Why Clients Love Polished Concrete Flooring

Polished concrete floors is a finish that is seen throughout many interior design magazines, websites and blogs. It is a finish that is requested by so many of our clients who want new floors or are looking to breathe life into their existing or new concrete slab.

Polished Concrete is the process of polishing the concrete surface to bring out the aggregate and natural stone in the final finish. This is a timeless yet modern flooring choice, which compliments a range of materials and is suitable in residential and commercial projects because of its durability, low maintenance and for being a cost effective way to make a feature out of your concrete slab.

In this article we will discuss:

• What is polished concrete, and how to go about getting this finish in your home

• How much polished concrete costs

• The 5 benefits of polished concrete flooring

• What you must know before polishing your concrete slab

• What to do if your concrete is not suitable for polished concrete and the alternatives you can consider

Polished Concrete Flooring

What is polished concrete?

Polished concrete flooring enhances the natural characteristics of a concrete slab. It is the process where a concrete floor (existing or new concrete slab) is mechanically ground, honed and polished in order to cut a concrete floor’s surface to achieve a specified level of appearance.

There are many specialists out there who can provide you with a polished floor. It's important to choose a contractor who will polish your floor to the highest standards and to the desired degree of aggregate exposure.

The process of concrete polishing usually takes a few days, depending on the project size. As every concrete slab is unique and different, the end result of the polished concrete finish can vary. This is an important factor to note as there is little control over the end result. Most clients opt for either a grind & seal, burnishing or a mechanically polished concrete finish. Other options can include creating radial lines, scoring and grids.

How much does polished concrete flooring cost?

Polished concrete is a cost effective flooring option that starts at $65 per square meter.
Each job is priced individually as the cost depends on total square meters, and any extra surface preparation that may be required.

You can contact our team here for a formal quote.

The 5 benefits of polished concrete flooring

• Polished concrete floors are Hypoallergenic
  Because polishing your concrete creates a smooth surface, this means it's easy to remove dust, dirt and debris from the floor.

• Polished concrete flooring is known for its durability
  Polished concrete flooring is very strong and resilient, making it suitable for high traffic areas as it can withstand pressure from both foot traffic and equipment. Its durability means it is very difficult to damage.

• Polished concrete is cost effective
  Polished concrete flooring is a cost effective, high quality finish as it utilizes new or existing concrete.

• Polished concrete is easy to maintain Polished concrete is known to be a low maintenance flooring option. Unlike tiles, carpet and timber flooring where dust can get trapped in grout lines, polished concrete is seamless making vacuuming and mopping easy.

• Polished concrete is timeless
  Polished concrete has been around for years, and it will be around for years to come. It is a finish that complements a range of different interior and exterior finishes and materials, and can be seen as a blank canvas for your living space.

What you must know before polishing your concrete slab

If you're new to researching Polished Concrete it may surprise you to know that not all concrete surfaces are suitable to be polished. Before you hire a contractor, commence polishing your concrete floor, and before any surface preparation takes place, it is crucial that you determine if your concrete slab, either new or old, is suitable to be polished. A specialist polished concrete contactor will be able to determine this for you. Some of the reasons why polishing your concrete slab may not be a suitable choice is because of either the colour of the concrete, the aggregate may be patchy, the concrete may be uneven or there may be severe cracking.

Alternatives to polished concrete, if polishing your concrete slab isn't a suitable option

If your concrete slab is not suitable to be polished, never fear, there are other quality flooring options that can be used to achieve the look of real polished concrete. These flooring options are known as 'seamless overlay systems', 'microcement' or 'micro concrete'. These products are cement based, which gives you the concrete look, however as they are applied on-top of an existing concrete slab it hides any natural imperfections in the slab to create a seamless, polished concrete looking floor finish. One of the most advanced microcement products is called X-Bond and you can find more information on it here.

X-Bond Microcement installed to floors

The microcement or micro concrete product is hand trowelled at a minimal depth, usually between 2-3mm thick. A colour pigment is added into the cement mix, which means you can get the perfect shade of grey that you're after.

For more information on Polished Concrete or having a microcement / micro concrete finish like X-Bond installed to your project, you can contact our team here or visit our showroom showroom appointments are available by emailing sales@altsurfaces.com.au