Polished concrete floors have been around for a long time. There’s archaeological evidence of polished concrete floors that may have existed before around 7000 BC, in the City of Jericho. Researchers found several levels of concrete in the city from settlements that predated Jericho—one of those layers was a polished concrete floor.
This story is a testament both to the ingenuity of early humans and the longevity of polished concrete. The modern story of polished concrete, however, begins in the 20th century.
The Early Days Of Polished Concrete
Concrete as a building material for flooring and walls started to see widespread use in the 1950s with the rise of mid-century modern architecture, but it typically wasn’t polished. The techniques we see today—diamond grinding floors to be smooth and reflective—weren’t popularized until the 1990s, and only really started taking off in the 2000s.
In some sense, we’re still in the early days of polished concrete flooring; the industry is quite young. In the last 25 years or so, however, we’ve come a long way.
Back in the day, companies would put together equipment used by stone polishers, the surface preparation industry, and the cleaning industry—all in an effort to create a machine that could polish concrete floors. Industry professionals “MacGyvered” together tools to make the process work; today, we have specialized tools designed for our industry.
Let’s take a look at how we’ve advanced:
Technological Advancements In Polished Concrete
When it comes to concrete polishing, everything has changed. Here are a few examples:
- Diamond technology is constantly being improved. We use different matrices to hold the diamonds, different sizes and shapes for the diamonds, different levels of diamond exposure, and much more—all for varied types of concrete polishing. There are dozens of different types of diamond polish pads available.
- Densifiers have changed drastically; they used to be used to eliminate concrete dust from unpolished concrete floors, but they’re now specifically designed to improve the concrete polishing process.
- The grinders themselves are now designed for the industry; there are dozens of different brands—all with different grinders that can be used on an assortment of floors. They’re easier to handle, offer more sustained contact with the floor, and are more adjustable than ever.
Aesthetic Innovations In Polished Concrete
Thanks to the improvements in polished concrete technology, we’ve made incredible aesthetic innovations. Modern concrete grinding techniques, combined with the use of the right densifiers and pads, allow us to create satin, matte, and high gloss finishes. We can also expose more or less aggregate, add dyes and stains for colour, and even create custom patterns in your polished concrete floors.
Modern concrete floors have incredible aesthetic appeal; using a unique combination of techniques, dyes, and more, you can fully customize your polished concrete floor.
Durability Improvements In Polished Concrete
Improved techniques mean improved durability. Thanks to our years of experience polishing concrete floors, there are fewer defects—and that means your polished concrete flooring will last longer than ever.
The Future Of Polished Concrete
Today, there’s a laser focus on sustainability; polished concrete plays an important role in sustainable construction. Polished concrete isn’t manufactured—existing materials are worked. Modern densifiers are more eco-friendly, and glossy polished concrete floors reduce the need for lighting by reflecting the light within a room.
The Eneref Institute published a detailed report on polished concrete flooring and sustainability. As we look toward the future of the industry, we see our calling—to become more sustainable, more durable, and more affordable.
Conclusion
At TCF West, we’re proud of our role in the history of polished concrete—but our eyes are always set toward the future. We’ll continue to innovate and expand the boundaries of what polished concrete floors can do, just as we have since 1989.
Interested in polished concrete in Winnipeg? Call us today.
