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Tips Regarding Polished Concrete Flooring

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Polished concrete provides beautiful and sturdy flooring, whether it's in a private home, a commercial retail shop, or a warehouse. Here are some tips to help you decide whether it's right for your project.

Shine Options

If you've seen a polished concrete floor, you might be surprised to know that these floors don't have a topical sealant that provides the shine. The lustre is produced by the polishing process. The contractors go over the concrete with a buffing machine using progressively finer grits. With each pass, the shine increases, and you can stop at a point where you're happy with the polish level. In the final stages, an invisible penetrating sealant or densifier that soaks into the concrete is applied. Because the flooring doesn't have a topical sealant, you have less maintenance to worry about, as the floor won't require regular resealing as the previous coating wears away.

Attractive

Polished concrete is attractive in various ways. It evokes an organic impression and has a similar appeal to natural stone. Its raw quality fits perfectly in industrial settings, and its sleek finish makes it suit classic decors as well, especially when highly polished and gleaming. Because the flooring forms a continuous surface without grout lines, it can give a kitchen or restaurant a clean and modern look as well.

Design Options

If you prefer a bare concrete look, you can leave the floor uncoloured or add subtle earthy greys during the installation. On the other hand, if you want something more colourful, the contractors can add blue, green, brown and endless other pigments. Unlike floor paint, the dyes and stains used are typically translucent, letting the concrete texture show through for a natural look. This aesthetic is classier than painted flooring. The contractors can layer the colours to generate a sense of dimension and create patterns. Dyes typically create more uniform effects, while stains react with the concrete to produce marbling.

Traction

Whatever flooring you install in your home or business, its safety is crucial, and you may wonder if concrete polishing makes the surface slippery. It's no more slippery than many other smooth floors. However, you can create extra traction with a topical sealant with additives to give the concrete more grip. Another option is to mop with an agent during cleaning to increase traction. Ask your contractor for their suggestions. Regardless, to keep flooring as safe as possible, clean up spills promptly. 

For more info about concrete polishing, contact a local company. 


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