As one of the most popular flooring choices for home and business, the versatile polished concrete process involves grinding, honing and sealing cement floors. Surface finish options include matte or high gloss, stained or even an inexpensive grind and seal. This method saves labor and time while protecting floors with urethane sealers.
Concrete Polishing
Concrete contracting companies use this method to polish, smooth, and level concrete substrates and surface flooring. This technique leaves the flooring not only durable and functional but also very attractive and decorative. The process can be used to restore an old floor to virtually new status or to finish a new floor so that it can withstand the daily wear and tear that any business or industrial flooring is expected to have. Typically, polished concrete has also been treated with a densifier and ground using progressively finer tools until the desired grit level is obtained. Concrete is not considered polished until it has been polished to 400 grit, although usually polished concrete is done to 800, 1500, or 3000 grit level. Polished concrete may then be stained or dyed.
The Benefits of Polished Concrete
There are a number of reasons why a commercial or industrial facility may need polished concrete flooring:
- It’s very strong.
- It’s easy to clean.
- It’s non-hazardous and environmentally friendly.
- It’s decorative.
- The grinding process helps to eliminate dust that other flooring options may collect.
- It’s non-porous, so water, chemicals, and other liquids will not enter the concrete.
- It’s non-slip and meets OSHA guidelines.
- Flooring can be used as soon as it’s complete. There is no wait time.
- Polished concrete is stronger than non-polished concrete.
How Contractors Polish Concrete Floors
Smith & Company Painting uses high grade equipment to polish concrete flooring. First, the concrete is ground with a coarse diamond blade. It is then ground and polished with finer and finer blades. At one point, a liquid densifier will be applied to the floor, which helps to make the molecules in the concrete tighter and make the floor non-porous. The floor is then polished to completion.
Concrete Polishing in Portland Oregon
If you don’t have it already, we encourage you to consider epoxy cove base flooring for your next commercial or industrial floor. We serve local areas from Portland to Salem Oregon.
