For many years concrete has been relegated to spending life as a subfloor unless it was laid in industrial units. However, now this humble material has been elevated to a residential and commercial flooring choice with more and more people opting to install polished concrete floors in their homes and offices.
And it’s hardly surprising as concrete flooring is hard wearing, low maintenance, versatile, affordable and extremely long lasting. However, it’s not without its faults. So if you’re thinking of installing a polished concrete floor in your home, here’s some helpful advice.
What is Polished Concrete?
Before we go any further, let’s take a look at what polished concrete actually is. Concrete is made from a mixture of aggregate (usually granite chips, small rocks and stones) combined with cement and water.
A concrete densifier is applied over the surface of the concrete to fill in the pores and give it a smooth decorative surface. Once this has dried, grinding tools are used to refine the surface further.
The more refined the surface, the shiner it will be. As you can imagine, this is not a job for a DIYer, but a job for specialists in concrete sealing in Sydney.
Why Are Concrete Floors So Fashionable?
Thanks to the rise in popularity of utilitarian and industrial trends in interior design, concrete has been chosen as the flooring of choice as it gives the look designers are aiming for at a cost-effective price. Furthermore, its thermal conducting properties ensure it’s the perfect option for pairing with underfloor heating.
Is It Easy to Lay a Concrete Floor?
Laying a concrete floor correctly is all down to the consistency of the mix and the timing. That’s why it’s important to entrust this process to the professionals. It’s imperative that the concrete is levelled perfectly and that expansion joints are incorporated into the floor to avoid the concrete cracking once in use. To polish the concrete requires specialist contractors who use diamond drills to achieve a smooth and even effect.
Is There a Choice of Textures, Colours and Finishes?
While you may be used to seeing the typical greyish concrete floor of industrial units, modern polished concrete floors are available in an almost limitless choice of textures, colour and finishes. The texture and finish are all down to the grade of concrete used, how the concrete is poured and how it’s been polished.
Colour can be introduced either by adding pigment to the wet concrete or painting an acid or water-based stain onto the dry surface.
Do They Need Sealing?
As concrete is susceptible to oil and water stains, they should be sealed. Local concrete sealers in Sydney recommend that you seal your polished floors every two to three years.
And What About Concrete Floor Maintenance?
Simple! Just sweep or run a dust mop over it to remove dirt and then wet mop with a gentle cleansing product.
And there you have it – all you need to know about polished concrete floors in a nutshell!
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