Is polished concrete right for your home?
Concrete-Floors.org • April 22, 2020
Concrete polishing is used more for commercial flooring than residential flooring, but polishing is quickly becoming more popular in residential applications, as more homeowners realize the cost benefit and easy no-wax advantage of concrete polishing. The beautiful shine that concrete polishing creates means that there is rarely a need to wax the polished floor. Some new high-gloss finishes never need to be waxed or have coatings applied in order to keep their shine. The polishing process is similar to sanding. Large machines are used to grind down the the concrete surface to the smoothness and shine desired.
Here are some other great qualities of concrete floor polishing:
- Low maintenance
- Bright, clean and glossy finish
- Easy to clean; the best choice is a neutral pH cleanser
- Can be finished off with different levels of sheen, from matte to mirror-like
- Unlimited color and texture options
- Option to embed objects into the concrete for an individual look
- Looks great with decorative borders and designs
Some Additional Information:
Almost any structurally sound concrete floor can be polished. Keep in mind:
- Before polishing new concrete, you must wait until the concrete has cured to sufficient hardness (generally 14 to 28 days after placement).
- Existing floors that need extensive patching or are extremely soft and porous may not be good candidates for polishing.
- For badly spalled surfaces, you may need to remove the surface layer of concrete using a scarifier.
Homeowners, retailers, big-box stores, educational and medical facilities are choosing polished concrete for their floor finish because of the competitive advantage polished flooring offers over other types of floor coverings. Decorative concrete in the form of polished floors has become the logical choice because of the great value it delivers, and because it can compete aesthetically as well. Residential Polished Floor Benefits: Cost savings: Traditional floor covering materials are not necessary when the slab on grade is used as the finished floor surface Longer life-cycle savings: Polished floors are not as vulnerable to damage as other materials and do not need replacing Easy to clean: Won't harbor dust, dirt, allergens Available in wide variety of colors and designs
Durability, aesthetics, the high degree of light reflectivity, reduced construction costs, minimal environmental impact and the ease of maintenance are just a few reasons why polished concrete is quickly becoming the preferred choice of many retailers, architects and engineers across the country. As the popularity of polished concrete continues to rise, so does the demand for a sustainable solution to proper concrete maintenance. Polished concrete has numerous advantages over carpet and VCT flooring including its reduced need for constant maintenance, however it still requires a certain level of care in order to keep it looking as beautiful as the day it was polished. Over the years, polished concrete has been sold as a “maintenance free” flooring system. Industry experts say that is a common misnomer, however.
