Concrete Flooring

Hi,

I actually would count it as subflooring and don't report the concrete, as it also is inherently non-emitting. Or do you need the consideration of concrete to outweigh other non-compliant materials?

Don't report the concrete as it is a structure. You only need to report floor finishes such as carpet tiles, laminate etc. in the flooring category. Subflooring would count towards the wood category if it's composite wood, and a concrete sealer would count towards the paints and coatings.

What about the floor sealer?  I know it would be listed in the Paints and Coatings category, but wouldn't it also be listed in the Flooring category since it is part of the flooring systems?  Especially since the Flooring category compliance level is calculated differently than the Paints and Coatings category?  Same question applies for all the flooring adhesives - why would they not be part of the Flooring category too?

You’ve got an interesting situation with your concrete flooring, and it’s understandable that you want to get it right. Since the concrete slab itself is essentially the structural floor, and you’re dealing with a mix of finishes (tile, carpet, and just sealed concrete), it can be a bit tricky to categorize.

Here's how you can approach it:

1. **Concrete as Structure:** Since the concrete slab is part of the building’s structure, you generally wouldn't report it as a finished floor. It’s the base on which your finished floor materials are applied.

2. **Sealed Concrete Areas:** For the areas where the concrete is just sealed and left exposed, you’re right that it’s not a traditional finished floor material. However, because you’ve applied a sealer, this could be considered a minimal finish. You might want to report these sections separately under something like "exposed sealed concrete."

3. **Cost Determination:** To determine costs, you could estimate based on the area of the floor that’s exposed and sealed. It might not be a typical finished floor cost, but rather the cost of sealing.

4. **Paints and Coatings:** Since you’re already reporting the concrete sealer under paints and coatings, that makes sense. Just ensure that the areas of exposed sealed concrete are noted, even if just for completeness.

In summary, you don't have to report the structural concrete slab itself as a finished floor. Instead, focus on the applied finishes—tile, carpet, and the sealed areas. For the sealed concrete, note it as an exposed finish and consider its cost accordingly. It's all about being clear and consistent in your reporting.

Hope that helps! If anyone else has insights or different approaches, feel free to chime in!

Cheers!
 

Are there any resources on LEEDuser specifically geared towards beginners, offering a roadmap for navigating the different LEED certification paths (LEED for Building Design and Construction, LEED for Interior Design and Construction, etc.) and understanding which path might be most relevant to a specific project?

Hi Joey,

Questions about which rating system to use are often discussed on this LEED Rating System Selection forum.

As far as other basic intro resources, your best source is probably the LEED intro pages on USGBC's website. Good luck!

When dealing with concrete flooring that is essentially the slab that has been sealed, it is important to distinguish between the structure and the finish:

1. Concrete Slab as Structure: The concrete slab itself is part of the structural system and typically does not need to be reported as a finish floor material.

2. Concrete Sealer: Since you are already reporting the concrete sealer under paints and coatings, it is covered.

3. Exposed Concrete Slab: For areas where the slab is exposed and serves as the finished floor, you should report this under the finish flooring category. You can determine a cost for these portions based on the area that is exposed.

In summary, the concrete slab itself is not reported as a finish floor material, but any exposed sections that serve as the finished floor should be reported. The sealer is correctly reported under paints and coatings.

Karl, your comment is helpful but raises q's for me. For exposed concrete, typically it is sealed, so the sealer is reported in coatings but the sf area of exposed sealed concrete in flooring as well? And if there are areas of exposed unsealed concrete (such as stairwells perhaps) you would report those in flooring? And list it as non-compliant flooring if the concrete contains additives?