full time so we can only blame ourselves 🥰

[@ErinRobinson]

@@stubbornmuel2675 Oh what a labor of love!! Is this your forever home? Also, SUPER impressed you'er both tackling this and still love each other after all of it! lol

[@stubbornmuel2675]

@@ErinRobinson we are weirdos that love learning the process together. I’ve been working on learning TikTok and KZbin shorts to try to share the progress and you have been such an inspiration 🥰 THANK YOU!

[@ErinRobinson]

@@stubbornmuel2675 Please do it on TikTok!! I eat that content up with a spoon!

[@itsfitmadiwilson]

Love your videos ❤️

[@ErinRobinson]

Same, Madi!! You're the best!

[@tammv2306]

I wonder what you asked for with the floor crew? Base concrete floor? Then this is what you'd get. Literally that what was underneath the tiles. You could've done a top epoxy layer on top of the tiles (after it's evened out, but not all tiles and all houses can do that due to hight, so might be mission impossible) Or a new layer of one color concrete with a nice finish. Shiny or matt. Or just the epoxy with a concrete color on the old concrete. All of the above can still be done tho 😉 Anyways, love what you've done with it!! Good luck 💜

[@PerhapsMaybeNot]

Ruggable needs to help Erin out SO BAD.

[@ErinRobinson]

Have your people call their people and then have them call my people because YOU ARE NOT WRONG

[@taylorgayhart9497]

So the locks being gone, SUPER SKETCH. But as someone in flooring, I’ve never seen a concrete subfloor that didn’t look like that.

[@ErinRobinson]

Thank you Taylor! I love hearing from experts because it makes me feel less crazy.

[@taylorgayhart9497]

@@ErinRobinson I really love that you’re showing your whole process, the good and the bad. I think often times online we only see the successful finished product, and not all the pivots and problem solving that went into it. Honestly most of my job is just teaching people about flooring and all that goes into it!

[@Justin_Credible419]

As a floor polishing contractor in Florida. There’s a few things these floor guys did wrong. 1- I always give clients a heads up. Every job is different. No floors will look the same. The ghosting or “ tile lines” as some call it, should have been mentioned from the very beginning. It’s very rare that it goes away even when grinding. 2- I have no idea why the cracks were patched with different colors. While it might not be a perfect color match, but grey concrete should be patched with grey concrete. 3- As for the time frame. I noticed they were running a buffer. They run at 175 rpm’s. They didn’t use a concrete grinder that normally runs at speeds 1000-2500 rpm’s. Based on the square footage from what I saw in the video. It’s basically a 2 week job. 3 weeks at the most.

[@justinjones6810]

In my opinion you should have just put some epoxy resin over the concrete it would have been close to the same price and would have looked better

[@cherylmartin1740]

I was thinking the same thing, I would have gone with an epoxy resin over that concreate.

[@songlight494]

I've been researching polished concrete for my entire home, but this video convinced me to go with porcelain tile.

[@frankgonzalez1631]

You be surprised it happens to many homeowners.. I mean you know interior contractor.. anytime I give an estimate I always let them know that sometimes just the preparation itself is not included on the installation... That's when you know you're dealing with the right person... You need someone that guides you exposes and shows everything and the reasons behind the cost.. in this case your tile guys all they do is tile installation nothing more nothing less... What you have there they're called mules.. they know how to get something done but they need to be guided... You can pause a project for a moment and ask questions and this is for any homeowner.. real contractors like questions..

[@ErinRobinson]

Yeah, I for sure had BOGUS contractors

[@normalgirlcvco]

Number 1 of construction. Never leave construction workers unsupervised for days. Most will do a crappy job and try to rip you off.

[@kristenconstance]

We were quoted 22k just to do the grinding portion that is shown in your video for about 2000 square feet on a slab where all flooring was already removed by us - in early 2020 when labor was cheaper. We ended up doing it ourselves for a few hundred dollars. It was NOT fun, fairly miserable in fact, and ours looked very similar to yours (before painting it and making it look like terrazzo - which we get a ton of compliments on!)

[@kimstonecypher5241]

At the point in my Reno where we just had our tile demo done professionally after attempting to do it ourselves. Silly us. Thanks for the tips!

[@ErinRobinson]

Yeah, I was WAY off base with that hand chisel lol!

[@torihoover1269]

I saw the light, after being gouged by contractors estimates. Forget it. I started doing everything myself. Thanks to youtube and hiring some locals, in need of day jobs. I not only lost a lot of weight, but tired up. I hate the gym, so by lifting and hauling, I saved lots of money and toned up, not being board at the gym. They say when you do new things, your brain axioms grow, and may prevent alzheimers when you are older. Good luck, and I feel your pain.

[@ericastier1646]

You are an inspiration i need to learn from you to keep my composure and not loose emotional control when things go very wrong. Seriously this is a major issue for me. You are amazing.

[@tiffanyedwards5722]

They could've suggested you stain the floor. You would've still seen the cracks but it would've help with the discoloration.

[@neilvarma]

Hope things improve ❤️🤞🙏

[@ErinRobinson]

Yes! They already have! We just started with a snafu

[@JustinFranza]

A pointer for anyone else removing tile: the difficulty varies drastically from home to home. When ready to remove, do what she did: get a chisel, mini-sledge, and shovel and take 20 minutes. If you can remove about 6sqft of tile in 20 minutes without power tools, that tells you a lot about what your bids should look like. A small room could be easily cleared in 35 minutes if you're lucky, or could take hours and require a 35lb plug-in demolition hammer and a lot of work.

[@ThatsSchocking]

The amount of pissed off I feel for you with the floors... hahah. I get it girl. We were supposed to have our metal roof put on the first or second week of June. It's the last week of July.... and SUPPOSEDLY happening next week?? Have you considered covering the current concrete floors with a self leveling concrete just so that way the top looks good? I don't know enough to know if that's bad haha.

[@ErinRobinson]

Oh no!!! Why does everything take so long these days?!? Good luck on that roof. It should last a life time (It's my dream roof)!! We could do self leveling. We run the risk of the ground moving and that cracking too and also we would have to grind it and polish it, so it's still not the cheapest route.

[@ThatsSchocking]

@@ErinRobinson haha thank you! One day it will get done. Okay, I didn’t realize the self leveling stuff would need the same process essentially and then could still get ruined in the same way. Well I will be looking forward to your next video on this house where things go smoothly and quickly 🙂🤞🏻

[@ErinRobinson]

@@ThatsSchocking Well, that is what my contractor told me but I do think I am going to research it once more once we decide if we like these or not.

[@ElizabethsaParish]

Hiring anyone for house renovations is always a nightmare….😡😡😡😡

[@ccatdaddy64]

So sorry you went through that.

[@natgut-tri4070]

Love this

[@reflexology52welsh48]

We have a decorative concrete company, and we ALWAYSSS tell ppl up front, that when you have tile, you will forever more have a grid pattern on your concrete, they should’ve warned you about the possibilities of staining and cracks (if done right this cracks can be incorporated and look like cool veining)…. And a true artist would’ve used at least 3 colors to even out the high and lows in staining …I would’ve recommended you grind down to large aggregate (stones) which would’ve looked amazing…. Good concrete guys are true artists!

[@CP-ov3ir]

But does that grinding to aggregate compromise the slab?

[@reflexology52welsh48]

@@CP-ov3ir not really, although if there are concerns, I would suggest densifying the slab, (densifying creates a chemical reaction within the slab and causes the concrete to get even harder than it is) it's very easy to apply. You can Google the nearest supplier in your area

[@organicvids]

Industrial floor scraper, ind floor grinder, clean n prep for epoxy. The epoxies today are amazing.

[@AdamBogan]

It looks sooo much better than before! Wow, what a deal.

[@TomBydand]

my parents bought an old house and were really looking forward to returning it to the original stone floors. they discovered the carpets that were there had completely stained all of the stones, replacing them would have cost more than they could afford so now they are having to put new carpet in. at least it will be carpet of their choosing and there are still some parts of the house where the original flagstone floors never got covered. but yea, floors are a headache with renovation.

[@ErinRobinson]

Ugh, I hate it when your vision just doesn't play out like you wanted it to. At least they have a few rooms with some fun detail!

[@brookemiller2549]

You should look into epoxy resin floor coating. They have some beautiful options.

[@davemcbroom695]

I have put down new flooring over old tile several times. If you don't have an elevation problem, Tile on concrete is a wonderful substrate. You just cant use the vinyl roll stuff cuz the old grout lines will show through.

[@ErinRobinson]

I love all the tips you're sprinkling in

[@JbuckeyeT]

I sometimes worry as a contractor that the market for my services is getting flooded... but then I see people like this woman, and I feel a breathe of Fresh air come over me, because I know I'll always have a job 😅

[@rboto7738]

We had the exact same experience including the exact same ugly tile. We hate our polished concrete floors. Sorry you went through the same misery we went through but it’s kinda nice to have company😂

[@sdannecker6944]

I’m loving the floors. Especially the areas like the kitchen where it’s stained. It reminds me of natural stone. Also, your hair is gorgeous.

[@ErinRobinson]

Thank you!!! They're actually starting to grow on me!!

[@Plantbliss]

We’re in the middle of replacing all our floors. Just moving everything out of the way is MONUMENTAL.

[@HistoricHomePlans]

To get a really good looking finished concrete floor, you need to use techniques and materials specific to that purpose. A standard concrete slab that was put in with the intention of being tiled over will not have gone through those steps. So trying to turn it into something that looks good after the face is probably going to fail. An alternative would have been to take up the tile, as you did, then lay down a thin terrazzo floor over the concrete. That would have avoided all the labor that went into trying to make bad concrete look good. And there are a huge range of appearances available for terrazzo. Traditionally it was done using white cement and mineral aggregates, which still requires a lot of polishing (labor). But there are now epoxy based terrazzos that don't require anywhere near as much labor. If I were going the terrazzo route, I'd check with materials suppliers and specialist contractors because it might be possible to do it right over the existing tile and thus save yet more labor. But I'm not sure about that. That's why it's good to confer with specialists.

[@latergamer8]

I can't personally imagine how much people has lost doing things like this. I've almost fully renovated my home myself and even when you learn the skills yourself you're going to make a ton of mistakes along the way. The benefit though it learning how to better evaluate your choices and know when a contractor is telling you the truth or blowing smoke.

[@LKJONES0406]

This vid IS GOLD! Such a true story we were going to do this .. and you know what... Idk anymore

[@ErinRobinson]

If you’re okay going the “rustic” route if it doesn’t look like you hope, then it might still be worth it BUT it is basically playing floor roulette!

[@bajanenergy5020]

Things we dont know did the contractor notify that there is no way they can tell the condition of the floor below before two weeks ago and recommended with provisional sum to seal cracks, and applied colored epoxy or overlay. Also before two weeks ago did try to recommend vinyly installed directly over the tile if budget is a major factor

[@LC05]

We had an unplanned reno project in 2020. Our water heater decided to give out and caused a ton of damage; walls and bathrooms had to be ripped out and redone. Your tip about being present is 1000% so true. We hated living in a construction zone for almost 8 months but there were so many things that we were able to have them correct right away. We stayed out of their ways but would check in on the progress while they were at lunch or after they finished for the day. The workers had to redo a lot of work and while at first we felt like we were being picky, we paid a ton of money for the work so we wanted to make sure that we got what we paid for. I'm positive that if we had moved into a rental or with family, the job would have taken twice as long because of all of the work that had to be ripped out and redone. Side note: we were quoted 2 to 3 weeks from start to finish. 🤣🤣

[@ErinRobinson]

Wow, so we're all in this together it seems! I told Matt that for the remainder of work, we will need to temporarily move out to the desert to oversee the projects. It costs too much money to not be able to chime in throughout the process and then not be happy with the final product

[@LC05]

@@ErinRobinson Yes, most definitely in it together. Even the most well intentioned contractor can mess up or do it right but it not be what you wanted or had envisioned. Being there in the moment to get them to fix things or change up the plan is absolutely the best plan. Good luck to you guys with the rest of the reno! I hope everything else goes much smoother. Can't wait to keep watching this series.

[@ErinRobinson]

@@LC05 Thank you friend! Pray I can muscle my way through a land of male contractors who are trying to give me the run around!

[@sherilynl4038]

i'm sorry this happened to you, but if a concrete floor is not really poured to be decorative, you can get these kind of results. it's good that you showed that for future unsuspecting people

[@amypvin]

Maybe I missed it but why couldn't concrete be poured and levelled on top to give you a more uniform look on the floors? Or is that not an option?

[@ErinRobinson]

So, it's definitely an option. The ground I'm on moves a lot so it would for sure crack over time. Might be worth it, though

[@amypvin]

@@ErinRobinson hmmmmm tough decision!

[@ErinRobinson]

@@amypvin Every alternative option has it's pros/cons

[@sandyRDxd]

@@ErinRobinson no if you cut like tiles 1-3

[@jazminisabel]

My guy laid concrete and its already cracking!! What kind of finish did you end up doing?

[@sarabhabib1003]

Don’t feel bad. My husband and I lost $20k on a kitchen remodel last month.

[@NoseyFloridaGirl]

Oh my that terrible ! Did the contractor bail on you ?

[@joshuavega6692]

Should’ve scoured the floor with a concrete grinder it would taken out all the blemishes and lines from the pre existing tile

[@jimw966]

We had our bathroom remodeled as well as our siding and windows replaced so we had a dumpster in our yard for months. On the plywood, but left the grass a mess.

[@duanethieme4186]

Glad you made it through! Hindsight would a thin layer 1/4" of self leveling cement on the floor be better and less cost?

[@mysassybear]

I live the rustic appearance of the outcome of the floors

[@ErinRobinson]

Thank you!!!

[@sherylwatson2877]

Going through this flooring mess on a much smaller scale, so I totally understand what you are going through. It has been devastating to me and the money just makes me seriously ill. I have cried many times and I am exhausted. It’s my basement due to flooding so it isn’t in my face daily, but I go down to check it and it flooded again so that is always going to be a worry. It started Aug 4 and is still in the process Oct. 27. Dealing with insurance and demo then restoring is really hard for me. I am constantly dealing with it sometimes daily. I’m retired but I feel like I have this on the job training job since Aug 4. 😢😱😢😱😢😱. Anyway good luck to you and hope we both will be happy when it’s OVER!!!!!!! 🤞🤞🤞🤞

[@tripp2023]

For me all the marks and cracks are what add to the character of the concrete. As long as they're smooth and level it just looks amazing.

[@ErinRobinson]

I actually agree with you! I just hope my "character" is cute "character" once everything else is done in the house!

[@ericastier1646]

I loved you slipping about the aliens in that area. You're a lot of fun, my kind of gal.

[@dognatious6153]

Residential concrete indoor slabs were never intended to be exposed, polished floors. Polishing to high grits (400-3000) ENHANCES tile shadow etching, patching, etc., that we call "remnants" and "character". It also requires burnishing for maintenance over time. You cannot get a perfect floor out of a slab that has carpet glue etching, tile shadows, coke stain etching, etc. Concrete is PERMEABLE and POROUS, so anything with chemical liquid flows right into the concrete resulting in permanent staining. The best option we have used after 700 floor projects is "hybrid floors": basically you diamond grind them to less than polished grits ( 18, 30, 70, 120, transitional pads, up to 200 grit resins, depending...). Then you stain or dye them ARTISTICALLY in iterations with various grey or earth tones that work WITH the slab color to create flow with the natural color. This is an artistic process that few contractors amd diy'ers have the aptitude or experience for. Then you clean the floor perfectly and seal it (with a breatheable sealer) in two iterations with drying time between them. And then you wax over the sealer in two cycles for more dimension, but mostly to protect the sealer, so that you never have to reseal. The wax is super gloss or matte. So the finish in the hybrid floor is derived from the sealer and the wax, and slightly from the smooth floor finish. The smoothness from the true polished concrete floor is derived solely from the polishing, not from a sealer and wax. The staining we do mitigates and softens the remnants and character in the concrete making it more like natural stone (which is always heterogeneous). The ENTIRE idea behind concrete exposed floors IS the rustic, heteorgeneous look. If you don't like character, forget it and go to tile or wood and pay 3x or more as much. Overlays and microtoppings are also a huge waste of money in my opinion. At that point use gorgeous simulated concrete tile. BTW, epoxy floors are just too plasticky and artificial looking --- and despite what they claim, they are hard to repair, if not impossible. If you do not have a moisture barrier, they WILL delaminate. Expensive to fix too. Summary: The best option for the exposed concrete residential floor (cost-wise and look-wise) is the hybrid floor. Maintenance is waxing and it is fast, DIY, and easy. One more note: if you have pets, forget the polished concrete floors (400 grit and finer). The animals simply cannot get any traction and that is bad on their hips. Concretetransformed@gmail.

[@ambergimbel]

My loft was built in 1925 and concrete floors are VERY IMPERFECT. If that is the look people like, cool. I am always re decorating because my place is a live/work loft, and I also have high exposed ceilings, which works.

[@nicoleancell6860]

I have sealed concrete flooring and I hate it. While it was a pretty brown stain with some aggregate and shiny clear lithium sealant, you can only can clean it with mild soapy water or just water or a special cleaners. It can’t be disinfected. The sealant wears off very easily and then the floor is porous. Anything that gets on it leaves a stain- even just water. I had a bottle of dish soap spill in the middle of the night and now, where that happened there is a big light stain. Animal accidents stains are permanent. Least resilient flooring ever

[@MaryOKC]

Yip my bathroom contractors skipped out on me and after the third contractor finally the bathroom tile was done.

[@MsKharv]

Applying Microcement was the answer to the floors once the tiles were lifted and you could see the staining. It's a beautiful product.

[@ErinRobinson]

Ohhh, I've heard of this on walls but never before on floors! I LOVE micro cement!

[@lynniev]

Man! This is tough. I think they look nice and I bet the areas that don't, won't be a problem after you have furniture and decor. I bet the cool concrete will be nice in the desert and vacationers won't even notice the flaws. I think I would leave it for a while and see how you feel in a year or so.

[@ErinRobinson]

Isn't it tough????? I'm with you on all of this. I do love the idea of the cool floors, so hopefully I can style around some of this to make it work with our aesthetic

[@jakegarcia6143]

as a flooring contractor myself, you would have been advised as soon the floor came up, at this point i think a really great epoxy floor setup would be awesome

[@damianb165]

General rule of thumb is to always allow 10% on top for unforeseen expenses. And the floor polishing company that initially started obviously isn't good at there job or didn't Care about the job and just wanted the money, because a good concrete polishing company will be able to tell you from the beginning if it will turn out good or not.

[@icidro1]

I’m ripping up my tile now and planning on resurfacing with concrete. I’ll never do tile on any of my homes again unless it’s floating tile. It’s such a pain to remove. Your home turned out nice. 5” baseboards and rugs will do the trick.

[@azizasss2479]

Beautiful floors. With authentic character

[@gipsytree]

i'm looking to do polish concrete on my home. Who were the 2nd guys who actually finished the job? I'm only about 1hr out from Yucca Valley. Thank you.

[@dom9882]

I quite like the look of those floors. Raw and rustic but polished. Here in the UK developers are trying to accomplish that exact look on some very expensive builds. I feel your pain when it comes to contractors letting you down. We're still in the process of litigation nearly 4 years after a job costing £100k was left looking terrible.

[@c.l.s.9954]

That’s terrible :/ Did you have a contract with the builders before the project started?

[@okbaumgaertner7126]

Very brave of you to show your mistake! Others are learning from it.

[@HeleniqueToday]

you can even out the colour of concrete with tea. ❤️☕️

[@westeed1]

“And I still don’t like them” 😂😢

[@amberlewis9333]

I agree with you, they're pretty bad (especially in the hallway). I know it's not what you envisioned, but they're a statement. I hope you like them more once you get them styled, and if not just remember... it's a rental. It's not your home, it's your investment. Renters destroy stuff, so being emotionally attached to the floors will just lead to heartache.

[@ErinRobinson]

Love this perspective, Amber!!! Trying to find a way to live with them but if I can't, I am going to try and remember this comment!

[@Steve-pk9ok]

This is what happens when people with too much money watching too many home improvement shows think they can do construction with no training or experience.

[@HollywoodJoeTussing]

Yea, I’m sure a contractor would love you hovering around while they are working. Lol

[@rebar-king]

So difficult to even watch these mistakes unfold. DIY has its learning curve!

[@quinnhen2325]

I think it looks fine!!

[@1blondied]

Love those original tiles x

[@darrella5057]

Your labor is always free.. buy the material and TRY..... Life is always about learning. DONT EVER GIVE UP

[@VERYVANITA]

That is why you must act as head supervisor on your projects , in the end it is YOUR money, most times the contractor is just about the money . I once hired a contractor to do 3 bathrooms , i ended up finishing one and doing the 3 my self .

[@gemeames1597]

You might have looked into having the concrete floors stained to cover the imperfections, and then have them sealed.

[@flippinheck]

I think the job was very shakey from the start, always research something and get quotes from a few companies, plus you will see the difference in how much they try to explain what could be hidden under the tiles and the issues that maybe lurking, as for the joint stains the floor could have been treated and brought back to a neutral before staining, or marbling etc, then sealers and binders wicked back into the slab, with a final burnishing polymer for sealing the surface and glass finish polishing, even the cracks could have been chased out and a blending in repair made, it seems the skills were not available, but I suggest you research more in future and get at least five quotes and listen to how they talk you through the problems, and always a good company would suggest test patches, removing a few tiles whole before going further, would have saved everyone time and money.

[@nathanholt1637]

Is there a app or website for contractor reviews and such where people can say if they for instance here broke into a locked closet or stopped showing up?