Polished Concrete
Polished concrete flooring is amazing. Why? For many reasons. It is considered a low maintenance, durable, cost effective option.
The concrete is treated with a chemical densifier, it is then ground with progressively finer grinder tools, The grinder tool becomes more and more fine as the process goes on. Almost like sanding wood to ensure a smooth and shiny finish. Stains and dyes are often applied to enhance the polished concrete as well as other options: scoring, creating radial lines, grids, bands, borders and other designs.
There is a great deal of benefits regarding polished concrete. It is considered good sustainable design flooring. This is because it makes use of the materials already present. If a building is built on a large concrete slab, polishing the exposed concrete eliminates the use of energy and materials that would be involved in laying an additional floor cover e.g. wood or carpet.
The floor is considered extremely low maintenance. Whilst the installation of the floor may take some time, that is all that will be required to ensure high quality, longevity, and being aesthetically pleasing. It is far easier to clean than most other floors; all it will ever require is warm soapy water to maintain its shine. The use of other cleaners or wax would only dull its appearance.
Polished concrete also has the advantage of being beneficial for health. It reduces dust mites and allergen problems, meaning that anyone with a respiratory illness would not suffer any discomfort. It also prohibits mould growth as it does not encourage damp. The use of a very high quality highly polished concrete will mean that due to the disbursal of natural light within a room, there will be little need for any artificial light. The co-efficiency of friction also means that the polished concrete is non-slippery, making it safe for families and children.
If done correctly and to a high standard, a polished concrete floor will make a room appear much larger. Due to its high shine, it will act almost as a mirror to the rest of the room and will appear much grander In scale.
Polished concrete is very hard wearing and will not chip or dent unlike softer surfaces, e.g. Timber. Polished concrete will be sure to last longer than any other floor type, some tiles may provide 10-20years of service and then need replacing due to everyday wear and tear. And although porcelain tiles will last up to 100 years with no maintenance, the polished concrete has proven to last 100+ years without any need for replacement.