Concrete Polishing: Not Only for Basements
When concrete floors are mentioned, it’s a common picture to imagine either a look of the basement, the garage and a few of the outer exposed parts within homes and establishments. Because this is where concrete floor were known to be used for, but not for long. Everyone had realized the versatility of concrete floors, opening it to a variety of things to work with.
Because it is extremely flexible, interior designers and decorators alike have gotten the liking on including these concrete floor design options as part of their plans on both commercial and private floor designing. It doesn’t end there. Homeowners themselves are including these concrete floor design options done on their concrete floors.
The idea of concrete flooring being a simple gray slab will no longer be common because its versatility had brought it to new levels of appreciation. Both in small and huge establishments are gaining a liking on the design possibilities that can be adopted on concrete floors. From coffee places, restaurants, hotel lobbies, and even in offices and private homes, concrete polished floor is becoming very favored.
You can choose from staining, painting, and dying coloring options for your concrete floor. This way you’re free to design and color your concrete floor with choices that would compliment the look and feel of the room around it. With the inputs you’re giving it, you’re already personalizing its design making the results quite satisfying.
Concrete floors are also popular for its health benefits. It is actually naturally hypoallergenic making it quite an alternative for carpeting floor options. Because it is easy to clean and maintain, you’re guaranteed that allergens are removed effortlessly.
The feel of your room or place after having your floor decorated and style will depend upon the choice of color and concrete floor option. It may look majestic, classy, extravagant, bold, and many other appearance matching your character. By making sure you had the time to really manage and think about the design, you will be able to place a bit of your quality on the results of the concrete decoration output.
Concrete Polishing: Inexpensively Stylish
Concrete polished floors is becoming a popular trend in home improvement nowadays. You can convert either an old or new concrete foundation into a shiny concrete floor. With the recent advances in technology, grinding concrete floors is very easy for contractors to do.
The concrete grinding gives your floor that high gloss result which never needs any waxing. The no wax feature of this floor type gives it its edge over the rest of the floor finish available in the market. The durability and performance of this concrete polished finish makes it a good alternative to the linoleum, marble, tile, coated concrete and granite floor finishes.
Houses made with concrete foundation will not be as dull as before because of the new concrete polished finish that you’ll give it. A little staining trick and this type of floor can easily replicate the styles of that expensive polished stone look. It is not confined to commercial building purposes alone, homeowners can catch on to this smooth concrete floor polishing because of its affordability.
More and more people are choosing concrete polished floor finish over the usual carpeted or wood floor type. The versatility of a polished concrete makes it an ideal flooring choice for a variety of applications. Retail facilities and warehouses opt to use this concrete polished finish because of the ease of maintenance that it requires.
This polished concrete floor’s high gloss finish makes it the best floor type for establishments that wants to project a professional image to its clients. Because it is made with real tough concrete, the polished concrete floor is able to withstand marks from oil spill stains and forklift truck tires when used in warehouse facilities. Choices between a sheen of satin or high gloss, depending on the aesthetic needed by the customer, can be achieved through its multi step process.
The polished concrete floor finish is quite easy to clean. There is no more need for messy waxes and coating applications because you will just have to damp mop it every now and then, and that is it. Because it is very easy to clean, you get to save time, money and lesser labor for its maintenance.
Nevertheless, polished concrete floor definitely is the way to go when it comes to floor finishes. Not only is it very attractive and inviting, it is also cost effective. By simply twitching the color and the type or weight of its polish, you will be able to get a different effect any way you wish.
Design Possibilities for Concrete Floors
It is a common picture that when one mentions concrete, you automatically get the idea of a grey slab, dull and ugly. Well, those times are gone. With the growth of concrete polishing popularity on interior designs and home renovations, grey slabs will definitely be out of the picture.
Today, sunrooms, or any other indoor rooms wont always require the use of wood, slate, granite, tile, or marble flooring. You can actually easily do that on your concrete floor on its own with just the help of stamps and stencils. Decorative finishes through stamping or stenciling easily gives you imitations of the flooring styles you have always wanted, at a lower cost.
The concrete floors can also be made to have different textures, either from concrete polished ones to a rough gravel option. Depending on what compliments your room or place the most, you can decide whether you would want a smooth finish floor with glossy or matte finish, or a textured one. You can also match colors with whatever types of texture you to choose to do to add up to its make.
Putting coloring cast or staining on the textured or polished concrete floor is also one of the ways that you can adopt for your floor. This gives you an endless design possibility that you can easily incorporate on your floor’s design. With do it yourself options, you can efficiently put your own touch of personality on the design you choose for your concrete floor.
Geometric stamped patterns on concrete floors are also a way to go in these concrete design ideas. This is actually among the most popular choices done on both large and small scale areas where a combination of geometric figures and color are installed on the concrete floor. Geometric stamping is another option with limitless design possibilities to consider.
You can also combine all of the given floor styling ways to come up with your own design that will suit your liking. If you find this to much a job, you can always turn to a contractor and ask him to do it for you. Elaborate and explain to him what you want for your concrete floor, and you’re sure to have just exactly what you want for your floor.
Tips: Creating a Beautiful Entry Way
Patios, driveways, and pathways had long used concrete just the way it is, a simple gray concrete floor. Lately however, these concrete floors have become the target of interior designers, giving it a fresh new look. The unlimited designs possible for it bedazzles these interior designers that concrete polishing and redesigning became one of their favorite subjects to consider in their works.
Driveways, patios and pathways are all entryways that are bound to endure more traffic than any other rooms within the house. So although youd specifically want it to look great, it should have qualities that make it easy to clean, to maintain and must be durable enough for its purpose. Thats where concrete polishing comes in.
There are a number of options that you can choose to do for your concrete floors’ designing needs. You have there the acid staining which is a combination of water, hydrochloric acid and metallic salts compound. The acid stain reacts on the lime found on the concrete thus creating the colorful and beautiful design that still imitates the natural look of the concrete floor.
There a stenciling option too which is a concrete designing technique that gives the artist more freedom to create his stunning designs directly on the floor using the color combination of his will. This however, would require more work for the artist’s part, but it surely does give justice to the phrase, a work of art.
The decorative engraving option on the other hand is a concrete engraving design mostly done on old concretes. Its a means of dressing it up, carving a whole new design on an existing concrete, followed by necessary coloring and styling, and voila! A whole new concrete look. This makes a great alternative solution for redecorating in renovation needs.
Dyes or pigment augmentation are often included during the concrete installation so you have to usually decide whether you would want this for your patio before or during the concretes installation process. If in case the concrete had already been installed but you still wish to dye your floor, then you can choose a staining process for it.
Concrete polishing still stands out to be the most common solution in creating lovely pathways and interior designs for concrete floors. It is the most convenient, cost effective flooring option everyone wants. Its easy to maintain, and the unlimited design and style possibilities makes it the best looking floor option in town.
Polished Concrete
Polished concrete is becoming one of the newest trends in construction and aesthetic flooring. More and more offices, buildings and even homes are using polished concrete to line their floors, counters and even walls.
Polished concrete is just that: it’s basically concrete and nothing more. But what this means is that you don’t have to spend more for things like tiles or linoleum. And not just new floors; polished concrete can also be used on old floors, saving you tons in reconstruction and renovation.
Adding in to cost-efficiency, polished concrete basically prevents dusting. Polished concrete is non-porous and resists liquid stains and other contaminants. These floors are highly-tight, and does not require any form of scrubbing, rubbing or waxing to retain its shine.
Of course, it can be professionally stained to add depth, glamor and quality to your floors. These floors also hold a strong grip, and has slip resistance. Though it looks shiny, it has the hold of a common, rough floor.
Industrial-wise, it can take the brunt and abuse of man and machine and can last for at least 3-5 years before it needs reconditioning. Home-wise or office, the period of reconditioning can go up to once per 5-7 years.
The process of polishing is smooth, and is led by a professional. It’s highly discreet, and does not interrupt the office system or home life; wherever you plan to use this system of styling your floor. There are many ways to polish your floor, but it all adds up to simplicity, detail, and a sense of art.
There are also many styles to choose from; whether it be simple polishing, coloring, saw cuts, engraving and even stenciled art. It exhibits both aesthetics and durability.
You could even choose to add a marble finish to give it that expensive, snazzy look. This can save you a lot from using more expensive options like marble, granite, terrazzo.
Curing Concrete: A Concrete Polishing Preparation
When you have decided that you do want to have decorative designs and concrete polishing done on your concrete slab, the next thing to do is to ready the floor for the process. This preparation will add up to the toughness and durability of the flooring area.
Most concrete polishing decors requires its treatments to be attached and absorbed through or on the flooring’s surface. Therefore, you should have the ability to choose the right curing agent that won’t leave marks or residues on top of the concrete floor as this may disturb the installation later. The curing agent to be chosen must also be able to seal off the entire area of the concrete slab.
A few of the common suggestions you can use to guarantee a neat and effective curing option includes the spray on curing method. The spray curing agent easily dissolves thus giving the concrete lesser residue that you want to avoid. Burlap or curing paper can also be used to maintain the moisture during the curing process.
Now if you decide to have stained, dyed or added with any translucent type of coloring treatment on the concrete polished floor, the curing should finish off with a natural mottled look that would add up to the aesthetic of the coloring finish. It should be remembered however that the application of the curing must be well balanced in all areas of the concrete to achieve the best results for the process.
Exposure of the coverage of the curing agent application can gravely affect its output. This can ruin the coloring that will done later on, including fading and discoloration. The plastic sheets that will be used to cover the floor must be evenly fixed, including how it will touch the surface. Irregularities of the curing agent on the surface are often results of uneven plastic placement.
Most curing needs is actually included in the installation package therefore this shouldnt be a problem if you have hired a contractor to do it. However, you should still be there and be aware of whats happening during the preparation. Take note that the durability and output of the concrete polishing and decorative work depends on the curing process the concrete requires.
Sealant and Coating Protects Concrete Polishing
When you have everything you want done on your concrete polished floor, the next step to consider is to keep it looking new all the time. You can achieve this by making sure your decorative floor is sealed and protected from anything that can contribute to its wear and tear.
Naturally, this wear and tear is unavoidable. Because it is on the ground, it will be walked on by so many people, rolled over with carts, bags with wheels, office chairs, you name it. There will always be something that could put your floor at risk to damage. Maintenance will be the key to help in the longevity of your decorated concrete polished floor.
The use of sealants on your concrete polished floor is one of the best ways you can do to protect it. Even if sealants were already incorporated during the concrete polishing installations, a regular application of sealant on a given basis will help keep the floor in great condition all the time. The sealants play a huge role in a floor’s durability and it actually carry a lot more reasons on how significant it could be for the concrete polished floor.
The presence of sealant and coatings help prevent staining on the floor. When you have this sealant or coating on the polished concrete floor, water migration is possible and floor protection is more at hand. The cleaning and maintenance is also a whole lot easier with the sealant and coating on.
The sealant is also the material that gives you control over the level of shine that you desire for your polished concrete floor. You can either choose from a matte finish, low or high gloss, and satin options. The sealant also contributes on deepening or highlighting the colors present on your concrete polished floor.
Regular application of sealants or coatings on your concrete polished floor helps in giving the floor the slip resistance needed for it. This anti slip or grip feature is one of the most sought property every concrete polishing aficionado wants. With this idea, it goes to show that the sealant and the coating are among the simplest ways in keeping your polished concrete floor looking brand new all the time.
Concrete Polish’ Slip Resistance
Just by looking at a concrete polish’ finish, you’ll instantly have that question whether you’ll slide off because it might seem too smooth and shiny to walk to. Especially if what you have on is an stiletto, or a shoes with no rubber traction to it. Being an owner of an establishment meant to be visited by customers, or inside the house with toddlers, slippery floors should be avoided.
Signs like “slippery when wet” won’t necessarily prevent a slipping accident. When kids starts running around and no one is able to control them, they are bound to slip or fall anytime. So are these women wearing stiletto footwear, and men with their no traction soles. Its unavoidable, but can easily be prevented.
Slip resistance is a feature significant to these highly adored concrete polished floors. Slip resistant is term which relates to the measure of a surfaces ability to reduce or prevent the risk of slipping on both wet and dry conditions. Because of the increasing popularity of the concrete polished finish, the issue about its slip resistance becomes a highlight on its must have attributes.
There are a few aspects that contribute to the impact of these slipping risks. This includes the pavements surface finish, the sealer used, and the chosen texture. With the right combination of these three characters, you will be able to achieve the final surface roughness that you desire for your concrete polished pavement or floor.
The key to keeping a concrete polished floor safe and slip free is actually very simple. Besides making sure you have combined all three aspects the right way, all you are asked to do to keep the slip resistance of the floor is to make sure it does not have contaminants on it at all times.
These contaminants are usually the often cause of floors becoming slippery, especially when wet. So all in all, as long as you follow the simple steps, and keeping the concrete polished floor clean, gives you the safety and non slippery feature you want to achieve.
Keeping Your Polished Concrete’s Quality
So, you’ve done it! You have finally converted your concrete floor to a polished one and now it looks amazing. What are you forgetting? You see, although it had been known that concrete polished floors are made to last for a very long time, its longevity still depends on proper maintenance. If left bared without proper care, the quality would always surely fail.
Making sure that a sealer is used over the cracks and gaps of the polished floor is the first step in improving the quality of the floor. The same sealer can be used if after some time cracks are already developing on it. Epoxy is one of the best products to use for this problem.
When you are already sure that you’ve got the sealing done, the next thing to do is to keep the polished floor clean all the time. Unlike most floor types, you are not required to put wax on concrete polished floor as often as the other floor styles require. However, there are floor polishes available that could help somehow in maintaining your concrete polished floor’s condition. This helps in avoiding or risking slipping when wet situations.
By keeping your floor clean and dry, you are helping it in keeping that slip resistance attribute that everyone wants from a concrete polished floor. Contamination is one of the major contributor in making concrete polished floor slippery, so making sure your floor is free from contaminants will help greatly.
Polishing your floor will help in filling on the surfaces’ roughness thus providing the grip friction necessary for its slip resistance feature. This however depends on the type of concrete polished style you have on your place. If it has that low surface roughness, lessening the layers of the polish to be applied should be followed.
Color Your World: Colored Polished Concrete
There are so many ways as to how you can achieve giving your concrete polished floor the color and design you desire for it. Among the coloring options includes common colored pigment application, chemical or acid staining, dye and tints that you can apply on your concrete polished surface. Adding on the desired color a pattern of your choice will finish up the look that you want for your polished concrete floor.
The color pigmentation option used to be the most common application used popularly before. Its process includes mixing the pigment to the thickness of the concrete and its topping layer. This is often used in conjunction with the honing process except that during honing, the pigment quantity needs to be lesser than when it is used on normal mixing. Pigmented colors are available in powder, liquid and granule form.
Color pigmentation works when these ultra fine pigment particles which are fine solids, disperse throughout the matrix of the concrete. It is featured in the dry shake feature and can be applied as a cement and sand hand cast onto the pre-hardened concrete surface. The process where the color comes off is through a monolithic topping formation.
The chemical staining, more commonly known as the concrete acid staining, is lately becoming more popular than the pigmenting option. The material or component in this option includes metallic salts mixed with a slightly acidic, water based solution. The acid is responsible in opening up the dense concrete surface, which allows the metallic salts to seep into the slab and react with the hydrated lime found in concretes compounds.
Unlike your usual idea of dyes and tints, the dyes and tints for concrete polish purposes are actually more opaque and remain on the surface of the concrete more than the acid or chemical stain. That means this coloring type is easier to handle and is actually often used to correct and repair results from the chemical and acid staining process. The color of these dyes and tints gives off more color options and are more vibrant than the other coloring solutions mentioned.
Painting or surface coating the concrete polished floor is probably the simplest concrete coloring method offered for the process. In this option, the contractor is only required to paint over the concrete slab’s surface after it had been sealed with a sealer completely. The output of your concrete polished floor will all come down to how well you can maximize the different methods given as suggestions.