Polished Concrete is becoming a very popular trend in residential settings. For new homes or existing homes that need restoration, Polished Concrete floors provide the ideal surface.  The concept of a polished finish dates back some 20 to 30 years and was originally used to describe the process whereby a typical grey or coloured concrete floor was coated with a wax product and then highly polished.

Polished exposed aggregate finishes are achieved by grinding the surface of the slab to remove the cement paste in order to expose the aggregate or stones within the concrete or topping mix.  The surface is then polished.  The degree of expose of the aggregate and the uniformity of the exposure needs to be specified.  Special aggregates for the concrete or topping mix are often selected to achieve the best appearance from this type of finish.  Various coloured and polished granite-type finishes can be produced.  Aggregate colours, types (round or crushed), sizes, minerals, etc can all be selected and blended to achieve the desired effect.

Concrete has a proven record for strength, durability, and cost effectiveness for a variety of applications including floors, walkways, patios and driveways. Concrete floors are found in a variety of residential settings, from high-rise condominiums, to basements remodeled for extra living space, and to slab-on-grade construction. Interior concrete is commonly covered with carpet, vinyl, or other flooring materials. For exterior surfaces, materials like slate, granite, or brick are preferred to standard concrete when budgets allow. An increasingly popular alternative to covering concrete is to make the surface both decorative and functional. 

Unlike vinyl and tiled floors, Polished  Concrete provides an extremely dense surface which does not require sealers or waxing, making it maintenance free. Where Durability is an important issue to be considered, Polished Concrete flooring is good as it can remain resilient for years without re-sealing and will last longer because of its simple yet very classy and elegant appearance. The glossy finish look achieved in a Polished Concrete floor is no more slippery than any other floor coverings available in the market. Its slip resistance meets the Australian Standards. 

Polished Concrete is a generic term that can be described as a range of decorative concrete flooring options, which leave the concrete surface exposed as the final floor finish.  It provides a reasonable choice for floor treatments, with a wide range of colours and finishes that are comparable with tiles, vinyl and cork.  It is an energy efficient, low-maintenance and dust-free flooring.  It is easy to maintain with only regular cleaning required.

Polished Concrete is also widely preferred by major industrial companies as the process increase the abrasion resistance up to 10 times greater than ordinary concrete.  The benefits in the working environment are even greater for the most important resource in anyone’s organization, the employees.  As Polished Concrete floor achieves very high light reflection in the premises resulting to a bright ambience, it also provides the surrounding a clean, bright and dust-free environment.

Features of a Polished Concrete Floor

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