FAQ

Any concrete floor, which is in prime condition, can be polished whether it is new or old. However, any existing floor requires to be primed before polishing. Not only the dirt and grime are required to be removed from the surface, but also small blemishes need to be corrected and pores need to be sealed. Usually, a densifier is added to the concrete prior to polishing to make the surface less porous to moisture and stains and reduce future damages.

• Surface preparation: This step is for both old and new surfaces where cracks, stains, blemishes, uneven spots, etc. are removed by grinding using grits 30, 70 or 120, followed by smoothening with 0, 100 or 200 grits of resin pads.
• Applying fillers and densifiers: In the second step, a dye can be applied to add colour to the concrete as also any cracks or pores are filled up with appropriate sealants. A concrete densifier is added to further protect the surface from moisture penetration or staining.
• Honing: Now the surface is polished or honed with a resin of 400 grit to start giving shine and brightness.
• Final polishing: A highly glossy floor is achieved in the fourth step where the concrete is further polished with 800, 1500 and finally 3000 grits resin.
• Protection: The polished concrete surface is then cleaned and buffed for extra shine using a burnishing pad and then coated with stain-guard products for durability

The benefits of polished concrete floors are many:

• Aesthetic: Polished concrete floors are not only sturdy but are also stylish. Hence, it is a smart choice of flooring for both residential and commercial settings.
• Durable and safe: Due to a robust process, polished concrete floors are heavy-duty and resistant to damages. Hence, they are anti-slip and safe.
• Easy maintenance: Due to high resistance to stains and moisture, it is easier to maintain and clean polished floors. No waxing is required in the long run to improve shine.
• Cost-effective: Due to the high sheen of a polished floor, the natural lighting is enhanced. This means reduced dependency on electrical power at all times and hence, lesser power bills.
• Eco-friendly: Polished floors are made using ethically sourced sustainable materials and hence, they reduce the carbon footprint.

Due to a robust polishing process, concrete polished floors are highly resistant to damages and have high performance which is why most people prefer them for their homes or offices. The lifespan of a polished concrete floor fundamentally depends on two factors- correct procedure of installation with appropriate tools by professionals and regular maintenance after installation. These two factors not only ensure that polished concrete floor can last more than twenty years but also ensure that they preserve their aesthetic value.

Mechanically Polished Concrete (MPC) is typically used for indoor flooring while Grind and Seal (G&S) are suitable for both indoor and outdoor surfaces. In MPC, the concrete in itself is used for the polishing process and no topcoat is used; hence, if maintained well, an MPC floor will be most durable. G&S is more cost-effective and beneficial in that a top coat is applied to the concrete which makes it anti-slip and therefore, suitable for indoor and outdoor flooring. However, with G&S, the topcoat requires to be replenished periodically since it erodes with time.

It is possible to easily change the color of a polished concrete if water-based or non-reactive stains or dyes are used but with reactive or acid stains, the process is much more complicated. Since water-based dyes do not bond chemically with the concrete, it is easy to achieve a wide range of colors and hues with different extents of opacity. But in the case of acid stains, metallic salts in them chemically bind with the concrete and so, either additional colors can be added to the existing concrete to achieve a new tone or another layer of concrete can be added to create new shades of color.

Although sealants are considered essential for providing robustness to polished floors, conventional floor polishing is not dependent solely on sealing to give a high-gloss finish. The glossiness of a polished concrete floor is calibrated by measuring the amount of light it reflects and hence, light reflected from sealants covering cracks and flaws might not provide a correct picture of the actual sheen of the concrete floor. When the concrete is subject to right amounts of grinding and abrasions with correct grits, the material by itself is prone to produce shine and brightness, hence sealants are not always necessary.

For regions with high rainfall or snow, the most trusted flooring solution is a concrete polished floor. Polished floors are extremely sturdy and resistant to spillage. Through the Grind and Seal (G&S) process, a concrete floor is sealed with a safe coating on top prior to polishing. This process ensures that the surface becomes impregnable to moisture and liquids. Hence, a polished concrete floor is not only waterproof but also extremely glossy with high resistance to injuries. Because it is waterproof, it can also be cleaned easily with a wet mop.

The ability to absorb stains and oils depends on the fact whether a concrete floor has been properly densified and sealed. The polishing of the floor by itself does not remove stain. It is imperative that the surface is cleaned immediately after oil spillage. Also, before the process of grinding and polishing, the concrete surface is required to be degreased and cleaned thoroughly to remove any oil marks. This ensures that visible stains are not left behind, and the polishing can commence smoothly.

The benefits of polished concrete are many:

• Polished concrete is very tough and resistant to damages. It can endure high foot traffic and heavy pressure without any scratching or chipping.
• Due to its high durability, polished concrete has a lifespan of 20 years or more. Moreover, it requires little to no maintenance.
• Its an affordable way to beautify your floor and can be easily cleaned by just sweeping and wet mopping.
• It does not involve the use of any dangerous chemicals. Hence, it is eco-friendly and safe for use.

Due to great thermal properties, polished concrete is ideal for a radiant floor heating system

Although the floor of choice for many residential and commercial set-ups, mainly because of its durability and resilience, a polished concrete floor is prone to damages due to heavy impact or hefty things dragged across it. Concrete floors are naturally subject to spalling over time. For minor cracks or fissures, filling the joints or caulking is enough to repair the concrete. But for larger damages, troweled mortar or rigid joint fillers becomes essential to repair them. After the filling of the cracks or joints, the polished floor can be re-polished and even re-stained as required.

One of the best advantages of polished concrete floors apart from its durability is that it is very easy to maintain. The little maintenance it requires is mainly to retain the high shine and brightness of the surface. Polished concrete floors require no waxing and they can be easily cleaned by sweeping to remove dirt and grime as well as wet mopping with water. It is recommended to use appropriate floor cleaners for wet mopping as well as soft floor cleaning pads in order to maintain the quality and shine. Although the cleaning routine depends on how much foot traffic the polished floor endures, regular cleaning is essential to maintain its sturdiness and gloss. It is also recommended to wipe of stains, oils and other spillages immediately.

The skidding or slipping properties of a polished concrete surface depends on the method used for the polishing. Mechanically Polished Surface (MPS) is inherently anti-slip, but like any other hard surfaces, it becomes slippery when wet. Therefore, for wet areas and outdoor commercial settings, it is recommended to use the Grind and Seal (G&S) or the Honed method of polishing. The Honed finish is intrinsically anti-slip while the G&S method uses an anti-slip agent added to the sealant during polishing. The amount of anti-slip can be tailored depending on the requirement. Sometimes epoxy coatings can reduce the ‘slip’ factor of a polished concrete surface.

Polished concrete is fast becoming the flooring of choice for many residential as well as commercial settings. A polished concrete floor is very strong and can endure high pressure and heavy foot traffic. It is resilient and quite immune to easy damages. It does not stain easily and requires low maintenance. Because of its sturdiness, cracking or chipping is a near impossibility and hence, it has a long lifespan. Because of a robust polishing method, a concrete polished floor is highly resistant to scratching.

Due to their hardness, concrete floors have a low shock absorbing power hence, long-term usage can lead to mild to severe health issues. Standing, running or jumping on concrete floor can lead to pain in the feet, ankles and knees which in turn affects muscles of the back and the hip and can lead to long-lasting damages. Repeated strain on the legs, calves and the hip muscles can cause degeneration of the knee and hip joints leading to permanent painful conditions like arthritis. Accidental falling on a concrete floor can lead to fractures. Muscle soreness and mild back pain are less severe impacts of concrete floors. Sometimes skin rashes and irritations may develop due to repeated exposure to cement and other materials in the concrete.

Of all the kinds of flooring that are commonly used, a polished concrete floor is the easiest to maintain and clean. In fact, it is a low-cost maintenance option and hence, eliminates the expenses of replacement in the long run. Due to its durability and resilience, concrete floors can take heavy impacts and are resistant to easy damage. For cleaning, it simply requires sweeping to remove surface dirt and grime and wet mopping with water or appropriate floor cleaners to retain its shine and lustre. It does not stain easily and hence, just wiping off any spillage like oil or colored liquid is enough to clean it.

The cost of setting up a polished concrete floor depends on the method used for polishing. Different methods impart different properties to the concrete like hardiness, low permeability, anti-slip, damage proofing, etc. The lowest price for a typical polished concrete floor is under $25 per square meter. But the ballpark figure for a Grind and Seal finish is around $50 per square meter. A Honed finish costs more which is approximately $75 per square meter. Mechanically Polished Floors are the most expensive with an average per square meter cost of about $100 or more.