Polished concrete is a very durable material that can also be applied on walls or countertops for beautiful results.
Apart from being sturdy and very easy to maintain, polished concrete with grind and seal offer many more advantages:
Polished concrete does not require any type of subfloor preparation because once installed, it forms a flat surface.
Polished concrete floors are durable due to the fact that it needs no other material for support, once installed and polished, it can last a lifetime and withstand very heavy loads (e.g. vehicles).
Polished concrete floors resist fire.
Polished concrete floors are cost-effective because there's no need to purchase expensive flooring materials such as carpets or tiles for your home or office polished concrete floor.
Polished concrete requires an extensive polishing process that includes grind and seal which encompasses grinding out the surfaces to achieve the desired look for your polished concrete floor and then finally applying a polishing compound in order to give it its shiny appearance. For best results, experts often use polishing machines that can quickly grind out the concrete and apply an even layer of the polishing compound after grind and seal. You can always ask the experts for a more cost-effective solution for smaller spaces and according to the exposure level among other factors. On average, polished concrete grinding and sealing will cost around $50 per square metre for concrete slabs. Honed concrete may cost between $75 and $100 per square metre.
Yes, you can polish an existing pre-polished concrete floor. However, in order to get the best results and perfect shine for your pre-polished concrete, it is important that you hire a professional who is a pro at past concrete polishing jobs. They will grind out the existing concrete floor or concrete surface to achieve the desired look for polished concrete and then apply a seal polished concrete to protect it for several factors.
However, if you wish to install polished concrete by yourself instead of hardwood flooring, there are some things about which you should be aware:
Grinding down uneven surfaces or a rough surface will require more time for polished concrete because if they aren't done properly then cracks might appear when the polishing compound is applied. In the end, all the cracks must be filled with a material that will allow the next coat of compound to adhere perfectly to the polished concrete to give the desired finish.
Even the smallest dirt particles can affect the appearance of your polished concrete floor; therefore, it is extremely important that you remove all debris before application on the polished concrete.
Keep in mind that polishing concrete requires a lot of hard work to get the desired finish and it's not possible for one person to do everything so ideally, two or three people will be required for this type of project.
You will need to seal the concrete floor once it is polished especially in commercial floors and remember that honed concrete lasts longer. This will provide extra protection and will prevent staining from occurring in the polished concrete; however, it can be pricey. If you want to save money, make sure that you purchase a good quality sealant and ask the average cost. The grind and seal method is important for the longevity of the polish. The grinding process much is done by flooring specialists and they will give you a quote of how much polishing will cost. They will also give you choices like if you like a matte finish, high gloss look, industrial look, the setup time, different colours available, and the overall cost. Manual labour takes time and other factors are involved that can make this process tricky. On average, it should take around two or three days to finish the work for this type of project. Not only do polished concrete floors offer people aesthetically pleasing surfaces with a proper grind and seal method, but they are also extremely functional. A good polished concrete floor cost can be a bit high but the perks outweigh it. Also choosing polished concrete flooring for your home can take a bit of time.
Generally speaking, the polished concrete cost varies according to the grind and seal method, surface preparation, exposed aggregate, gloss level, matte finish and setup time. This type of flooring is more expensive than most other types, but it can be well worth the investment if you want a long-lasting surface that requires little maintenance. If there is more polished concrete cost chances are the quality of the product is high. All polished concrete prices can differ as per the concrete slab. This answers how much does polished concrete can cost according to your choice of alternative surfaces. The higher the gloss level the slipper the flooring can be but it gives it a non penetrating cover. Concrete polishing has many benefits over other types of flooring materials such as tiling or carpeting. Not only is polished concrete durable and perfect for high traffic areas where floors will be frequently walked on, but it also offers people aesthetically pleasing surfaces that are ideal for any room in your home or office block. So don't shy away from a slightly higher polished concrete cost. So answering much does polished concrete can cost, the answer is a bit more than usual.
Polished concrete surfaces are extremely durable and there is little risk of cracking or chipping if they are properly installed. This makes them perfect for high traffic areas such as hallways, cafes, foyers, and private homes where children play. All mechanically polished concrete is durable and survives longer so answering how much does polished concrete survives is a lot longer. Just remember to get a good seal method.
Since polished concrete floors can be completely customised to suit your tastes, there are many options available when it comes to colour and design. This means that you can find something that will suit any style or theme that you wish to incorporate into a room.
Most types of hard flooring require regular polishing in order to maintain their shine but since this type of surface is resistant to staining, it only requires light vacuuming in order to stay in pristine condition. Mechanically polished concrete requires less maintenance and isn't as costly per square metre.
Since polished concrete is made out of just one type of material, the floor can be custom designed to exactly suit your tastes. You can choose any thickness and ask for different types of aggregate which will give you different effects when the surface is polished. Mechanically polished concrete can be customized as per the homeowner's choice and the selection and seal method.
A polished concrete floors cost to have concrete flooring can vary depending on several factors and per square metre. These include the size of your home or business, what area you're having polished and if polishing is just for a single room or an entire level and what per square metre is the measurement. The price also varies depending on whether you are using one contractor or two. If it's just one then they tend to charge per square metre but if they bring another person then there is usually an hourly rate involved. For a 200 square metre home, expect to pay anywhere from $20 to $40 per square metre. That works out to be about $4000 to $8000 typically. The concrete polishing cost also varies as per the company you're hiring. If you're looking for something that's more high end then polished concrete can cost as much as four times per square metre as much as regular concrete floors because it's such an intensive process and the outcome is stunning. Polished concrete flooring is worth the investment so don't shy away from the concrete polishing cost per square metre.
Cleaning a concrete floor properly can be as simple as sweeping or vacuuming up dirt and then mopping these concrete floors with an appropriate cleaning solution.
If you have some tough stains on your floor, you may want to consider using a polishing machine for grind and seal that sprays water mixed with an abrasive material for honed concrete which will help to grind those stains away over time. This is a good solution for floors where people eat or drink because it means that germs will be removed from the floor, helping to reduce hygiene issues from grind and seal. If you need to clean a concrete driveway, here's how.When it comes to polishing a new floor with grind and seal to get a perfect honed concrete, you typically have to wait anywhere from a day to a week for the concrete to dry out completely.
You should allow for another 24 hours of drying time after you apply an acrylic sealer or other clear coats after grind and seal to make sure that they are fully set before moving any furniture back in place on the floor. If you neglect this step, then you might end up with scratches or other damage caused by items being dragged over the new cement floor. You may be able to substitute poured concrete with precast concrete. Take a look at the YourHome website's guide to precast concrete.