The final product of a multi-step process, polishing concrete, is achieved by mechanically grinding, honing, and polishing a concrete floor using bonded abrasives. Each subsequent cut further perfects its look until the desired result is reached. A polished concrete surface results from a multi-step process that employs increasingly finer grinding instruments to smooth and refine the concrete’s outermost layer.
Examining the Pros and Cons of Polished Concrete
Polished concrete, like other flooring materials, offers several advantages, making it a popular option for high-traffic locations such as commercial and industrial buildings, processing plants, shop and production floors, common spaces, and the like. Although there are certain disadvantages to employing it in specific settings, these can be easily worked with, and the benefits of polished concrete floors ultimately win out.
Pros
- Superior strength and endurance.
Polished concrete floors are durable and sturdy enough to resist the weight of heavy machinery and foot activity. It’s virtually tough to chip or scratch and highly resistant to harm.
- Life-Span.
No business setting can match the durability of a polished concrete floor if it is laid, sealed, and maintained properly. It will outlast carpets, vinyl tiles, and wood laminates significantly.
- Simple to Take Care of.
Floors made of polished concrete require nothing in the way of upkeep. As a weekly maintenance routine, you should damp mop it to remove smudges, scuffs, and water stains while restoring its shine.
Polished Concrete
- Cost-Effective.
The labor costs will be minimal if you already have a concrete slab and plan to stain it, polish it, or apply a decorative coating or overlay. Cost savings often occur not during installation, but during the product’s lifespan, as the only time you’ll need to replace it is if you just tire of the way it looks (or if you can’t be bothered with the required upkeep).
- Several potential layouts exist.
It is now possible to imitate the look of hundreds of other, more expensive materials with an almost infinite palette of color and texture effects.
- Sanitary
a high-quality concrete floor shouldn’t have any divots or pits in the surface that collect debris like dirt and food and provide a breeding ground for germs.
- Resistant to thermal shocks
Concrete floors can be protected from damage caused by hot water and steam cleaning by using a thermal shock-resistant coating. This coating will prevent disbonding, delamination, cracking, bubbling, and other forms of damage. Due to weather fluctuations, the surface of the floor can suffer from ill effects and hence, you should go for branded primer and surface coatings that can affect the overall value of the floor.
- Negatively reacts to static electricity
In many cases, an unsealed concrete floor will have antistatic properties; nevertheless, these properties are highly reliant on the floor’s moisture levels, making them unpredictable.
- No VOC.
Contrary to hardwood floors, vinyl carpets, and synthetic carpets, concrete floors do not emit dangerous Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).
Cons
- Hard
This material is strong and long-lasting, but its hard surface can be difficult to stand on for extended periods since it provides little cushioning under the feet.
- Loud
The noise level of polished concrete floors is comparable to that of ceramic tile, natural stone, and even some types of hardwood and bamboo flooring. Rugs, thick curtains, acoustic wall panels, and other materials that absorb or block sound can be used to lower the volume in a room.
- Guidelines for the Polishing of Concrete
Despite the lack of official guidelines, it is commonly accepted that concrete must be polished using a succession of disks culminating in 1800-3500 grit diamonds before it can be called polished concrete. If you get your concrete to this point, you won’t need a finish to make it shiny and reflective like glass. Check out with some good machine providers who can keep the floors shining and this enhances the aesthetic value of the floor.
Along with sealing the concrete from the inside out, it also makes it harder and denser. Since a coating is no longer necessary, the time spent maintaining it is drastically reduced.
Conclusion
Perhaps you haven’t heard as much about the flooring fad known as polished concrete as of late, but it’s been on the rise. To that end, this article will discuss the benefits of polished concrete over its ceramic tile cousin and introduce you to various polishing techniques now on the market.
