Polished concrete. One can easily understand the meaning of polished concrete just by the name. That’s concrete polished. A concrete surface is grinded and honed to be refined and get a polished or satin appearance. That’s what polished concrete is all about.
Now, the question is why would anyone want to get into the trouble of hiring concrete floor contractors to polish the floor? Why not just leave it as is? There’s also the question of the advantages and disadvantages of polished concrete. Knowing the pros and cons will help you decide whether to go ahead with it or not.
It’s fair to say that such decisions are a matter of choices. It has to do with whether we are talking about a heavy-traffic floor, a home garage, a driveway concrete area, or a warehouse. A floor’s requirements often dictate our decisions. And since we are talking about polished concrete floors, knowing the basics about the material is crucial for sound decisions.
What’s the process of polishing concrete?
Let us start by saying that nearly any concrete floor can be polished. Why nearly, you wonder? Because very thin and extensively damaged concrete slabs cannot be polished.
That said, the process of polishing concrete surfaces involves several phases and is carried out with special grinding equipment.
1. Grinding the concrete slab is the first phase of the process. At this point, the objective is to remove marks and imperfections along with coatings to expose concrete’s aggregates.
2. Coloring the concrete floor is the next phase. Depending on whether you want a solid color, a special design, a geometric pattern, or a logo, the pros use the right machinery and pigments to create exactly what you want.
3. Densifying concrete follows next. That’s the process of penetrating concrete to harden it – hence, make it particularly durable.
4. Polishing concrete comes last and the job is done with diamond grits that progressively become finer up to the point that the floor is as polished as the customer wants it.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of polished concrete?
The downsides of polished concrete floors are limited to the material’s hardness and cold sensation underfoot. As a hard floor, it will also be loud.
Now, the advantages outnumber the disadvantages and can truly make a difference. Take a look:
* Affordable
* Durable
* Highly resistant
* Eco-friendly
* Versatile
* Easy to clean
Is it possible to have outdoor polished concrete?
Yes, you can have an outdoor polished concrete surface. It’s typical though to not over-polish outdoor concrete slabs so that they won’t be slippery when wet. The contractors polish outdoor concrete surfaces as needed for a coarse texture.
What’s the best indoor polished concrete applications?
Polished concrete is ideal for all indoor sections, be it a home or business. After all, you can have it as polished as you like it, with or without color. Due to its great advantages, it’s ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, basements, warehouses, garage floors, and elsewhere.
Is making a concrete floor polished expensive?
Overall, the cost is not high. As a matter of fact, polishing concrete floors is one of the most cost-effective solutions since the price is reasonable and the flooring becomes dense, durable, and as polished as you like it. The variables that affect the cost include the size of the floor, the concrete’s condition, the aggregate exposure, colors and designs, etc.
Should you pour concrete over the existing concrete floor first?
If the existing concrete floor is damaged and cannot be polished, you may consider pouring extra concrete and then polish it. Although this could be a solution, it’s not often recommended because failure to fix damage and bond the old and new concrete may gradually lead to cracks. On top of that, the floor will be higher and you might have a difficulty opening and closing doors.
In such situations, it’s best to remove the old concrete although this is hard. Or, fix the old concrete floor’s cracks and polish this slab.
The polished concrete system is not some sort of coating. Polishing a concrete slab is a process of grinding a concrete surface to densify it and make it as sheen as you want it. Such floors require minor maintenance. And should some cracks be created over the years, they can be patched.
These are the basics of polished concrete floors to help you decide whether to invest in this process or not, based on your needs.
