Polished Concrete Benefits

The advantages of polishing interior concrete floors

Polished Concrete Pictures

Artistic Surfaces Inc
in Indianapolis, IN
Rockerz, Inc
in Warrendale, PA
Custom Concrete Solutions, LLC
in West Hartford, CT
California Concrete Designs
in Anaheim, CA
Dimensions Concrete Design
in Rockmart, GA
Colour in Placerville,
CA
Artistic Surfaces Inc
in Indianapolis, IN
Innovative Concrete Systems
in Little Rock, AR
Surfacing Solutions
in Temecula, CA
Cuviello Concrete
in Arnold, MD

Homeowners, retailers, big-box stores, educational and medical facilities are choosing polished concrete for their floor finish because of the competitive advantage polished flooring offers over other types of floor coverings. Decorative concrete in the form of polished floors has become the logical choice because of the great value it delivers, and because it can compete aesthetically as well.

Residential Polished Floor Benefits:

Cost savings: Traditional floor covering materials are not necessary when the slab on grade is used as the finished floor surface
Longer life-cycle savings: Polished floors are not as vulnerable to damage as other materials and do not need replacing
Easy to clean: Won't harbor dust, dirt, allergens
Available in wide variety of colors and designs

Commercial and Retail Polished Floor Benefits:

Cost savings: Using the slab on grade as the finished floor surface is more cost effective, maintenance costs are lower
More resistant to high foot traffic. A grocer in Tennessee explains that he is able to maintain primarily just the traffic ways within his store, which saves time and money because he does not have to move large display cases to wax and strip the floor.
Less maintenance and longer service life: Polished floors are easy to clean, requiring only occasional damp mopping. They also eliminate the need for messy waxes or coatings as well as the associated labor, time, and expense to apply them. The glossy surface of polished concrete resists the marks of forklift truck tires and staining from oil and chemical spills.
Resistant to moisture transmission issues: Polished concrete allows the floor to breathe and eliminates issues that arise with other flooring materials that seal off the concrete, such as tile, etc.
High light reflectivity: Important for office building, hotels, restaurants, and other public facilities that want to project a bright, clean, professional image. Also saves energy by reducing artificial lighting requirements
Is a sustainable flooring alternative: Polished concrete does not require hazardous coatings, cleaners or adhesives

The Versatility of Polished Concrete
Because polishing is a multi-step process, homeowners and business owners can choose the level of sheen from stain to high-gloss that meets their maintenance and aesthetic requirements. This versatility makes polished concrete an ideal flooring material for a variety of applications.

The most common places polished concrete is used include:

Large warehouses and warehouse outlets
Retail stores
Hotels and restaurants
Office buildings
Auto showrooms
Private residences

"Some customers simply want a look that's unique," according to contractor Doug Demmert of Demmert & Associates, Glendale, Calif. (See Company Specializes in Polished Concrete Finishes). He says that polishing can give concrete a higher degree of shine, similar to polished marble or granite, than can be achieved with a high-gloss coating. This makes polished concrete a particularly good alternative for homeowners or businesses that can't afford marble or granite floors but want the same brilliant, mirror-like finish. To replicate the color of stone, Demmert will sometimes apply stain to the concrete during the polishing process or polish concrete that has been integrally colored. It's also possible to produce a terrazzo look by grinding through the top few millimeters of the concrete surface to expose the aggregate. Read more about Polished Concrete Designs.

Related Information:
Decorative concrete delivers great value