What Do You Mean by a Polished Surface?
Over the last several years, epoxy flooring has become especially popular. Many facilities managers choose the durability of epoxy over treated concrete floors or don’t really consider concrete at all in their assessment. But it is important to remember that polished concrete flooring can be an ideal solution in some situations.
Based on some structural concrete builders, 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.
What Does polished really mean?
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.
There are many floor coatings and treatments that can be appropriate in a commercial or industrial setting. Choice of flooring ultimately comes down to factors like the work environment, any special performance needs, cost per square foot, and the dimensions of the floor.
What Are Some of its Key Benefits?
- An End to Dusting and Efflorescence
Untreated concrete is strong, but it is vulnerable to certain kinds of damage and natural chemical reactions. Concrete is porous, so the process of salt migration (efflorescence) is always occurring. That, in turn, leads to dusting that can damage epoxies and other surface coating, problems resolved at the source by polishing.
- A Stain-Resistant Flooring Surface
The porous nature of concrete is actually one of its most significant challenges, resulting in a substantial part of its lifetime maintenance costs. Polishing the concrete seals the surface and makes it more dense. This enables it to repel water, oil, and other surface contamination naturally even in the absence of special protection.
- Higher Levels of Slip Resistance
Like other forms of concrete, polished concrete is slippery when wet. In comparison to an untreated floor, however, it will offer greater slip resistance. These properties can be further enhanced with a treatment using glass beads or sand, improving its suitability for grip-sensitive environments such as a parking deck.
- Cost-Effective Ongoing Maintenance
The overall effect of polishing your concrete floor is to cut the cost of ownership by thousands of dollars over several years. Aggressive scrubbing is not necessary to eliminate stains, due in part to the compact surface. Plus, you do not need to invest in waxing or stripping to maintain the characteristic sheen.
- No Extensive Cleanup, Toxins, or Hazards
Businesses often put off extensive flooring projects because of the potential safety hazards. Concrete polishing uses no harsh or abrasive chemicals and produces no dangerous waste products. Even ventilation in the treated area is not as much of a concern. This means most projects can be finished in hours or days.
