Polished concrete floors are very durable and with proper maintenance will last you a lifetime. Tiles are also durable but they're a little more fragile in comparison to concrete. If you drop something heavy on a tiled floor, it's likely to crack and chip.
And because polished concrete lasts longer and is harder to damage, your floors could last hundreds of years before they need to be replaced. Tiles, on the other hand, will need to be replaced regularly when they chip or damage. The overall impact of polished concrete on the environment is much lower.
Because material and labor costs for tile are high, polished concrete is often significantly less expensive than tile in new residential construction and renovation. Depending on slab size and gloss level, the cost to polish concrete floors is generally $3.50 to $5 per square foot.
Cons of Polished Concrete Floor
It can be hard underfoot and if something was accidently dropped, such as a plate or glass, it's not going to survive. Cracking: No matter how well your flooring is installed and sealed, over time there will appear cracks in polished concrete floors.
If you're looking for sustainable materials to use in your home, polished concrete is a great option because: Recycled materials can be used to manufacture concrete. It has a long life – meaning you're less likely to need to replace your floor for many years.
Getting concrete floor coatings or a decorative concrete overlay is not a luxury – it's an investment that can pay off over time. Not only will the investment improve your enjoyment of the home and reduce your maintenance, but it will also improve the value of your home.
Polished Concrete Floor Lifespans
With professional concrete installation, a proactive polished concrete floor maintenance plan, and occasional deep cleaning, a polished concrete flooring system can last 20 years or more with minimal hassle.
Polished concrete flooring is relatively easy to maintain. You just have to dust mop or broom sweep daily to prevent dirt accumulation.
Polished concrete is one of the strongest and most resilient floor types in the market. This makes it highly resistant to scratches and therefore polished concrete floors don't scratch easily. For this reason, polished concrete is commonly used in high traffic areas like industries and corridors.
Although a polished concrete floor isn't a “No-maintenance” flooring option, they are certainly “low-maintenance.” That's why when it comes to teaching new clients how to maintain a polished concrete floor that's installed in their home or business, we typically offer the following advice.
Polished concrete is (generally) NOT slippery when wet.
A flooring safety test using measurement standards provided by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) found that polished concrete has superior slip resistance, even when wet.
As the popularity of polished concrete floors rises, a growing number of homeowners are also seeking to cover up old floor tiles. According to Concrete Network, this can be done, but again precautions should be taken to ensure the existing surface is up to the task.
Polished concrete provides an environment that is resistant to damage from chemical and oil spills, as well as, slip and water resistant. Water-resistance is a special and important quality when you have concrete floors because concrete is naturally a very porous substance.
Fortunately, by far the majority of slabs have moisture barriers installed under the slab making the amount of moisture migrating out of the slab not an issue for polished concrete. Are polished concrete floors prone to CRACKING? Yes, they are.
Polished Concrete is no colder than tiles and many testimonials claim that due to Polished Concrete being recognised as a sustainable and 'green' building product the thermal mass naturally draws its temperature from the ground rather than the outside so it tends to be warmer than tiles in winter and cooler than tiles ...
Polished concrete flooring is solid, and can stand up to heavy foot traffic or even heavy equipment in a warehouse. It's almost impossible to chip, scratch or otherwise damage polished concrete floors. Sealed polished concrete floors are also resistant to chemicals like alkalis and acids that could cause corrosion.
Cons of Concrete Floors
Hardness: There's no denying that concrete is hard underfoot, a quality that some find uncomfortable. It's also unforgiving — a dropped glass definitely won't survive — and it may be a concern if there are small children or elderly folks in the household. Area rugs can help alleviate concerns.
Polished concrete floors are a popular option for commercial and industrial building. However, as a porous substance, it is vulnerable to excessive moisture which can cause difficulties during installation and distort the end result. Contractors should be conscious of the impact moisture has on cementitious floors.
Sealing your concrete isn't really a labor-intensive, nor costly, job. By sealing your concrete every 2-5 years, as recommended by experts, you should keep your floor in good shape, preventing cracks, pitting, and additional damage.
Polished concrete floors are relatively inexpensive to create, extremely durable and low maintenance. On the downside, some people find them cold and hard underfoot so if you live in a cool climate you may want to install underfloor or inslab heating or think about softening the surface with rugs.
IS POLISHING CONCRETE MESSY? Surprisingly no! There is a lot of cleaning involved between each step we need to perform as polishers and we take a great deal of care not to make a mess while working.
Additionally, polished concrete can provide a seamless look between inside and out, plus it's also easy to clean and low-maintenance too. A pH-neutral cleaner can be used to give your floors a deep clean or a quick mop twice a week, but concrete should definitely be sealed to give the best performance.
Keeping your floors dust-free is as simple as a nightly sweep with a microfibre mop. If you don't have one of these, a cotton or soft bristled broom will also do the job. Then, once a week, go over the area with a damp mop. This will remove any residual dust and really get your floors shining again.
Mechanically polished concrete (Hiperfloor) can be walked on immediately after it is completed. However, no water should be applied to the floor for 3 days, so be sure that you keep the floor totally dry for the first 72 hours.
Because material costs for polished concrete floors are six to eight times lower than that of high-quality hardwood floors, polished concrete is significantly less expensive than wood in new residential construction. In 2022, a typical white oak floor install can range from $12 to over $22 a square foot.