A Concrete Floor Topping Modernizes an Old English Café

Local decorative concrete contractor Sean Scott of Scott Patterned Concrete decided to rejuvenate the
floor using a 100%-solids epoxy followed by a sacrificial wax coat on top. The combination of epoxy and wax will allow this floor to maintain its beauty for years to come. Sean recommended to the owner of the café to install casters under their tables and chairs to keep the hard edges from scratching the finish coat of epoxy and wax.

The Decorative Concrete Industry has allowed me to travel around the world and back again. In the past three years I have traveled to Malaysia, India, the Philippines, China, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Spain and the UK. While all these places are amazing, each country offers its own individual feel, food, and traditions, and their architectural style is always eye-opening. I continue to see decorative concrete finishes that are indeed “the best of all worlds.”

One of my favorite places to travel is good old England. Maybe it is the fact that we speak the same language or it could be the various pies that can be found in the local bakeries, but I always feel at home when I travel to the UK. Recently I was able to take part in a renovation project in an old-world restaurant where a local contractor took an existing floor that was outdated and turned it into a vibrant floor that added new life to the place.

Before the topping was installed, a thin layer of self leveler was poured to even out the texture in the original patterned concrete.

Café Lilli was opened by Daryl Chadwick and Roberto Pittalinine nine years ago, in the North Yorkshire market town of Norton. The kitchen has an open design so customers can experience the fine aromas emanating from the dishes being prepared. The floor originally had a granite texture pattern that added to the European feel. But after nine years of wear and minimal maintenance, the floor became difficult to clean because it harbored dirt easily within the texture.

Contractor Sean Scott of Scott Patterned Concrete was hired to rejuvenate the floor, and he explained the various architectural concrete systems that could be installed. Threshold issues limited flooring options, because the owners wanted to maintain the existing height of the floor so doors and existing fixtures would continue to function. It was decided that a thin-section cementitious topping would be the answer.

The original floor in Café Lilli before the makeover was an imprinted concrete surface sealed with a solvent-based acrylic. After nine years of hard wear, the floor was in need of an update to give it a more modern look and an easier-to-clean surface.

This topping changed the look of the café to a more contemporary design. In a time when businesses are finding it difficult to operate, the owners decided a change would be a good idea and lure customers into the café to check out, and hopefully enjoy, the new look. Café Lilli has won numerous awards, including being voted the best restaurant in the northeast. So the next time you are in North Yorkshire, make sure you stop into Café Lilli to enjoy the delicious cuisine and check out the nice new floor. You can browse the menu at www.lillicafe.co.uk.

Author Brian Farnsworth, BGI Technical Services