When you need a long-lasting, durable floor, polished concrete fits the bill. This flooring type requires little maintenance, stands up to nearly any conditions, and saves you money on constant floor repairs and replacements. Polished concrete flooring offers many benefits to high-traffic areas, such as buildings like:
- Processing facilities
- Manufacturing plants
- Shopping centers
- Warehouses
Polished concrete floors have some downsides, though concrete floor installation professionals know how to navigate these. In any environment, you want to install a new floor, learn about the pros and cons of a polished concrete floor.
Pros of Polished Concrete Flooring
Some of the many benefits of polished concrete floors include the following:
High Durability
Polished concrete flooring stands up to heavy use, extreme weight, and substantial pressure. Damage that may occur to untreated concrete surfaces, like chipping, cracking, and crumbling, doesn’t happen to polished concrete floors. Because of its high durability, polished concrete floors can withstand everything from high heels to 18-wheeler trucks.
Long Lifetime
With the proper maintenance and upkeep, polished concrete surfaces can last for decades. Floor surfaces on untreated concrete slabs, natural wood, or vinyl damage easily, requiring frequent repairs or new flooring installation.
Easy Maintenance
Caring for a polished concrete floor makes life easier since the material resists many issues in other flooring types. The flooring may need new concrete polish, sealing, or waxing every so often to renew its protective layer, typically every two to five years. Otherwise, use a dust mop to keep dirt and debris from accumulating and mop away spills, scuff marks, or smudges.
Affordable
Whether you want to polish your existing floor’s concrete or install a new concrete slab, polished concrete floors remain one of the most cost-effective flooring options. Polishing a current floor may run as low as $2 a square foot, while new installations can cost as much as $30 a square foot. While the initial cost seems high, the easy maintenance and durability lead to years of savings in floor repairs and replacements.
Highly Sanitary
So long as you have a proper seal on your concrete, spills won’t damage the floor. Fluids, powders, and other substances won’t permeate through your concrete’s seal. Besides resistance to spills, this also makes clean-up more manageable and thorough than different flooring types.
Easily Adaptable
Because polished concrete floors work well in many types of environments, you may choose to add a coating for extra adaptation to your specific use. For example:
- Slip-resistant coatings that add texture for better traction
- Chemical-resistant coatings to protect against alkalines, acids, or other chemical corrosion
- Static-resistant coatings to save sensitive electrical equipment from static electricity buildup
Cons of Polished Concrete Flooring
While polished concrete floors offer many benefits, some drawbacks include the following:
Hard Flooring
Other flooring types give just enough underfoot to create a more comfortable walking environment. A polished concrete floor doesn’t provide cushioning for standing, walking, falling, or tripping. Anti-fatigue mats help staff members or visitors feel more comfortable if they spend a lot of time on your floor.
Poor Heat Retainment
Like ceramic or natural stone flooring, polished concrete doesn’t retain heat, making the floor and its surroundings feel colder than other floors. Embedding heating cables into your floor can combat this and become a new source of heat that may use less energy than traditional forced air heating systems.
Requires Proper Seal
To maintain durability and moisture resistance, polished concrete requires proper sealing and finishing. Improperly sealed floors stay vulnerable to moisture, allowing bacteria, mold, and other moisture-related problems to fester and spread throughout your building. In addition, faulty concrete seals weaken your concrete and may cause cracking or crumbling on your floor.
Requires Correct Concrete Type
While you can polish your existing concrete floor in most cases, some concrete floors don’t contain the suitable materials for proper polishing. Concrete floor professionals can help you determine if your concrete floor makes a good candidate for concrete polishing. If you plan to pour a new concrete floor, check with your contractor to ensure you use the correct concrete.
Professional Polished Concrete Floor Installation in California
Do you want to install a polished concrete floor in your commercial, industrial, or residential building? SLG Concrete Coatings offers professional installation and expert concrete technicians, along with:
- Polyaspartic coatings to ensure a slip-proof environment
- Our 20-year warranty on residential projects
- Our 5-year warranty on commercial projects
Call SLG Concrete Coatings at their Santa Maria office at (805) 934-3881 or their Fresno office at (559) 724-3884 for your free estimate.
