If exposed to severe changes in temperature (as in a building without climate control) a concrete floor may crack as it expands. It may also crack due to the freeze-thaw cycle during the winter, but this is more often a problem for outdoor sidewalks and patios that are directly exposed to the elements.
A polished concrete floor will crack
It is often thought that polished concrete floors eventually crack. Precast concrete floors can indeed crack, but not with SENSO. It is highly unusual for a SENSO polished concrete floor to crack. Because we use highly flexible material.
Polished concrete floors can be damaged by various factors, such as temperature fluctuations, heavy foot traffic, chemical spills, and impact from dropped objects. Extreme temperature changes can cause the concrete to expand and contract, leading to cracks or surface damage.
The number one problem that many business owners face with their concrete floors are stains and discolorations. Stains can occur from a number of different things, but are usually a result of unattended spills or liquid buildup.
Even if you hire the top concrete installer to pour your concrete floor, you may still end up with cracks down the line. Concrete is a fickle material that can crack at any point in its lifetime, from right after it's poured to years later.
Shrinkage: The most common type of cracking in concrete, especially early on, is shrinkage. Concrete is a mix of cement and water. As the concrete hardens, which is caused by the cement and water forming bonds, some of that water escapes through evaporation.
Mechanically polished concrete can last up to 10-12 years without any major maintenance if it is appropriately installed and maintained during that time.
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.
Both polished and sealed concrete floors require some amount of maintenance, but it's significantly less with a sealed floor. All you need is a mop and some soapy water to clean your floors every week or two. On the other hand, polished concrete needs to be resealed every few years in order to maintain the shine.
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.
To prevent surface damage to your concrete flooring, we recommend you dust mop daily with a clean, microfiber cloth pad. The use of dirty pads, or rough surfaces can damage the polished concrete surface of the floor. You don't want anything that will scratch or etch the surface of your floor when you're dusting.
Temporary floor protection can protect polished concrete finishes, decorative concrete, and epoxy-coated concrete floors. Ram Board is the most durable temporary surface protector and is tough enough to protect concrete surfaces during protection from spills, mud, and heavy traffic.
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.
Hairline and shrinkage cracks occur because of rapid moisture loss, also known as “plastic shrinkage,” before it dries.
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.
A polished concrete floor simply looks better, lasts longer than a sealed concrete floor, and costs between $3.5 to $5 per square foot. Below is a very basic overview of the benefits and drawbacks of a polished concrete floor.
Most professional flooring experts require a three phase polished concrete floor maintenance approach in order to restore a polished concrete floor to its previous glory. Generally, every 2-3 years, a polished concrete floor with regular foot traffic and weathering will require professional maintenance.
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 is easy to maintain because of its durability – sweeping and scrubbing daily is the majority of the maintenance work needed. High-traffic areas may need more attention, as the floor is prone to heel scuffs, spills and other soils, while a low-traffic area may look great with just daily sweeping.
Although polished concrete floors are stain-resistant, they can still stain if spills are not cleaned promptly.
They usually appear soon after it's poured. These fine surface cracks are often cosmetic and not signs of serious structural damage. If the rest of the concrete is sound and the surface is primarily smooth, fix the crazing by applying a resurfacing product.
Generally, cracks with a width of less than 0.3 mm are acceptable and do not affect the structure. However, they may develop and grow to become structural cracks. Therefore, one should monitor small cracks on houses or structures.
Ask any contractor if they can guarantee that the concrete patio they pour won't crack, and they will all give you the very same answer: No. This is because concrete will crack; no matter what anybody does, there is just no avoiding the fact that concrete cracks.