If you’re looking at revamping the floors in your home, you would’ve come across polished concrete as an option. Here are some polished concrete FAQs.
Polished concrete is fast becoming one of the most popular flooring choices. With a shiny, glossy appearance, your home has an instant lux transformation. It’s also durable and easy to maintain. Need more information? Peruse the polished concrete FAQs below.
Polished Concrete Facts
1. How does the process differ from having tiled, carpeted, or timber floors?
Traditional flooring includes timber, carpet, tile, linoleum and many other options. All come in a wide variety of colours, designs and textures. Some can be expensive or hard to maintain. Others simply don’t last as long, about 25 years, and they easily get scratched, chipped or worn down.
Polished concrete is generally known as a lower cost option that yields stunning results. You only use materials already present in the space, and it can last up to 100+ years, making it a sustainable flooring solution.
A machine equipped with diamond abrasive grits will be used to grind down the surface to a streamlined finish, removing flaws and imperfections. Stone aggregate will be exposed typically to one of three levels:
Full exposure – takes your concrete right down to the lowest layer of aggregate revealing a stunning, glossy surface.
Partial exposure (or salt and pepper) – gives you a modern rustic, almost industrial, appearance which looks impressive in many homes.
Nil exposure – ideal for those who want the minimum amount of stones showing. This should be left to experts like Eco Grind, as it must be done with great care to get it exactly right.
2. Can I use a steam mop on my polished concrete floor?
Steam mopping is not encouraged for use on polished concrete. Steams pushes into tiny pores in the floor under pressure, but these pores have been closed by grout to ensure you have a seamless floor. Keeping the pores in the floor closed, grout ensures the floor doesn’t harbour mould spores, dust mites, debris or breathing irritants. If you use a steam mop, that steam will push grout out of the pores. The wonderful thing about polished concret? It doesn’t require harsh chemicals like bleach, nor products like vinegar or citrus. Cleaning will be a breeze just using a light microfibre mop and hot water!
3. What areas on a residential property are best for polished floors?
Polished concrete is more durable than many other flooring options, therefore making it the ideal surface for heavy foot traffic. Polished concrete is great for kitchens, living areas, rumpus rooms, garages, and even pool areas and porches. It is less susceptible to wear-and-tear and damage, performing well under stress. For areas that can potentially get wet, coatings can be applied to make it less slippery.
4. Why are polished concrete floors so popular today?
Polished concrete floors are incredibly popular today and their popularity only keeps growing. They are loved not only for their stylish, upmarket appearance but for their durability and easy maintenance. Polished concrete is hard wearing, scratch resistant and won’t chip like other flooring materials (timber for instance). They are also allergy free, making it safe for the whole family, and that includes your pets! Being easy to clean is another big drawcard.
Polished concrete doesn’t accumulate mould like wood does, or dust and odour from spills like carpets do. Traditional flooring in generally harder to maintain, making their polished cousin more popular than ever.
5. Can polished concrete surfaces be re-polished or buffed to give it more life?
Even with regular cleaning, your concrete may still lose some of its shine in time. The gloss can easily be regained by applying a polish specifically designed for polished concrete and buffing the floor with a high-speed burnisher.
6. How do I care for and maintain a polished concrete floor?
Easy cleaning is a characteristic of polished concrete, and one of the main reasons so many people are choosing it over other materials. No harsh cleaners are necessary or encouraged. Instead, a microfibre mop and hot water is more than enough to clean your floors.
7. Are gloss floors easier to clean than matt floors?
Gloss floors are smoother and have a much nicer result after cleaning. It doesn’t take much effort to get them looking amazing again. Matt floors are easy to clean too, but the end result is not as obvious as that of gloss floors. However, that doesn’t mean matt floors don’t look good. For those who prefer less light to be reflected off their floor, matt is the perfect option.
8. What is the difference between grind and seal and machine polished concrete?
Grind and seal concrete is ideal for an existing concrete surface. There are two steps as the name suggests. The top layer is removed, revealing a brighter layer that looks like new. A finish is then applied, and you can choose between high-gloss, semi-gloss and matt.
Machine polished concrete means the surface is gradually ground down to 200-400 grit using a machine equipped with diamond abrasive segments. It allows the technicians to create the desired shine and smoothness. Blemishes and stains will be removed during this stage. Technicians will then use even finer polishing grits until the floor has a desired sheen. As mentioned earlier, there are three levels of exposure – full, partial and nil – that yield different results.
Acid etching is when a chemical hardener is used to penetrate the concrete, creating a reaction that hardens and makes the surface dust-proof. This makes it better able to accept a sealer, and you will end up with a satin or gloss finish.
9. What is the difference between a sealed floor and polished floor?
A sealed floor has a film added over the entire surface, while a polished floor has a liquid that penetrates the surface and prevents stains from occurring.
10. Is it possible to stain and polish concrete?
Yes, it is possible to stain polished concrete. However, colours are best added directly to the concrete mix in the form of dyes and pigments. This will give a greater, longer-lasting result than just staining the top of the surface.
Now that you’ve had your questions answered, take the next step. Contact Eco Grind to get started on transforming your home.
