Understanding the Basics of Polished Concrete Flooring
Polished concrete floorings are very popular in commercial places with heavy traffic because these are typically low maintenance floorings. You would normally find them in hotels, office reception areas and even hospitals. The floor has a polished glossy finish and with a little imagination, they can be made to resemble natural stones such as granite and marble. You can also use different colors to create different patterns and objects. Here are a few essentials that you ought to know about concrete flooring:
What is polished concrete:
Polished concrete floors are obtained by using polishing disks with coarse diamond segments to remove blemishes, stains, light coatings, and minor pits from the floors. Depending on the condition of the floor and the level of polishing required, rough grinding is done for about 3 to 4 times. This floor is then further polished using finer grits of polishing disk. Polishing is done to get the desired level of sheen, with contractors switching between different polishing disks in the process. Experienced polishers know when to switch grits just by observing the floor and the amount of material to be removed. At the final stage is the process of concrete sealing which is done applying a sealer that hardens the concrete. Some professionals apply commercial polishing agents to enhance the appeal.
What are the costs involved:
Polishing concrete floorings are definitely cheaper than natural stones such as granite and marble. Costs usually depend on the area to be covered, the complexity of the design, the desired sheen to be achieved, and the number of workmen involved. However, they depend from place to place. Also, the larger the place, lesser are the costs. Smaller rooms would need smaller equipments and the difficulty in getting into smaller space, and the difficulty in achieving consistency in the design.
Maintenance of the polished concrete flooring:
Contrary to popular belief, polished concrete floorings are easy to maintain as they do not require regular waxing or other sealers. Dust moping and wet moping (with some cleaning solution) can remove the dust and grime, and also ensure that the floor looks shiny. Soil and other particles can act as abrasives and hence it’s important that you mop it with microfiber pads. Also, when wet mopping, make sure that the cleaner does not dry on the surface (although give it some time to absorb the dust and grime), as it might leave an ugly mark on the surface.
The author of this article reviews commercial concrete processes and has written several articles on the different types including stamped concrete and stain concrete.
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