Polished Concrete Toppings
Flooring can be one of the biggest budget-busters on a major project, regardless of whether your property is residential or commercial. Everyone wants their flooring to stand out for its durability, beauty, and cost-effectiveness. Polished concrete floors lend themselves well to these three attributes, which explains why so many properties are making use of this wonderful technique.
Why would you want to choose a polished concrete floor? You can take a look at a few of these prominent reasons why polished concrete is growing in popularity.
Low-Maintenance
Is there any type of flooring that requires less maintenance than concrete? Wood floors will scratch and dent easily, and they are finicky about their daily care. Tile floors require consistent scrubbing to keep both the tile and the grout lines clean. A polished concrete floor requires none of this extra work.
Concrete doesn’t easily absorb stains or abrade at the lightest dusting of sand and dirt. All property owners will need to do is sweep the floors clean and then mop them. Depending on your finish, a wax or sealer may need to be applied periodically throughout the year. Overall, concrete saves plenty of time and energy compared to more high-maintenance flooring products.
Durable
Most individuals would agree that a durable floor is one of the must-have qualities on any project. It should be able to stand up to daily wear and tear, as well as the unexpected. Polished concrete will not scratch or dent under normal conditions. This type of flooring is far more resilient than many other types.
In fact, that’s why polished concrete is one of the top choices for warehouses or garages. It can withstand the pressure and the traction of heavy-duty equipment with ease. Forklifts won’t pose a problem on a polished concrete floor. If these heavy machines can manage to leave concrete unscathed, the daily wear and tear of walking on polished concrete will have almost no effect at all.
Consider that polished concrete will very rarely chip, even when heavy objects are dropped. The durability of a tough concrete floor is one of the major reasons that it’s selected for a project.
Radiant Heat
Is your project located in one of the coldest areas of the region? If so, you may want to consider installing a radiant heating system into your poured concrete slab. These systems can deliver heat through infrared radiation or through hydronic systems where the tubes and wires run directly through the subfloor. Radiant heating can make selecting the right flooring product a little more challenging.
Concrete can easily be polished directly over top of a radiant heating system. Your project can enjoy the benefits of additional heat in an allergen-friendly and beautiful environment.
Design Choices
Perhaps the largest benefit of polished concrete is the wide array of colors and styles you can choose from. Gone are the days when basic gray concrete was the only option for budget-conscious properties and projects. Today, project managers and interior designers can select from an endless assortment of shades and sheens. Consider getting creative with a contemporary twist on neutrals such as navy blue or acid-washed white.
The colors relatively infinite, and property owners can also choose from an assortment of textures. Your polished concrete can be smooth and high-gloss. Alternatively, you can etch the surface of the concrete for a more weathered appearance. When it comes to design choices, polished concrete gives you plenty of options to make your next project truly come to life.
Repairs Old Damage
If you’re renovating an older property, there’s really no telling what the concrete will look like underneath the floor covering. Once you rip it up, you may find stained concrete covered in cracks and holes. The surface may be drastically etched, rendering it almost impossible to install a different floor covering. Fortunately, adding a polished concrete topper can undo much of this damage.
Much like polishing regular concrete, a polished topper can give you a similar effect but with a greater guarantee of the quality. Polished toppers are still a cost-effective way to achieve the same endless variety of design choices, including the beautiful and durable look of natural concrete.
Speed
Most project managers face a pretty strict timeline to complete a specific property. Installing, sanding, and finishing wood floors can add weeks onto a timeline. If your project needs to get moving faster than that, polished concrete could be the way to go.
It takes very little time for a qualified company to polish pre-existing concrete. Even polished concrete toppers can be poured one day and polished the next.
Fire and Water Resistant
In the event of a major disaster such as a fire, you want to make sure that your project will survive to the best of its ability. One of the inherent advantages of a polished concrete floor is that is rather flame-retardant. Unlike other types of flooring that may go up in smoke at the first sign of flames, concrete is significantly more resistant to the excess heat that a fire can generate.
Concrete floors can also stand up better to excess moisture like flooding. While it may absorb some water during a flood, it isn’t likely to be completely destroyed like many other floor coverings would be. Opting for a polished concrete floor is a great way to protect your investment long-term.
Choosing a polished concrete floor may seem like the obvious choice in many situations. It comes with a host of inherent benefits that make it ideal floor covering for residential and commercial applications. Polished concrete is a cost-effective solution that provides a long-lasting and beautiful floor covering to influence the overall design of your property.
If you’ve been interested in what a polished concrete floor could offer your next project, be sure to contact TCF West. This can give you the peace of mind that your job will be done with excellence.
