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.
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