concrete floors

Self leveling concrete is used to level a floor prior to the installation of tiles or interior floor coverings. Usually done during renovations or when floor coverings are changed. Self-leveling concrete can also be used as a wear surface. It can be colored and sealed to produce a polished concrete result.

This can be a DIY project. But you should take note that the self-leveling compound will set usually set within 20 minutes. Therefore if you are dealing with a larger area and you think it may cost you more time, it is advisable to have a partner to finish the job on time. The cost for self-leveling compound ranges from $1.00to $3.00 per square foot. Of course this will depend with how thick you want the self-leveling. Frequently it is applied from ¼ to 3/8^th inch thick.

Steps to Install Self-leveling Concrete

1. Clean the floor thoroughly by sweeping and vacuuming the floor. It is suggested to use a mechanical floor grinder or shot blaster to remove blemishes and open the pores of the concrete.
2. Mix the concrete leveling compound with water. Pour water first into the bucket and then the self-leveling compound. Mix the compound and water using a paddle mixer to a smooth, milkshake consistency. Add more water move as soon as possible into the first application area.
3. Pour the mixed concrete on the floor starting with the low spot. Spread the self-leveling concrete using a straightedge smoother with a back and forth motion. While compound begins to set trowel the edges until smooth.
4. Repeat steps when necessary. Once done clean all the tools and materials used. This is for the reason that leveling compound begins to set in 20 minutes. Straightedge needs to be cleaned since it’s necessary to finish the remaining areas.
5. You can use a four inch floor scraper to smooth out areas once the compound has set right before it cures.

Necessary Tools and Materials

• Water
• Shop vac
• Broom
• 6 to 8 straightedge
• 5 gallon bucket
• Water
• Self-leveling compound
• Paddle mixer
• ½ inch drill
• 4 inch floor scraper
• Float trowel

Don’t forget about safety measures. Use safety goggles and a dust mask. Don’t forget to wear them.

Note:

Always keep in mind that self-leveling compound sets fast, usually within 20 minutes if the correct amount of water is used. To get more information about self-leveling installation you can call an expert or you can do research to compare cost and to know how to install Concrete Coatings properly.

Concrete polishing is the mechanical refinement of the concrete surface to its purest form with diamond abrasives. The result is a beautiful, durable and efficient surface which eliminates the need for carpets or tile that require expensive replacement, maintenance and use of harsh cleaning chemicals.

Diamond abrasives are used to refine the surface, removing the microscopic peaks and valleys during the process. With the application of a densifier, which reacts within the Concrete Flooring, this creates a surface with increased reactivity, wear resistance, and ease of maintenance.

Each diamond tool is designed to not only remove scratches from previous grits, but to completely refine the surface to its maximum refinement. This creates reflective clarity and durability without the use of topical coatings and/or sealers. Here are the steps in polishing a concrete. It comes down to only three parts, area preparation, grinding, buffing and sealing.

STEPS on how to Polished a Concrete

1. Area preparation. You can evaluate the hardness of a concrete by using the tools included in polishing kits. You need to determine the whether the concrete is soft, medium or hard. The reason behind this is this will allow you to mix or fin-tune the polishing process.

• Clean the area or surface. Make sure that stubborn stains or mold, any debris, dirt or grease are removed. Prepare warm water with mild detergent and scrub the floor using a bristle brush. Rinse the floor and let it dry. Be mindful of your safety. You might need to use a much denser or tougher chemical to remove stubborn stains. Use protective gloves and goggles. Lastly make sure the area is well-ventilated.
• Repair any concrete cracks.

2. Grinding

• Wear protective gear. Be careful for your safety, don’t forget to wear protective gloves, goggles and mask if necessary.
• Start grinding with the coarsest disc. You can start with 80-grit disc but if you think there are stubborn stains you can start with a 40-grit disc.
• Progress to another grinder size. It might be necessary to use two or three more grinding disc. The higher the progress of the grinding, the less coarse the grit-size will be.
• Mix densifier during the process. Apply liquid chemical hardener to help solidify the concrete.
• Finally use the 800- 3000-grit discs. Polishing to 400 grit – 800 grit will produce a matte to semi- gloss finish. 800 – 3,000 finish produces a semi to high gloss result.

3. Buffing and Sealing.

• Apply sealer.
• Burnish the seal coats with a high speed buffer.

Concrete flooring offers many diverse benefits to people who own residential and commercial properties. If you own any type of property, you may be able to get a lot out of investing in concrete flooring for it. Concrete floors are strong and tough. They can tolerate significant amounts of pressure. They’re low-maintenance. They’re Eco-friendly. They can even stay in fantastic condition for quite a long time. If you’re looking for flooring option that can stand the test of time, concrete may be the perfect material for your needs.

People who want attractive, strong and dependable flooring can turn to our full-service company with confidence. That’s because we specialize in stained concrete, polished concrete, and epoxy coatings. If you want an epoxy or concrete floor that can help your business or residence lives up to its highest potential, we can accommodate you 100 percent. Our team members have significant knowledge regarding a vast range of pertinent flooring topics. They know everything there is to know about epoxy floors, stained concrete, concrete pours, stamped concrete and beyond. If you have any questions or concerns about your flooring needs, we can address them all for you.

Stained concrete can make floors look a lot more interesting and appealing. If you want your floors to make heads turn, you can count on our team of flooring specialists to help you. We can assist you with acid stains, concrete stains and more. Our decorative concrete savvy is unrivaled.

Polished concrete is yet another major area of expertise we offer. If you want professional assistance from specialists who can aid you with all of your concrete polishing requirements, we’re your people. Our staff members know the ins and outs of matte finishes, concrete sealers, and glossy finishes. We work with many different types of clients, too. If you need polished concrete for any type of industrial setting, we can give you exactly what you want.

Epoxy coatings are also a large part of our business. If you want to delve into the world of moisture mitigation, our metallic epoxy coatings can go a long way for you. These coatings are suitable for many different applications. People often spot epoxy floors in basements, in retail facilities, in dining establishments, and in offices. They’re frequently seen on garage floors as well. If you want to protect your residential garage floor from significant amounts of wear and tear, an epoxy coating may just be the optimal solution for you.

It’s hard to dispute the many joys of epoxy floor coatings. These coatings establish surfaces that are simple to maintain and clean. If you don’t want to have to worry about complex cleaning requirements, epoxy floor coating may be able to give you peace of mind. It’s not hard at all to do away with debris, dust, grime and dirt accumulation on floors that have an epoxy coating. People who live in households with young children often benefit greatly from the introduction of this kind of floor coating. That’s because this coating makes it simple and hassle-free to take care of beverage and food stains. If you have a young child who has a habit of spilling his orange juice everywhere he goes, epoxy floor coating may just be a lifesaver for you.

People who want world-class concrete flooring assistance can lean on our trusted company any day of the week. Call our established concrete flooring firm as soon as possible to learn more about what we can do for you and for your home or commercial property. We can help you get on the path to beautiful, convenient and low-maintenance flooring today.

In commercial settings, it is common to think of the flooring material we use as something that does not make that much of a difference. The decision often comes down to what is easiest and what is cheapest. That approach may work some of the time, but it often can create a myriad of problems along the way. It is better to think about the type of flooring you want to use in order to find the best product that is both affordable and easy to use, plus one that looks good, provides a variety of safety features, and is something that is flexible enough to work in just about any commercial setting. When a business takes this approach, they would be wise to consider if a concrete floor is the best solution.

Concrete floors used to be reserved for storage areas and industrial settings, where the flooring material did not make that much of a difference. Leaving rough concrete could work in a few settings and many people now assume that is what they will get when they turn to concrete flooring. A little investigation into the product will soon let them know that concrete flooring is no longer a product with only a few applications. It can actually be used in place of other types of flooring such as tiles, wood, and carpeting. Because of its durability and low cost of installation, it may be the perfect flooring choice for many different businesses.

Start with Polished Concrete Floors

While most people may think of concrete as a rough surface that while strong, is not very appealing to walk on, polished concrete is actually a much different product. The polished concrete has a much smoother finish and is actually something that is enjoyable to walk and work on.

Concrete polishing is a process that slowly grinds away at the rough surface of the concrete. By using progressively finer grinding pads, the final result is a floor that is as smooth as any tile that is laid on the floor. The polishing can cover any blemishes in the concrete, and produces a product that is visually appealing to all that see it.

Polished concrete floors offer many advantages that not everyone is aware of. The different products that are used can create a high quality product.

• Grinding and sealing – The process of grinding the concrete and sealing the concrete helps to protect it. Concrete is a porous substance, but when a sealant has been applied, that problem is resolved. The grinding can also be combined with other materials to correct any cracks or problems within the concrete.
• Moisture Mitigation – Moisture is one of the concerns that people have with concrete. They are familiar with the feeling of wet concrete floors and walls, but they may not realize that the product can be treated in such a way that moisture is not able to get into the floor.
• Self-leveling – In a large commercial setting, it is very possible that the concrete floor is not completely level. It can have hills and valleys, but if a layer of self-leveling concrete is added, this problem will go away and the result is a finished product that is level.

All of these things can be accomplished during the concrete polishing process.

Turn to Decorative Concrete

The biggest problem that is brought up about polished concrete floor is the fact that they are made out of concrete. To most, concrete is a gray, bland material that does not add any beauty to the location where it is used. Most people try to find ways to cover up concrete because of its appearance. That is not a good reason to discount the use of concrete flooring. There are plenty of decorative concrete flooring options that can be found.

• Concrete Overlays – This is a great way to cover a floor that has been damaged or discolored over time. Concrete overlays are a product that is put over the top of an existing concrete floor. An overlay is the perfect way to cover up any imperfections in the concrete. Overlays are not only able to cover up the damage, but they can improve the look. Overlays can come in a variety of different colors that completely change the way the concrete flooring looks. It is also possible to create patterns in the concrete with overlays.
• Concrete Coloring – If the color of concrete is the reason a business does not want to look at this type of flooring material, it may be because they do not realize the possibilities that come with coloring concrete. There are two ways that color can be added to concrete. The first method is known as a non-reactive stain. With this process, the stain is applied to the concrete and bonds to the concrete in a mechanical way. It sticks to the concrete by going into the pores and surface of the concrete. This type of stain is available in a wide range of colors, but may not last as long as a business wants. The second method is a reactive process. When this type of stain is applied, it uses a chemical reaction to bond it to the concrete. That allows this to become more permanent and less prone to damage over time. The range of colors for this process is limited.

While being able to create a different color for the concrete is a great way to improve its appearance, it is not the only part of decorative concrete flooring to consider. It is actually possible to create a variety of patterns in the concrete. The patters can create a look of a wood floor, tiles, and stones or just about anything else. With the right combination of colors and materials, it is possible to replicate a wide variety of other flooring materials in the concrete. The result is a high quality, durable, and great looking floor for a fraction of the cost.

Maintenance of Polished Concrete

Concrete floors are very durable and can last a long time while maintaining their appearance. Like any other type of flooring, the better the concrete flooring is maintained, the longer it will last, and the better it will look.

Maintenance starts by sealing the Concrete Polishing. Concrete sealers are applied directly to the flooring when all other work is finished. Some of the products that are used include concrete densifiers, waterproofers, stain guards, waxes, and sealers. A professional can help a business determine what they will need to protect their flooring.

The maintenance of the polished concrete floor requires some specific equipment. Buffers and different materials need to be applied on a regular basis to make sure the floor is always protected. The frequency of reapplying the waxes and sealers will depend on how the floor is being used, how much traffic the floor receives, and the environment that the floor is in. It is difficult to determine exactly how often basic maintenance should be performed. It could be a weekly basis or it could be something that has to be done every few years. It also depends on the quality of the materials that are used to protect the concrete flooring. The better they are, the less maintenance will be required. Just like the polishing process, buffing the concrete floor requires using progressively finer grits of grinding pads until the finish that is desired is reached.

Where Can Polished Concrete Floors Be Used

The more a person learns about polished concrete flooring, the more appealing it will become. That may lead people to wonder where the best applications for the concrete floors may be. The answer is simple. Concrete floors can be used anywhere a business needs a floor. From industrial settings, to office buildings, to creating a floor that is almost like artwork, concrete flooring has a place. It is a type of flooring that can not only be less expensive to install, but it can be less expensive to maintain.

Polished concrete flooring can be a material that fits all of the needs of a business. It is a flooring product that is easy to install, has the ability to be aesthetically pleasing, and can fit the budget most businesses have for flooring.

The key to getting a Concrete Polishing that will work for a business is to turn to a professional that has the experience, equipment, and knowledge of how the product works. They need to be able to handle the different sized projects that come with commercial settings, and they need to be able to create a finished product that everyone is happy with.