Welcome to my concrete blog. My name is Helen, and I hate stumbling over old and broken concrete. It makes a home, business or even a whole neighborhood look old and unkempt. To make the world a more beautiful place, I have decided to create this blog. In it, I plan to post everything I have learned about concrete over the years. I plan to include everything from maintenance schedules to upkeep tips to simple repairs to financial risks of broken concrete. If you have a patch of concrete anywhere on your property, I hope you enjoy the information in this blog and learn something new from it.
You might consider installing polished concrete floors if you want to give your home a clean and natural look. You can put this flooring in kitchens and living areas, and it won't add clutter with grout lines. To stop the room from feeling cold, fit underfloor heating and scatter cosy textured rugs around. Here is some information about this flooring option to help you work out the possibilities.
The Process
Polished concrete floors are made in a couple of different ways. A grind and seal process involves contractors grinding the concrete and then applying a matte, semi-gloss, or glossy sealant. Or else, you could opt for mechanically polished concrete, which is polished and honed to different levels of shine. Hardeners are applied to the floor for extra resilience. While this method takes more work and costs extra, it also looks better for longer.
Heavy
One thing to bear in mind with polished concrete flooring is its heaviness, particularly if you cover expansive living areas. Your house will need strong enough foundations to carry its weight. This is one reason polished concrete is usually installed on ground floors rather than the upper stories of a home.
Existing Slab
Sometimes you can polish an existing slab of concrete in your house. So you can simply pull up any carpet or tiles and use the subfloor. However, whether you can do this depends on its condition. The slab must be sound, with no significant cracks. The polishing can bring out slight imperfections, making the floor look organic and full of character. You'll save money as you don't have to purchase new materials like vinyl or carpet. However, you'll have the polishing process to pay for.
Aggregates
If you're pouring an extra layer of cement that you intend to polish, you can choose aggregates to create a specific look. Concrete comprises cement, sand, water, and aggregates, such as crushed stone. You can handpick your preferred species, like granite or quartz, and choose particular coloured stones, in grey, brown, or red tones, for instance. You can also include other elements, such as coloured glass. The cement mixture itself can also be coloured.
As the polishing process shaves off the top of the concrete, it reveals the aggregates, creating patterns on the floor. You might prefer a more uniform surface or one with more designs. Discuss the effect you want with your contractor. Patterns can become more evident as the grounding and polishing go deeper. The kind and amount of aggregate you choose also affect the strength and heaviness of the floor.
Share27 June 2022
