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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Value Adding
Not only is polished concrete durable and low maintenance, but it is also an aesthetically pleasing flooring solution that leaves a beautiful impression in the mind of prospective buyers.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Resin Living Room Floors
This resin flooring is slightly cushioned, so it's very comfortable to walk on and works well with underfloor heating. Microcement is another excellent flooring material and looks very similar to polished concrete at a more affordable price point with a huge range of colours and finishes.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Eco-friendly: Concrete does not deplete natural resources, requires less energy than other floor types to produce and is made (poured) locally. Concrete is good for indoor air quality because it inhibits mold, mildew and odors; contains no potentially harmful VOCs and can be finished with zero-VOC sealers.
The difference compared to other flooring materials is that polished concrete has the capability to absorb heat and omit the warmth slowly, which is a great property for the winter months.
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.
Concrete can indeed feel cold. But SENSO's polished concrete floors are capable of retaining heat and radiating it outwards. This creates a wonderfully warm surface on which to walk. Even barefoot.
Epoxy is the most durable concrete finish and can be poured into cracks and crevices to help level the surface. But epoxy also is available in a variety of colors, allowing you to create unique hues and designs on your floor so you can even make a concrete floor look pretty.
Polished concrete does not support mold growth and reduces dust and dust mites, reducing allergen issues overall. Because a polished concrete floor system is more durable, it's also much easier to keep clean.
The best flooring for resale value: The ROI on wood floors
They're durable, versatile, and most buyers love them. According to real estate experts, the average ROI for installing hardwood floors is about 70% to 80%, and wood floors can boost the sales price of your home as much as 2.5%.
Then the best color to choose for concrete floor polishing are blacks, dark blues, or dark browns. This will enhance the much needed darkness that the room or commercial space is meant to provide.