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Polished Concrete Information
Benefits:
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The longevity of the floor is much greater than traditional flooring because polished concrete is less susceptible to damage from things like foot traffic. A polished concrete floor will almost never need replacing, and can go 10 years or more without needing any major maintenance.
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Concrete is a great thermal conductor, and thus works very well with radiant floor heating systems.
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Polished concrete allows you to create a beautiful floor without the use of harsh chemicals.
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Polished concrete can increase the ambient lighting throughout the home, ultimately saving the customer money.
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Polished concrete is extremely easy to clean and maintain day to day. A quick sweep and mop will keep your floor looking new.
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Polished concrete floors have a great resistance to moisture, making them a great option for basements, or any area susceptible to water damage.
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Many different designs and colors can be achieved when polishing a concrete floor allowing a fully customizable look.
The Process:
Our floor polishing process is simple and effective. After removing any floor covering materials, we thoroughly prep your concrete floor and the surrounding area to prevent potential dust or damage. Using large vacuums with OSHA certified HEPA filters to collect any concrete dust we create, we start polishing with various diamond pad grits until the desired smoothness is attained.
Hydration lines
Before people realized the true beauty of concrete they would typically try to cover it with tile. Ceramic, Porcelain, vinyl, or any flooring with a seam usually made for an easy way to hide the concrete. Unfortunately, now that people realize the benefits and beauty of concrete the old school “cover it up” thought poses a problem.
Concrete continues to cure for years and to help aid in its curing process it sucks in moisture like a sponge. It constantly pulls in moisture from the earth and works it’s way to the the surface of the slab to escape as moisture vapor. When the concrete is covered with a flooring that has seams the moisture can only escape through those seams. Therefore, the concrete is emitting moisture vapor from the seams at a much faster rate than from the surface area that is covered by a more water resistant item such as vinyl composite tile.
Due to the concrete curing at a different rate where the seams are it is a different color than the surface area covered with the tile. This becomes especially apparent after diamond grinding a floor, and really stands out once polished or sealed (particularly during and after the densification step of polishing). Stain will often amplify the effect as it will be like staining two completely separate batches of concrete.
Often people will have the misconception that the hydration lines can be ground out. This is not the case. Grinding deeper will make the lines wider since it is closer to the point that all the moisture fights to escape at the seams.
Some people like the look of hydration lines, some can’t stand it. At PP&R we offer many solutions to cover up hydration lines and still give you the look you want. If you are set on polished concrete but don’t want hydration lines then our self leveling option is for you. After removing your flooring we correctly prepare the substrate and pour a cap of polishable self leveler over the entire surface. This will give us a brand new flat surface to begin the polishing process with. We have levelers with or without aggregate depending on the overall look you want to achieve.
Call us today to schedule a appointment to see what options are best for your floor.
Stained Concrete:
Staining your finished concrete can take your project to the next level. With many different colors to choose from, you can match that custom trim in the house, or make your new furniture pop. Check out some of the different colors below.
