Many different floor treatments can be used on residential, commercial, and industrial concrete floors. Work environments, performance requirements, cost per square foot, and dimensions are all important considerations when deciding on the type of flooring to use.
Epoxy flooring has grown in popularity in recent years. Because of their durability, epoxy-coated floors are increasingly preferred over plain polished concrete floors. When evaluating a project, it is not uncommon for them to completely disregard polished concrete. Nonetheless, polished concrete flooring is a fantastic choice for flooring.
When it comes to treatment, polished concrete may be a better option than epoxy flooring. Polished concrete should not be overlooked because refinishing a floor is far more expensive and time-consuming than installing the right option from the start.
The following article will go over ten ways polished concrete floors will improve your life.
1. Lighting and Reflectivity Are Improved
The effectiveness of polished concrete surfaces is improved by increased reflectivity. It also allows you to control your energy consumption over time. Superior ambient lighting will make your facility appear newer and cleaner, making it more appealing to visitors and employees.
2. Maintenance That Is Both Cost-Effective and Efficient
Polishing your concrete floor will save you thousands of pounds in annual maintenance costs. When removing stains, the compact surface eliminates the need for aggressive scrubbing. As an added bonus, you won’t have to wax or strip the floor to keep its lustre.
3. Stain-Resistant Flooring
Concrete’s porous nature is one of its most significant challenges, resulting in significant maintenance costs over its lifetime. A polishing process seals the concrete’s surface and increases its density. As a result, it naturally repels water, oil, and other contaminants on the surface even without a protective coating.
4. Old Floors Perform Better
The most important reason to treat your concrete floors is to extend the life of their underlying slabs. Despite the fact that epoxy flooring and concrete polishing have an impact on the lifespan of a slab. Several erosion sources are unable to penetrate polished concrete due to its high contracting strength. Mechanical polishing can also be used to easily refresh the top layer.
5. Say Goodbye To Dusting and Efflorescence
The strength of untreated concrete is negated by its susceptibility to natural damage and chemical reactions. Because concrete is porous, salt migration, also known as efflorescence, occurs constantly. As a result, dusting can harm epoxy coatings and other surface coating systems, but this can be remedied by polishing at the source.
6. Slip-Resistant Surfaces
It is common knowledge that when wet, polished concrete behaves similarly to almost any other substrate. This type of flooring, on the other hand, provides greater slip resistance than other untreated surfaces. Grip additives can also be used to improve these properties, making them suitable for grip-sensitive environments such as patio decks and walkways.
7. Hazards, Toxins, and Extensive Cleanup Are Not Present
A potential safety hazard frequently prevents businesses from completing extensive flooring projects. Concrete polishing uses no harsh chemicals or abrasives, and no hazardous waste is generated as a result. Even if ventilation is not present in the treated area, it is not as dangerous. As a result, most projects can be completed in hours or days.
8. Wear and Abrasion of Tyres Are Reduced
Investing in polished concrete is an excellent flooring option for areas with high foot traffic as well as vehicle traffic. Polished concrete resists skid marks and stains despite the weight of forklifts and other large equipment. When combined with a high-traction sealant, this sealant can last for a long time.
9. The Majority of These Products Contain No VOCs and Are LEED Certified
VOCs are dangerous to both your team and the general public. Even though many newer coating products emit few or no VOCs, they are also costly. Because polished concrete rarely introduces VOCs, it is simple to achieve LEED certification.
10. The Operations Will Be Disrupted to a Minimum or Not at All
It is critical to remember that each process of coating and treating floors has its own set of requirements. Several floor coating systems, for example, require a primer and a certain amount of curing time after application. Dry mechanically polished concrete floors can be put back into service as soon as the process is finished.
The Final Verdict
The final conclusion is that epoxy floors and polished concrete cannot be used interchangeably. Speak with professional contractors who have extensive experience with both epoxy and polished concrete to make the best flooring choice. Either type of flooring is a very strong solution in most heavy-duty commercial or industrial settings. It is critical to understand your work environment and objectives. When it comes to a facility’s lifetime capacity, minor details can regularly save or cost you thousands of pounds.
