Adding a stamped concrete floor to a rustic pole barn

[RedTailHawk]

I posted part of my plan in the New Member forum, but wanted to post here too to get some feedback.


I have an old 1850s log cabin on 150 acres in WV. In addition to the cabin, there are a couple other rustic buildings including a 3-bay pole barn. I want to finish the pole barn by installing a floor and building out a workshop for wood working, metal working, as well as storing my Kubota tractor, a side-by-side and an ATV.


I have had several quotes to put a concrete floor in the barn, but plain concrete just didn't feel right. I want to keep the rustic look, and concrete just wasn't doing it for me. I just got a quote from a concrete design firm that has recommended a stamped concrete floor that has a rustic look. I love the look of it, but concerned about the subtle textured surface as it pertains to durability (ie dropping tools, spilling oil, fuel, etc), and function (ie rolling around car jacks, dollies, mobile workbench, etc).


In addition to pics of the barn and the proposed stamped concrete design, here is more info on the quote so far: 27 x 36 stamped concrete 6". Barn area will be prepped - excavated, gravel base, rebar grid 2 ft on center, plastic vapor barrier at base. Color & Texture stamp w/ sealer.
What's not in the quote, but was discussed, 3-4" slope from back to front of barn. The barn is actually 22 x 36, but there will be 5 feet of apron out the front carriage doors of the bar. Trench drains will be at the front of the apron to keep water from running into barn, as well as anything running out of the barn.

Is there anything else I should be making sure is in the contract? Any other design features (inside or outside), more apron area, etc?

Any words of wisdom for or against a stamped concrete floor...in a pole barn...with tractors, ATVs, etc...?

After the floor is in, then I'll run a water line to the barn, restain the barn, add windows on the backside to enjoy views of the creek down the hill behind the barn, trim up the barnboard siding about 1-2 feet and make a stone sill around the barn, build mobile workbench, buy welding equipment, build custom dollies for each of the tractor attachments, finish the attic barn to be a studio, and whatever other ideas I find on this site.

Essentially I want to start making the pole barn look a little nicer, along these lines...

 

[72454]

Stamped is not good for rolling anything on. I would just go with the color to make it look rustic.

 

[Bill Anderson]

Acid etch the concrete. There are different colors, and I have seen the rustic color that you posted in your photos. I believe a sealer is used after the etch, and when finished it looks beautiful, nothing like plain ordinary finished concrete..

 

[James-W]

I like the cabin, looks really nice. If it were mine, I am not so sure I would want to change anything.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Acid etch the concrete. There are different colors, and I have seen the rustic color that you posted in your photos. I believe a sealer is used after the etch, and when finished it looks beautiful, nothing like plain ordinary finished concrete..

Acid staining with a sealer is an awesome garage project !!




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[RedTailHawk]

That looks nice with a rustic appearance. Thanks


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[RedTailHawk]

I like the cabin, looks really nice. If it were mine, I am not so sure I would want to change anything.

I tried to keep the cabin the same, since it is a piece of American history. But I have a lot more creative freedom with the barn since it was only built in the early '90s...


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[Git]

I went with stamp and colored concrete when we did our back yard. Saw cuts were then added - 30" grid

Durability wise - its not going to be any different, as long as the color is mixed into the concrete and not just spread on top

 

[joes169]

I install a fair amount of seamless, stamped concrete (similar to both pictures posted here) as well as acid stained floors. Personally, the acid stained is going to hold up a little better over the long term, but any decoritive concrete is going to require a fair amount of upkeep in working shop conditions.

The stamped, even with intregal color, will have either a brodcast or liquid release agent added to the surface, so it can easily be worn/scratched away. It relies heavily on topical sealers as well to enhance the color. W/o that topical sealer, it looks dull and somewhat boring.

The acid stained is obviously topical as well, and uses a similar sealer. Obviously, it will wear better, clean easier, and be easier to wheel small wheels over.

I have acid stained floors in my office and a small prt of my shop, and do to dirt and gravel, it would need a cleanign and wax a few times a year to keep it near perfect.

At the end of the dy, it really depends on how hrd you use it, how picky you are with the aethetics down the road, and how often you're willing to maintain it.........

 

[vintagelifev8]

Nice...I've been thinking about doing the same in my pole barn.


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[RedTailHawk]

I install a fair amount of seamless, stamped concrete (similar to both pictures posted here) as well as acid stained floors. Personally, the acid stained is going to hold up a little better over the long term, but any decoritive concrete is going to require a fair amount of upkeep in working shop conditions.



The stamped, even with intregal color, will have either a brodcast or liquid release agent added to the surface, so it can easily be worn/scratched away. It relies heavily on topical sealers as well to enhance the color. W/o that topical sealer, it looks dull and somewhat boring.



The acid stained is obviously topical as well, and uses a similar sealer. Obviously, it will wear better, clean easier, and be easier to wheel small wheels over.



I have acid stained floors in my office and a small prt of my shop, and do to dirt and gravel, it would need a cleanign and wax a few times a year to keep it near perfect.



At the end of the dy, it really depends on how hrd you use it, how picky you are with the aethetics down the road, and how often you're willing to maintain it.........

Fantastic input. Thanks


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[BlackTalon]

I would go with colored concrete but not stamped. And if you want the color to be even, go with concrete that has the coloring in the mix. If you like a more mottled look then go with stain afterward. For you application I think the more rustic-looking stain would look the best, although it will require a bit more maintenance over time.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

I would go with colored concrete but not stamped. And if you want the color to be even, go with concrete that has the coloring in the mix. If you like a more mottled look then go with stain afterward. For you application I think the more rustic-looking stain would look the best, although it will require a bit more maintenance over time.

I 2nd these comments. Stamped in a garage would be a mistake.
If you use the right sealer, like our Nohr-S Polyurea, maintenance will be minimal if at all.

 

[larry_g]

In the above picture you can see the colored and stamped concrete that I did in a patio. I would not do it again as it is hard to keep clean and all the little divots collect dirt and mud. It s nice to look at but the stamping is a pain.

lg
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