Polished concrete has been adopted as an attractive alternative for residential, commercial, and industrial settings in recent years because these floors are easy to maintain and clean and cost-effective compared to other flooring alternatives. If you are carrying out research on different types of flooring systems, you’re probably asking yourself: What is polished concrete?
There’s no direct answer to this question because polished concrete can mean so many things, depending on exactly what you are looking for. Homeowners often choose polished concrete if they want to get rid of the carpet and complement a modern aesthetic. The possibilities are nearly endless.
Concrete Flooring Types: An Overview
One of the many benefits of concrete flooring is that it is very versatile. If you are still in the planning stages of your project, you probably want to know the different types of concrete flooring alternatives to make sure that polished concrete best suits your needs.
Epoxy Coated Concrete
Concrete is basically permeable, meaning it can absorb chemicals, moisture, and other materials. If you need a surface that can withstand exposure to heavy loads, stains, chemicals, and other high demands, epoxy coatings are the best alternative for you.
Polished Concrete
Schools, restaurants, distribution centers, and homes all can have polished concrete floors. A cost-effective alternative to carpeting, vinyl, wood, natural stone or tile, polished concrete is sustainable, easy to clean, and resistant to mildew, mold, mites, and other common allergens. Better yet, existing concrete in almost any condition can be resurfaced and polished to give your space a significant upgrade at a fraction of the cost of other flooring materials.
Stained Concrete
If you want to enhance the natural appeal of concrete and bring out rich, translucent tones, using stained concrete floors is the best option for your project. Rather than sitting on top of your surface, like epoxy, concrete staining permeates below the surface, creating a unique appearance.
Sealed Concrete
As we’ve already discussed, raw concrete is prone to the absorption of moisture and chemicals. In addition, exposure to the elements, improper installation, and excessive weight can result in cracks, spalling, and other imperfections. While concrete is a long-lasting material, over time, it does require upkeep. If you need to rehab an existing surface or want to add new flooring, you’ll want to apply a sealer to your surface to extend its longevity. Depending on your space, you may choose a penetrating sealer, a siloxane sealer, an acrylic sealer, a polyurethane sealer, a clear sealer, or a stamped concrete sealer. You may want to sell your existing floor simply, or this may be the last step in polished concrete or stained concrete project.