What would you do with the floor?

Question

I have just leased a small shop to turn into a cafe. The carpet is old and shabby and I can't afford to replace it. I could remove it and paint the floor ( it's cement) what else do you suggest?

Answer 1

It depends on what kind of cafe you are doing...you could get creative and do like a checkerboard type floor like the old cafes used to have...I think it would be cool if it were painted like puzzle pieces...now that would be awesome

Answer 2

her is an off the wall suggestion. Paint the carpet! If you can't afford new carpet, tile could be the cheapest overall of any floor covering. If you remove the carpeting, and it has been glued to the floor, you are in for a big nasty job. If it is indoor and outdoor carpet, and it has to be removed. Buy some "returned paint" at walmart, Lowes, etc. about $5 gal, throw it on the floor at the worst spot, smooth it out let it dry and see if it will work. If it doesn't, remove the carpet anyway.

Answer 3

Where I live (midwest), Menards is as popular as Home Depot. They often run sales on carpet for 50 cents a square foot up to $1.19 a square foot. It's not great carpet, but it is Mohawk and other fine brand names with a 5 or 10 year guarantee. Home Depot has some good deals on carpet as well. Or, use vinyl.

I'm going to Menard's website to check their ads and see what they say. If they have it on sale, you can check it out yourself; and I'll edit my comments.

I went to www.menards.com I clicked on the link for weekly sales ad. They have two ads. 1) the prices good through 10/01 2) the prices good through 10/10. Both of them had the same thing. The carpet was 88 cents a sq. foot, 1.29, 1.64 (plush) etc... etc... with the attached padding. if you go to the website, use the browse feature. Choose the category "carpet". If it asks you to enter a search word, just skip it and click Okay.

Home Depot has similar deals. The proper paint for a cement floor is at least $15 a can, and it would take several cans; so carpet isn't such an expensive idea.

Answer 4

Not knowing the theme of the "cafe" I'd go with tile. In fact I'd look for closeouts in a warehouse situation. Certainly that depends on the sq. footage, and budget, but ceramic tile isn't so much more than decent floor paint and sealer, and might add abience, and some themed style to the cafe.

Regarding the lease,,, I have no idea of what restrictions might be placed on you, but I'll assume you'd have to alert the landlord no matter what process you undertake.

I've installed thousands of sq. ft. of tile, and it truly can be done in a DIY situation, as long as you get the basics understood. In any case that's my suggestion.

Good fortune to you.
Rev. Steven

ADDITION: Tile will likely last as long as the business. Any Paint, no matter it's quality, will have to be maintained at a higher level.

Answer 5

Tile or laminate flooring isn't too expensive if you install it yourself. Or I like the idea of painting it. Try picking a simple pattern and painting that on the floor. Be sure to use a paint for cement or something else heavy duty.

Answer 6

Why wouldn't the landlord replace the carpet in order to get you to lease it?

Self sticking tile is the cheapest and easiest to put down.

Answer 7

you better have awesome insurance if you want a cafe with a bare concrete floor, and you better have a huge stack of your accidental slips and falls claims form on hand. you are better off getting a loan and putting in new carpeting.

Answer 8

Could you remove it and throw down some hardwood?

Answer 9

they do make a epoxy coating. or goto a hardware stop and look at garage floor epoxy.