Polished concrete flooring has become popular in the world of commercial and domestic flooring. With a luxurious appearance, color stained polished concrete floors are often applauded by people. Easy to maintain, polished concrete floor is becoming the primary choice for many garages these days. However, easy maintenance does not mean maintenance free. Here are some tips about their maintenance.

Although polished concrete floors require minimal effort, some regular care is necessary. A proper and regular maintenance routine greatly extends its life and beauty. A simple maintenance procedure can make you polished concrete floor appearing clean and bright instead of oil stained and grimy.

Generally the maintenance routine can be organized two types, one being the regular cleaning and maintaining the polish and the other is concrete repairing which is required occasionally.

When it comes to cleaning and polish maintenance, the process is similar for almost every floor type. Sweep the floor with a dust mop or a vacuum, preferably daily.

Stain removing can be avoided largely if the spill is wiped instantly. Nevertheless you can use light detergents to remove the stains. Be cautious in choosing the detergents, as strong and acidic detergents will harm the concrete polish. Especially if you have color stained floors, as strong acidic detergents may fade the color.

Avoid scrubbing as concrete is porous and concrete dust may occur, however if inevitable gentle scrubbing shall be observed. When mopping the floor always use a light detergent with the prescribed ratio, twice a week or depending upon the usage of floor. This enables the polish to maintain its original shine and the floor appears clean and bright.

Adapting simple methods prevents the polished concrete floors from fading and losing its shine. The next part is specific for concrete floors and requires speedy attention when occurs.

Repairing cracks; although happens after some time, however must be repaired immediately to maintain a structurally sound surface.

Sealing joints; ensure this to minimize water intrusion. This will also eliminate any dirt collection in the joints.

Sealing concrete; this provides a protection from the dust. The surface remains dust free and floor does not fade quickly, especially if you have color stained floor.

Polishing concrete floors every 6 to 10 months also increases the life and durability of the concrete floors. This provides a professional clean to the surface.

Following these simple procedure will provide concrete floor polishing a long lasting impression with durability.

Concrete polisher provides an instant facelift to your concrete floors. Free from dirt and stains, a shiny polished concrete floor appears attractive and clean. In fact, nowadays polished concrete flooring is becoming the first choice for commercial as well as domestic flooring.

Most floor makeovers produce an attractive finish but some raise concerns like cost effectiveness and inconvenience. The concrete polisher provides an eye catching solution to both these concerns.

The process of concrete polishing is simple. It begins with the use of a metallic matrix fused with grainy diamond segments. These segments are coarse and are used to remove various stains, pits and other substances from the floor. This is the initial rough grinding. It helps in preparing the floor for final smoothing. Using diamond abrasives embedded in a plastic of resin matrix for fine grinding the concrete surface is the next step. A process calling ‘lapping’, disks of finer grits are used for achieving preferred gleam. Depending upon the condition of the floor, experienced concrete polishing crew determines which finer grit to switch on and finally concrete floor polishing is done. You can use a commercial polishing compound to give the floor a bit more shine.

There are two methods for concrete floor polishing. First is the wet process in which water is used to cool the diamond abrasives and eliminate the grinding dust. Its drawback is the mess and the crew must collect the slurry that is produced, which slows the process. The other is dry polishing, which requires no water. Machines with dust-contained systems are used in this method. An experienced concrete polisher typically uses a combination of both these methods.

Polished concrete can be made even more attractive by adding color stains. Although concrete staining is not a new technology yet it combines beauty and functionality exceptionally. Staining provides a luxurious richness to the polished concrete floor by leaving behind, flake-proof color.

Stamped concrete is yet another option where resemblance to brick, state, flagstone, stone, tile and even wood can be easily achieved. However stamped concrete is recommended for outdoor use.

It’s a common understanding that concrete does have some inherent drawbacks. However that’s the case with any other flooring material as well. The truth is that many of the drawbacks are easy to overcome and the positives of polished concrete flooring outweigh the negatives by far.

The conventional drab and grey cemented or concrete floors can be brought back to life by treating them with concrete floor finishes. Concrete floor finishing has a key role in giving the area a much more attractive look. Beside the furniture, wall colors and décor, it is the concrete floor that can intensify the beauty of the room.

The purpose of the concrete floor finishes is also to add color to the old, worn out floor as well as protect it from any damage such as cracks and furrows caused due to water permeation, discoloration caused to due to food and oil spillage, and add strength and durability to it.

There are various types of concrete flooring finishes available which cover the floor and make it both decorative and functional. The common ones include chemical coloring, stamping, scoring and concrete waxing and sealing.

Chemical coloring or staining is one of the most versatile and creative finishes especially prepared for reviving concrete floors. Colors that match with the interior are applied on the concrete floor with the help of brushes or rollers. It sticks well on the floor and after drying, the floor looks far more attractive. All the cracks and dark spots will be concealed. A drawback with this type of finish is that exposure to other chemicals, weathering and leaching can damage the floor.

In scoring, shallow cuts are made on the concrete floor using a special circular saw or abrasive masonry blades. The tools is then dipped into liquid colors and is swirled on the concrete floor in a manner so as to impress patterns of leaves, flowers, abstract and geometric designs onto it. The cuts are the size of one eighth of an inch, which does not allow any clogging of dirt particles.

When stamped, the ordinary concrete floor gives the look of brick, wooden, marble or ceramic tile floor. The especially designed stamping tools serve to imprint different textures and patterns on the cemented floors.

The application of wax on the regular concrete floor can bring shine and smoothness to it. Likewise, sealing is also done to hide and cracks and spots and add sheen to the cemented floor. Oftentimes, a colorant is also blended with it so as to bring out the same features as of staining.

Concrete floor coating not only increases the durability and life span of the floor but also make it more attractive. The floor of basement and garages are usually made of concrete which, due to its lifelessness keeps the owners stay away from the room. Also, it decreases the monetary value of the house.

In order to bring the garage and basement back to use, house owners prefer to coat the cemented floor as a cheap alternative. Coating also protects the floor from cracking, leaching, stains, dirt, chemicals, oil, grease etc.

There are a number of concrete floor coatings available of which the popular ones are the latex paint coatings, epoxy coatings, urethane floor coating and liquid granite coatings. There are a number of brands which offer high quality floor coatings, notably Daytona tiles, Floortrax garage tiles, Swisstrax garage tiles, Diamondtrax garage flooring tiles, Ribtrax garage flooring tiles. For each brand, the pricing is different.

In latex paint coating, the concrete floor is painted or stained with water based colors that match the walls and ceilings. A combination of two or more colors when applied on the floor in various patterns can make the floor look very modern and funky. The latex paints offer the cheapest form of coating. A drawback is that, after a year or so, the paint starts peeling off and re-application becomes necessary.

The epoxy concrete floor coating is an inexpensive, reliable and extensively used type of floor varnish. It is easy to apply on the floor. Epoxy coated floors add strength to the concrete floor and make it resistant to stains, chemicals and sliding. The floor adds natural gloss to the floor which is similar to that of a polished floor. The epoxy paint comes in various colors and adds more beauty to the ordinary concrete floor when applied in geometric or abstract patterns. Unlike the regular floors which require a detergent and mop for cleaning, the epoxy coated floor can be cleaned with only one wipe of wet muslin cloth. The price is a little higher as compared to latex paint coating.

The liquid granite cemented floor coating is also becoming popular. It gives the floor a shiny and renewed finish. It acts as a concealer for the damaged or cracked up floor. A smooth coat of the liquid granite makes the floor look fresh, neat and novel. It is similar to epoxy coating in function and offers a permanent solution for the concrete floor coating. It is however expensive than the two choices mentioned above but the investment is worth the benefit.

When thinking about concrete floor coatings, what comes to mind are epoxy concrete floor coating and latex paint coating. The underlying reason is that the two types of floor coatings are inexpensive and usually do not require the assistance of a professional painter for installation.

Usually, it is the garage which does not undergo renovation as often as the rest of the house or building. From the outside paint to inside interior, the furniture, wall paint, flooring and cabinets go through changes and the new look makes the house or office more attractive and increases the property value. The garage often serves the same purpose as of the store room where old clothes, bicycles, ladders, cupboards, tables, chairs, repairing tools and brooms are kept. Also it is area which acts as a workshop for repairing electrical or mechanical appliances. The automobiles or motorcycles are parked inside the garage. Usually, a garage is that part of the house which is visited less often.

The floor of the garage is usually made of concrete, which adds flatness to the already boring room. A little attention can bring the garage back to life and can be used as place for carrying out various hobbies and fun activities. For this, the ugly and dull concrete floor needs to be given a decent finish. Various kinds of concrete floor coatings are available of which the latex paint and epoxy floor coatings are lower priced and come with long lasting benefits.

The latex paint is usually formulated for applying on the regular concrete floor. It is available in a wide range of colors and it is wise to choose that color which gives the garage a bright look. Light colors are usually painted as they make the garage look spacious whereas dark colors give the room a crowded look. This paint is either water based or solvent based. The water based concrete floor coating is commonly used as it is easy to clean and safe for kids whereas the solvent based coating is composed of chemicals which could be dangerous to health. It is the cheapest form of floor coating.

The concrete epoxy floor coatings are more common nowadays because they not only offer convenience of installation but also make the floor strong and durable. The property of epoxy to resist the effect of strong chemicals, stains of oil and grease and tire marks and also protect the floor from water seepage. The luster it adds to the floor looks very appealing. Usually shiny floors are slippery, which is not the case with epoxy floors as they are slip resistant. The epoxy coated floor is easy to maintain and clean. From the functions it performs, the coating sounds expensive whereas in actual fact, even a person with a low to mid range salary can purchase it within their means.

Polished concrete floors are a good option for anyone who wants a surface that which is low maintenance as well as durable and long lasting. The areas ideal for polished concrete flooring include showrooms, super markets, schools, restaurants, hospitals etc. This is because polished concrete, apart from being aesthetically pleasing, is resistant to wear and tear, stains, and spills and hence can withstand the abuse of everyday life. The high reflectivity of concrete makes it a good option for office buildings, hotels, restaurants as it projects a bright clean professional image.

Within the house, they are suitable for bathrooms, kitchens and living areas. Concrete can withstand almost any weather condition and can run right out in to the garden. Polished concrete in fact has many advantages over the popular wood deck as the latter requires a lot of maintenance work. Polished concrete flooring is a cheaper alternative as compared to other ways of flooring like granite and marble.

Before investing in concrete floor polishing, think about the end results and the look it will provide. If you want a flawlessly consistent floor, then polished concrete is not a good option as polishing will cause the natural qualities of concrete to show and this will provide rustic looking results while showing the imperfections. The imperfections can be cracks or uneven concrete. Therefore if you want to have polished concrete in the house, then make sure the floor will go with the area and fit the character of the space.

A polished concrete floor is more durable compared to traditional floor coverings and only requires a weekly mop with warm soapy water. It does not need to be waxed or coated regularly. Polished concrete floor needs to be refinished once every five to ten years and after it is, service or traffic can restart on the surface almost immediately.

Almost any concrete floor can get polished and attain that high degree of shine that is similar to polished marble or granite. Polishing concrete floors is usually a job that is best to a professional, but with the right equipment and a lot of stamina, it can become a do-it-yourself project.

For concrete floor polishing, you will require a planetary grinding and polishing machine. This is available for rent on the market on a daily or weekly basis. As they will be used up in the process, you will need to buy diamond grinding wheels. The machine is not capable of polishing in corners and along edges, for that you will have to use a right angle hand grinder with diamond disks. Before applying the polish, the floor needs to be cleaned first using a strong solution of butyl cleaner/ degreaser and the cracks and the holes need to be filled with an epoxy concrete patch.

If you have decided to get rid of those nasty spots and stains from your garage then concrete floor paint will be the best option for you. You may have to look for certain things before you decide on any paint and the following tips will help you in making the right selection.

The first thing to know about garage floor paint is that you can easily add coats of this paint onto your regular floors. Concrete is a very tough material and the best quality about it is that you can add as many layers of paints as you want. This will boost the strength of the material and will protect it from oil, grease and other pollutants. Of all the materials used as concrete paints, epoxy takes the lead given its great strength and ease of use.

It has made painting concrete floors easier given its simple methods of use. All you have to do is to apply one or two coats of this paint on your garage floor and let it dry. It will provide you with years of protection against those nasty stains and grease spots. The only problem faced by customers looking for these paints is that they are not aware of the best paint for their garage. They end up buying brands that are not good for their garages and other floors. It is therefore necessary that you purchase paints with the best tensile strength and other capabilities.

The first thing to look for before you actually opt for painted garage floors is the type of epoxy that is suitable for your place. This assessment is not that difficult to make. It is advised that you do not buy 100% solid based epoxy paint. This recommendation is based on the fact that it requires significant mastery to use this paint in your garage. This type of paint is only good for industrial units. You are left with two other options. You can either opt for water-based or solvent-based paints. Either of them will be good for your garage. These paints generally come in the concentration of 50%. Both of these concrete floor paints require a maximum of two coats on an average garage floor though you can add a third coating for maximum effect.

Prices are another factor that you can look for while planning your concrete floor painting. The encouraging factor is that prices are quite affordable. Concentration of epoxy, brand name and application procedures determine the prices. You can opt for a product that offers you the ease of use and has at least 50% solids blended with water or solvents. A little research will help you make the right selection and it will hardly take a few hours to complete the paint job.