Concrete Polishing: All That You Need To Know

Concrete flooring is the most eco-friendly flooring system when compared with other flooring options such as stones, marble, vinyl, and timber. Although archaeological studies suggest that concrete usage for flooring began thousands of years ago, yet it gained its current popularity around the beginning of the twentieth century. Finding the right company to carry out the concrete polishing work on your floor is important, here are useful tips for hiring a general contractor.

However, this does not pose a clear picture as to why you should be opting for a concrete flooring system, in the first place.

First Things First, Why Concrete Flooring?

Concrete is the most extensively used material in any of the building structures. Using the material used in the foundation eliminates the need for installing other materials on tops of it such as wood, granite, marble, or vinyl.

Furthermore, concrete flooring offers a greener energy-efficient solution to the structure. Several studies have revealed concrete’s efficacy in heat retention. It heats up pretty quickly but cools down slowly. Thus supporting a warmer ambient temperature for long. Especially, in places where temperatures fall freezing low.

Another benefit of having a concrete flooring system is its resistance to moulding. Since concrete is non-porous, it does not retain moisture, which is essential for mould development. Apart from this, concrete is also resistant to dust mites and allergens. All of these properties of concrete are meant to improve the hygiene at your home, keeping unwanted diseases at bay. It is noteworthy that these properties of concrete strongly depend upon its structure and constituent aggregates.

Having said that, there are many other benefits of concrete flooring such as fire resistance, and high durability. But, it is primarily the aesthetics of concrete floors that make them a considerable option. So much so, that polished ones can offer high levels of light reflectance, depending upon the level of sheen. Finely polished concrete floors can offer similar shine and lustre as compared to marble and granite floors.

How Do You Get The Perfect Finish?

Concrete floors can be polished either using a wet method or a dry one. Both of these methods hold their own set of advantages. But, the latter one is growing more popular due to its lower impact on the environment.

Wet polishing reduces the friction between the abraders and the concrete. This helps achieve a longer life for the abrasives used for polishing. Wet polishing creates slurry which needs to be disposed of in a safe environment. The experts suggest using dry polishing, as it creates minute dust particles which can be collected using a vacuum attachment with the polishing tool.

Initially, polishing concrete floors requires coarse-grit abraders to be used. The fineness of the abraders is gradually increased ranging from 30 to up to 1500, or sometimes 3000, depending upon the level of sheen desired. Whether you choose to do it yourself or hire a polished concrete specialist to polish your concrete floor, maintaining grit level is utterly necessary.

Moreover, with the help of the same grinding tools, varying textures and patterns can also be achieved, if needed. And if you wish to add colours to your floor, you can also opt for staining dyes or floor paint.

What Are The Pros and Cons of Polished Concrete Floors?

Polished concrete floors have several advantages and disadvantages that you should consider if you’re thinking of installing them in your home or business.

Pros:

1. Durability: Polished concrete is extremely strong and resilient. It can withstand the pressure from heavy foot traffic and equipment, making it ideal for commercial spaces and busy households.
2. Aesthetics: Many find polished concrete floors to be visually appealing due to their high-gloss finish, which can give spaces a modern and sophisticated look.
3. Cost-Effectiveness: They are generally cheaper to install compared to many other flooring options, and their longevity means reduced replacement costs over time.
4. Eco-Friendly: Polished concrete is often considered an eco-friendly flooring option because it can utilize the existing concrete slab, reducing the need for additional materials.
5. Easy Maintenance: These floors are easy to clean and require minimal upkeep. They resist stains and do not harbor dust, mold, or allergens.

Cons:

1. Hardness: The hard surface can be uncomfortable to stand on for long periods and can be unforgiving when items are dropped on it.
2. Moisture: If not properly sealed, polished concrete can be susceptible to moisture from the ground beneath, which can lead to problems with mold and mildew in some cases.
3. Coldness: Concrete floors can be cold underfoot, which might not be ideal in colder climates unless combined with radiant floor heating systems.
4. Slippery When Wet: Polished concrete can become slippery when wet, which can be a hazard if not treated with a non-slip finish.
5. Imperfections: Since it involves polishing the existing concrete slab, any cracks, chips, or imperfections will be visible unless repaired before polishing. Some may find the industrial look less appealing and a little harsh.

What Are The Necessary Items You’ll Need?

Concrete polishing, as already mentioned, is preferably carried out dry. So, is it just the abraders that you need to polish your floor? Absolutely not! To achieve a perfectly lustrous finish for your concrete floor, here are some of the necessary items you should be renting or sourcing.

• Polishing Machine

For starters, you’ll need a polishing machine. It is similar to the ones used for grinding and polishing stone and marble floorings. And depending upon the type of polishing method you use, you may need to attach a source of water, for wet polishing, or a vacuum and collection chamber, for dry polishing.

• Diamond Abraders of Varying Grits

A grinding tool without abraders is of no use at all. To be able to polish your concrete floor, you’ll need diamond abraders, akin to sandpaper. And that too with varying grit fineness. Starting from the coarsest ones, you’ll need to install the finest grit abraders, gradually in order to achieve the desired shine and lustre.

• Epoxy Resins or Grout for Repairing Cracks

If your floor is in good condition, you can start away with your polishing regime as such. But, in case your floor has cracks or uneven surface an additional layer of grout or epoxy resins compatible with concrete may need to be applied.

• Staining Dyes or Floor Paint

In case you wish for a floor with certain colour hints, you can use water-based staining dyes or floor paints. Both of these chemicals have their advantages. While the floor paint is cheaper, it fades or peels off with time. On the contrary, dye-based stainers offer permanent tint to the floor, along with a plethora of design options to choose from.

By now, you may have realized that it requires a certain level of skill to polish a concrete floor. Therefore, it is best left with the professionals. But, this poses another question- how do you find an expert? Read on to learn how you can hire one.

How do you find the right contractor?

Finding the right contractor to polish your concrete floor is easier than what it takes to polishing your floor yourself. Here are some tips that you can use to find the right prospect for the job.

• Ask for Recommendations

The easiest way to start with your hunt is to ask your friends or relatives if they know any trustworthy contractor. Additionally, you can also surf the internet to search for more contractors that operate within your area. If you live in Houston, you should have no difficulty in finding numerous concrete polishing contractors. From experienced concrete leveling Houston professionals to reliable concrete grinding contractors, your search should bear some amazing results.

• Cross Check Their License

Once you have a list of possible contractors, make sure you sort the ones that hold a legit license to be working as a contractor. This would help you save a lot in terms of taxes, as well as, offer additional benefits such as regular maintenance and repairs in future.

• Enquire About Their Level of Expertise

Another important factor to ensure that you hire only the best is to recognize their level of expertise. For example, a contractor that holds years of experience in polished concrete floors is certainly a better prospect as compared to a young one.

• Tally Their Price Quote with Your Budget

By now, your list of prospects must have reduced to half of when you started your hunt. Now, you can start contacting them and enquire about how much they’ll be charging you. This is essential as you wouldn’t want to be spending a fortune when you are on a limited budget. Of course, hiring the one that costs you least and offers you the best possible services should be your ideal choice.

In the end, it’s your call. You’ve gone through the reasons you should be choosing a concrete floor and how you can get a perfectly shining one, hopefully, you’ll consider opting for a greener tomorrow.

FAQs

How To Polish Concrete Floors Yourself?

Polishing concrete floors yourself is a project that requires patience and a bit of elbow grease, but the result can be incredibly satisfying.

Start by ensuring your concrete is clean and free from any previous coatings or sealants. You may need to use a diamond abrasive or a specialized tool for coating removal if necessary.

Rent a concrete grinder from your local hardware store, and begin with a coarse grit to gradually smooth the surface.

Work your way up through progressively finer grits until you achieve the desired level of smoothness. Between passes, vacuum up any dust and debris to keep the area clean. After grinding, apply a concrete hardener to densify the surface, which will help achieve a high-gloss finish if that’s what you’re after.

Finally, use a polishing compound and a high-speed burnishing machine to give your floor that mirror-like shine. Remember, the key is to take your time and move systematically across the floor to ensure an even, professional-looking finish.