- Polished Concrete Information
- Polished Concrete Pictures
- What is Polished Concrete
- Polished Concrete Cost
- Design Ideas for Polished Concrete
- Polished Concrete Maintenance
- Why Choose Polished Concrete
- Benefits of Polished Concrete
- Comparison Chart: Polished concrete versus other flooring materials
- Common Questions about Polished Concrete
- Can All Concrete be Polished?
- Is Polished Concrete Slippery?
- What are Polished Overlays?
- Polishing Products and Equipment: An overview of basic equipment and supplies needed
- Related Information
- Information About: Concrete Floors
- Concrete Contractors: Find Concrete Polishing Products and Suppliers
- Design Ideas: Polished Concrete Info
Polished Concrete versus Other Flooring Materials
Different types | Wall-to-wall carpet | Ceramic tile | Vinyl or linoleum | Wood or wood laminate | Natural stone (such as slate or marble) | Polished concrete |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Available in a wide spectrum of design options Learn More See Options with Polishing Concrete Floors |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Unlimited |
Longevity and performance Learn More Durability and Resource Conservation |
Poor | Good | Good | Good | Excellent | Excellent |
Ease of maintenance Learn More Maintaining the Shine |
Poor (needs frequent vacuuming; stains easily) | Good | Good (linoleum may need occasional waxing) | Good | Good (linoleum may need occasional waxing) | Excellent |
Can radiate heat and store solar energy Learn More Radiant Floor Heating Systems |
No | No | No | No | Yes, depending on the material | Yes |
Vulnerable to humidity and moisture damage | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Can harbor mold, mildew, dust mites and other allergens Learn More Easier Breathing |
Yes | No | No | Yes(mold and mildew, if the flooring becomes wet) | No | No |
Is a sustainable flooring alternative Learn More Project Profile: School Goes Green with Polished Concrete |
No | Yes | Maybe(if using linoleum made from all natural materials) | Maybe(if using linoleum made from all natural materials) | Yes | Yes |
Average cost per square foot installed Learn More Polished concrete cost |
$3.38 - 6.61* | $11 - 22* | $2.64 - 5.64* | $8 - 10 | $20 - 50+ | $3 - 7(for a 3,000-grit finish and the use of an impregnating sealer) |
Average lifecycle cost Learn More |
High | Low | Intermediate | Intermediate | Low | Extremely Low |
Decorative polished concrete offers a number of advantages that other flooring materials can't match, particularly when it comes to durability, performance and sustainability. Here, we compare polished concrete floors with some of the alternatives.
*Source: Old House Web