Polished Concrete

Polished concrete has emerged as an attractive option for residential, commercial, and industrial spaces in recent years because these floors are easy to maintain and clean, as well as being affordable when compared to other flooring options. If you are doing research into different types of flooring systems, you’re probably asking yourself: What is polished concrete? 

There’s not an easy answer to this question, in part because polished concrete can mean so many things, depending on exactly what you are looking for. You could want a neutral backdrop for your next retail location so that your products take center stage. Or perhaps you’d like to mimic the look of granite to showcase cars in your showroom. Maybe you want to add a custom look by stenciling your logo into large tiles to make an impression on your customers. Homeowners often choose polished concrete if they want to get rid of the carpet and complement a modern aesthetic. The possibilities are nearly endless.

While some homeowners may decide to polish their own floors, a vast majority of these projects are best left to the pros, who have the specialized tools and the experience needed to make sure you achieve your desired objectives. In this post, we’ll talk about different concrete flooring types, the process to get polished concrete flooring, the pros and cons of polished concrete, and the different commercial polished concrete floors. 
Schools, restaurants, distribution centers, and homes all can have polished concrete floors. A cost-effective alternative to carpeting, vinyl, wood, natural stone or tile, polished concrete is sustainable, easy to clean, and resistant to mildew, mold, mites, and other common allergens. Better yet, existing concrete in almost any condition can be resurfaced and polished to give your space a significant upgrade at a fraction of the cost of other flooring materials. Once the top layer of your floor is ground down to your desired specifications, you can finish out your project with overlays, stains, dyes, stencils, decorative patterns or just leave a natural gray color with your desired sheen.

Polished Concrete Benefits
There are many reasons we are seeing more polished floors, including that they are:

Cost-Effective
If you choose to work with your existing concrete slab, you won’t need to pay for tile, wood, linoleum, carpet, or a long list of other available floor coverings. Since polished concrete is so durable, you also won’t need to worry about the cleaning, repair, or replacement expenses that might be associated with other surfaces, including needing to have the carpets steam cleaned, hardwood floors waxed, or chipped ceramic tiles swapped out.

Long-Lasting
Simply put, polished concrete is difficult to damage. While a variety of factors can influence the service life of your floors, polished concrete should last at least 20 years, and can last a lifetime, with proper care and maintenance.

Easy To Maintain
Generally speaking, you’ll only need to use a dust mop or broom to keep your polished concrete floors free of dirt and other types of debris. Weekly, a damp mop will remove any scuffs, smudges, and watermarks and restore the gloss of your surface. For high-traffic facilities, less time cleaning means less downtime and increased productivity.

Versatile
The design opportunities are nearly limitless with concrete floors. You can combine any number of stains, dyes, and decorative elements for a completely unique look that perfectly suits your desired aesthetic.

Durable
Unlike other floor types, polished concrete will not chip or scratch under normal conditions. This surface works well in spaces with heavy equipment and foot traffic. Under demanding circumstances, coatings can make your concrete more resilient to different types of damage.

Slip Resistant
In commercial settings, you can avoid injuries and falls by adding a non-slip epoxy coating to your surface. Other coatings can protect your floor from chemicals, heat, static, moisture, and other contaminants.

Attractive
While raw concrete may be a blank canvas, you can’t really compare the aesthetics of a concrete slab to a polished concrete floor. While you can choose from any degree of sheen, many home and business owners prefer more reflective surfaces, which help brighten up your space, thereby reducing the amount you spend on utilities. Whether you choose an understated color or invest in an elaborate pattern, you’ll get a visually-appealing end product. 

Environmentally Friendly
No hazardous coatings, cleaners, or adhesives are needed to protect or maintain polished concrete, depending on your choice of coatings and sealants. In most cases, polished concrete projects qualify for LEED certification.