If you’ve never heard of polished concrete floors, then pay attention because they are becoming a very popular flooring choice in all types of homes. Don’t think just grey either – there are a range of colours and finishes to fit with the interior of your home. You’ve probably already thought of lots of questions about concrete in the home, so hopefully here are some answers:
The floors are diamond ground before being treated with a special chemical to densify it. Diamond polishing equipment designed with polishing pads for concrete use. Due to the cool nature of the substance, it is often fitted with underfloor heating systems at the same time. They are normally 100mm in thickness and ideally installed at the beginning of a project, although retrofitting is possible.
The benefits of this type of flooring in the home include the fact that is highly durable and hardwearing, super easy to keep clean, offers the ideal natural backing for décor and will not suffer from dust mites. It’s perfect for supplying a seamless transition between the exterior and interior, although it will suffer from weathering outside. Any damage can be treated with repolishing.
One negative point is its hardness. If you drop something or trip, it’s not going to be very forgiving. You might also find it cold underfoot but that’s why it tends to be installed with underfloor heating.
During its lifespan you can sometimes find tiny, hairline cracks beginning to form. It could also appear lighter around the edges than in middle. A certain amount of maintenance is required, and the floor will most likely need to be resealed as time goes on. There are stain removal products and aftercare treatments available.
This is definitely not a DIY project. You’ll need a specialist who has the right skills, tools and experience to complete the job. For Polished Concrete Flooring professionals, visit http://www.monstermixconcrete.co.uk/concrete-floors.php
The technique most often employed is known as the ‘flooded bay’ method. The space is filled with concrete, then levelled with a laser, rakes, screeding equipment and bull floats. During the next few hours the concrete is further flattened and levelled with the use of power and hand floats.
The last stage of levelling is done by hand or power trowel which allows the cement paste to rise to the top where it can harden into a shine. How long this process takes is dependent on the ambient temperature and weather conditions.
The polishing and sealing of the concrete floor must occur within one month of it being laid. Polishing can be done by buffing with a scrubbing machine or a diamond polish to bring out a really great sheen. For the ultimate shiny floor, diamond-encrusted buffing pads are available. Once the floor has been buffed to perfection, it will need to be sealed. An effective sealant that still allows the concrete to breathe is the preferred product to use.