WHAT IS A POLISHED CONCRETE FLOOR?
WHAT IS A POLISHED CONCRETE FLOOR?
What Is Polished Concrete?
Before we get into the technicalities of polished concrete, let’s talk a little more about what it is. Simply put, polished concrete is a concrete floor that’s been chemically hardened and mechanically honed resulting in a durable and shiny floor that can stand the test of time. But how do they get so glossy? That’s where the polishing part comes into play. The process of polishing concrete consists of “sanding” down the slabs with diamonds that range from 300 grit up to 2500 grit depending on the level of gloss you want the system to achieve. Polished concrete is most commonly performed on new concrete but can also be performed on existing concrete that is in good condition.
Polished Concrete- The Benefits
So let’s get into what makes concrete polishing such a sought after service, the benefits. Concrete polishing offers a broad range of benefits that range from carefree maintenance to long service life. But by far the most attractive benefit that concrete polishing offers to homeowners is its durability and high resistances. For example, this coating offers stain & scratch resistance. Other benefits include:
- Eco-Friendly
- Simplistic Maintenance
- Extremely Customizable
- Affordable
Customizing Polished Concrete
You can customize your polished concrete by adding color (stain), creating patterns, and varying the amount of aggregate exposure. Did you know you can even make polished concrete look like Terrazzo flooring? Not all polished floors have to be super reflective either, you can have your polishing to your exact specifications from an almost matte finish to mirror-like depending on the tier of honing you have your contractor perform.
Maintaining Polished Concrete
It won’t take much to maintain a polished system, just regular mopping with a standard wet mop and sweeping with a soft bristle broom but scrubbers can be used for larger areas. Unlike other floors, polished concrete never needs to be waxed. This makes maintenance a fast and straight forward process that anyone can accomplish. In terms of what detergents to use on the flooring, just make sure that the cleaner is PH-neutral and avoid any cleaners with citrus/pine, ammonia, or bleaches to avoid any abrasions on its surface.
