Concrete floors have become a staple not only in warehouses but also in commercial real estate. While many are not familiar with the concept of polishing concrete floors, it holds so many benefits. Here’s all you need to know about polishing concrete floors – the benefits and how-tos.
What is Concrete Polishing?
Concrete polishing is a complex process that is used to transform worn-out and old concrete surfaces into sophisticated floors. In addition to this, new concrete floors can, with the help of polishing, also be ground to a high-gloss finish that won’t need further coatings or waxes. There are many reasons why concrete can be polished well – the high gloss finish as well as the non-porous surface of the concrete itself. These are important because they allow the floor to be peeling resistant, to have positive impact resistance, easy cleanup, and most importantly, to be very durable.
There is an increase in popularity for polished concrete floors in warehouses, retail, and office facilities. It is even surpassing floors such as granite, marble, linoleum, and tiles. Some of the biggest reasons why companies turn to polished concrete are because they get less expensive but way more durable floors. Durability can be especially important in warehouses or other facilities that include heavy machinery. Concrete polishing has many steps which also offer a variety of sheen levels from satin to high-gloss, yet another advantage of this type of flooring.
Why is it Important?
Before we delve deep into everything else you need to know about polishing concrete floors, some key benefits need to be discussed. Since polished concrete offers many benefits, it’s all the more important to discuss some of the key benefits of why it’s good to adopt these practices. First and foremost, the need for future coatings or waxes is entirely eliminated by grinding a concrete floor into a glossy finish. In addition to this, as we’ve discussed before, polished concrete is extremely durable, resistant to heavy impact and peeling, and will offer very easy cleanup.
Concrete gets a bad rep in the retail world not because it’s not durable or cost-effective, but because some companies didn’t do their job well. These mistakes include getting concrete poured from different companies, not pouring it well, or using concrete of bad quality. Even with these big mistakes, polishing these concrete floors can still help correct these mistakes and make them look much more appealing. Polishing concrete floors can be very important for the business as looks do matter, especially in retail.
When to Call in the Experts?
Even though polishing concrete has many, many benefits, you still need to call in the experts. This is especially true if you’re working with old concrete. Many will wonder can old concrete even be polished? You can visit this URL for great advice on the idea of polishing already existing concrete surfaces. The professionals behind it note that the answer nearly every time is yes. Of course, there are some obvious differences between an old concrete surface and a freshly poured concrete surface. The older concrete will be more difficult to polish, but it won’t be impossible as many think.
What makes polishing old concrete difficult is nothing other than the techniques used to pour concrete. While modern concrete is leveled with the help of power trowels (leveling machines), older concrete pours have been leveled by hand. This can be troublesome because of inconsistent in the depth of the concrete. However, with the help of trusted professionals that have years of experience in polishing concrete, this can quickly be taken care of.
It’s Common In Commercial Real Estate Too
Ultimately, polishing concrete floors has a lot more benefits to offer. These benefits can be especially beneficial to commercial buildings, warehouses, or retail companies. However, polished concrete floors also have many benefits in commercial real estate. Sleek and smooth flooring types suit the minimalist interiors of contemporary homes. In addition to this, polished concrete floors are also perfect for households because they are low-maintenance. They are effortless to clean, especially for rooms with high levels of foot traffic and households with pets.
Contrary to popular belief, polished concrete has a non-slip finish, meaning its sheen is not slippery and thus ideal for rooms such as kitchens, bathrooms, and utility rooms. Polished concrete flooring is also suitable for exterior spaces: for example, you need a level threshold between outdoor and indoor spaces. It’s seamless inside and out. Furthermore, concrete itself is a perfect heat conductor and can easily be poured over an underfloor heating system. In addition to this, a concrete floor can absorb and hold the heat well in places where the sun is allowed to shine.
It’s Eco-friendly
By now, the versatility of polished concrete is more than clear. Polished concrete is a beautiful surface that requires little to no maintenance. Moreover, polished concrete is perfect for the environment too. It’s as green a product as one can get because you don’t need to manufacture or throw away anything; you just have to change what’s already there. The additional case for eco-friendly polished concrete is that the chemicals that are used to make concrete denser are all naturally occurring substances.
Concrete itself can also be considered “green” because it is mixed with waste products such as slag, fly ash as well as silica fume, which would otherwise go to landfills on their own and pollute the environment. Ultimately, the overall price, the eco-friendly aspect, and evident opportunities to customize the process and make it look just like you want to set polished concrete apart from other flooring types. This is why it’s essential to educate yourself about the benefits of polished concrete and what this process can give you.
Polishing concrete floors are eco-friendly, inexpensive, and offer unique looks. In addition to this, polished concrete floors are incredibly durable, resistant to peeling, and are great heat conductors. The only flaw of concrete can be during old concrete polishing, but if you hire the experts to do it, you will be left with pristine and glossy concrete floors.