Why Industrial Businesses Use Concrete Polishing
Polishing concrete is a process that requires progressive grinding, honing, densifying, and polishing that refines a concrete surface and makes it visually appealing, highly durable, dustproof, reflective, and extremely safe. Polishing concrete permanently changes the concrete surface, whether aggregate is exposed or not, and does not require the use of waxes or other coatings as long as it is sealed and finished correctly.
Reasons Why Concrete Polishing Is Popular And Desirable
- Polished concrete has a unique aesthetic appearance that is natural and refined while meeting high-performance standards. It can also be colored to offer another design element other than natural gray.
- Since concrete is already part of the construction process, it is convenient to work with it depending on the flooring and image needed. Sustainability and value engineering make polishing concrete more appealing, as it meets LEED requirements and remains a low-cost, long-lasting flooring option.
- Polished concrete flooring leads in safety. People slip less than with ceramic tile and VCT flooring because tiny pores on the surface absorb enough liquid to leave a darker area visible, indicating a spill and a space to avoid while still being stain-resistant. Also, when comparing friction coefficients with other flooring surfaces, polished concrete flooring remains a leader in safety, no matter the shine level or aggregate exposure level, and friction coefficients exceed OSHA recommendations (ASTM C 1028).
- Concrete polishing is a top choice for architects, designers, and younger generations and the leading flooring choice for Amazon® and other distribution centers. It is durable, dustproof, stain-resistant, and highly functional. Polished concrete is ideal for high-traffic environments due to surface refinement during installation. It creates a flatter, smoother floor, providing excellent traction without tire marks, which is why it is a leading choice to support forklift operations. In addition, on polished concrete, equipment will vibrate less, and employees will be safer.
- Concrete floors that are polished cost less than alternatives. Polished concrete has a low life-cycle cost due to its permanency, ease of repair, maintenance, and cleaning, and being more sanitary (no grout) since its seamless surface doesn’t host mold or bacteria.
- Polished concrete floors withstand temperature fluctuations. This is because concrete has a high thermal mass, and its ingredients are chemically inert and virtually non-combustible, which prevents it from catching fire.
- Polishing concrete does not emit harmful VOCs, and there is no “polished concrete smell.” It is also breathable, which eliminates concerns about MVER.
- Fast installation requires less downtime, which can interrupt business operations. Polished concrete can be put into service immediately after the process is complete. A polished concrete floor can be used upon project completion due to process cleanliness and the lack of toxic or hazardous chemicals. The entire process can take 2-5 days, depending on the floor size.
- Custom concrete polishing meets your performance and design requirements. There are many types of color stains, styles, and sheens available to improve the brightness and appeal of your floor while still meeting or exceeding the highest performance and sustainability requirements.
- Concrete that is polished requires less maintenance. Most floor systems, including tile and linoleum, require aggressive scrubbing to maintain a sanitary environment and clean appearance. Polished concrete surfaces are tightly compacted to reduce the development of stains. At the same time, they do not require any waxing or stripping treatments to maintain their sheen.
- Polishing concrete improves your concrete floor’s natural condition and resilience. As concrete ages, surface stress, delamination, curled cold joints, and other problems can arise. Grinding the floor removes the top surface of the old concrete, and polishing then strengthens it, increasing its impact and abrasion resistance.