Concrete Experience - Part 1 Using the concrete slab as the finished floor of the house is a choice we have made several times, and will be happy to make again. I love the idea of using a structural element as a finish material. Why add a costly layer of carpet, tile, wood or vinyl? Concrete floors are very livable and easy to care for. In 2002, we tried out a concrete floor for the first time, without knowing what to expect. The foundation contractor suggested that we “burn the concrete.” By burning he meant giving it a burnished, or hard troweled finish. There is a small window of time to do this. The minute the concrete can be walked on, they go over it with a machine that polishes and closes the pores of the surface. Think of a fan with four rotating paddles that scrape and smooth the surface.