Burnish Concrete Floors vs Polished Concrete Floors
For a flooring solution that’s easy to look after, has minimal cleaning involved (winning!) and overall looks great in appearance, burnish concrete floors is one of the best ways to go.
Whether you go down the path of polished or burnish concrete floors (it’s really all about the aesthetics and what you want in your home), you’re equipping yourself with a surface that is long-lasting and sure to impress.
Both polished and burnish concrete floors offer unique advantages depending on your needs and preferences. Burnished concrete provides a glossy and smooth finish that is perfectly suited for more moderate traffic areas, while on the other hand, polished concrete also offers up durability and is a great choice for those places that see a lot more feet on their surface.
What are the differences?
Burnish and polished are both types of finishes that result in a smooth surface with some glaze or shine. They are similar, but have specific characteristics that make them distinct from each other and other finishes.
With burnishing, a smoothed and hardened surface is produced. While polishing the surface ends in a shiny finish, it would result in a dull look without the burnishing process. Burnishers heat, melt and rub a topical coating or a wax-based product into the new surface.
The burnishing process often occurs after pouring, whereas polishing is a process performed after curing.
How does it all happen?
Burnishing is a mechanical process that enhances the surface of concrete by using a high-speed burnisher with diamond-impregnated pads. This process closes the concrete’s pores and compresses the surface, resulting in a smooth and glossy appearance.
Polishing concrete involves multiple grinding and polishing steps, utilising finer and finer grits of diamond abrasives. The process begins with coarse grinding to remove imperfections and continues with progressively finer grinding until the desired level of sheen and smoothness is achieved.
The final result is a highly reflective and lustrous surface.
Let’s talk about cleaning.
While we know it’s not everyone’s favourite thing to do, you’ll be pleased to know that maintenance of burnished or polished floors is pretty straightforward.
Burnished floors are relatively low in maintenance, only requiring regular cleaning and occasional re-burnishing to retain their appearance.
Polished concrete is also exceptionally easy to maintain. A quick sweep and mop and it’s all done. The non-porous surface prevents liquid penetration, making it resistant to stains and spills.
Now you know what to expect, give us a call at Eco Grind and we can help get the process started on your new floor.