Because of its association with cold, drafty buildings like jails and warehouses, it is difficult to think of concrete floors as sexy or attractive. But concrete’s unmatched ability to be polished to a brilliant sheen, coupled with its durability, it’s not difficult to imagine concrete becoming the preferred choice for future home remodeling projects.

Here are some of the underlying benefits of choosing concrete over other surfaces:

• It is virtually indestructible
• It holds a remarkable shine
•  It is receptacle to a variety of finishes

Adaptability

Contrary to long-held beliefs, concrete is the ideal surface for any room in the house, even living rooms. The concrete slab’s surface can be refined to compliment a variety of styles and personalities. The hardened surface look just as attractive painted or stained, or with a few strategically-placed area rugs.

The number of decorative ideas are practically limitless with concrete.

Maintenance

Maintaining concrete floors is a snap. The only tools needed is a mop and bucket, and a little soap and water. The finished concrete resists stains and dirt and dries quickly. However, I is a good idea to use a vinyl or water-resistant baseboard to keep moisture away from paneling or drywall.

If, however, you’ve decided to paint the concrete surface, be aware that the paint is likely to show wear over time, but the polished concrete surface will remain unaffected. This is great for End of lease.

Economical

Compared to other surface enhancements, concrete is very economical, costing as few as $2 a sq. ft. to polish. Polished concrete surfaces take on a sheen that rivals anything that could be attained through adding tiles or vinyl.

In addition, concrete surfaces can be customized to project a variety of designs and finishes. The boundaries of which are limited only by the designer’s imagination. However, such elaborate and exotic designs will result in an increase in costs, which can range anywhere from $5-$8.

Top Concrete Polishing Sydney Business

Picture: /academic/architecture/bsc/classes/bsc314/timeline/timeline.htm 

Longevity

With proper maintenance, a concrete floor can be expected to last well in excess of a hundred years. It is safe to say that this projection places the lifespan well outside the reach of both, the homeowner, and the other structural materials that make up the domicile.

So, polishing concrete floors is one area where the homeowner can achieve perfect peace of mind.

Versatility

Let’s not forget concrete’s original purpose as an outdoor surface material. Concrete is great for patios and porches and even walkways. However, it is best to apply a silicon sealant to concrete surfaces that will be exposed to the elements. This will help protect the already durable surface from the tremendous wear-and-tear it will be subjected to as an outdoor flooring.

Polishing your home or apartment concrete surfaces is one way to protect it from everyday wear-and-tear. It is also a great way to improve the aesthetics of your home or apartment. Polishing makes concrete more amenable to a number of surface designs, as well as surface enhancements like paints and stains. Look for concrete to play an increasingly more important role in home and apartment

The post 5 reasons to polish your apartment’s concrete floor appeared first on carol skelton.

Make sure you get a qualified professional concrete polishing company

Many contractors offer a concrete polishing service, but they don’t all offer the same quality service. Research the different companies before choosing one. A helpful place to check for work companies have completed is their feedback section. This is not the type of work you want done by anyone who is not professionally qualified.

To select a company that will professionally install a polished concrete floor look at the services they offer. A qualified installer should offer these services:

* Does the company offer the latest industry techniques?

They should be using the latest techniques that the industry approved. The procedures they follow should ensure a quality job that will last you years without needing repairs. This kind of service can only be provided if the company properly trains their employees. The employees need training on the approved concrete and polishing industry procedures and techniques.

* How is their customer service?

The representatives should be friendly and answer all of your questions with patience and knowledgeable answers. Representatives of the company should have full knowledge of the concrete and polishing industry. Make sure they have policies in place for handling complaints and find out what they are.

* Will installers be friendly, professional and respectful?

You want to be sure the installers are going to respect your property. Check if there is a supervisor that comes to make sure installers are doing a quality and correct job for you. Having friendly and professional installers doing the job for you makes the process much more comfortable. If problems should come up you want to make sure they have a supervisor capable of doing quick problem solving solutions.

* Does the company have a mission statement?

Check with the contractor and ask what their mission statement is. Make sure that it is understandable and that their vision statement can be seen on their website as well as at their physical locations.

* Are there warranties or guarantees in their work?

You want to be sure the contractor is going to stand behind their work and their products. If a problem arises from either, find out how they plan to resolve them.

* What is their rating with the Better Business Bureau?

Ask if the contractor has received any rewards from the Better Business Bureau for their work. Check if they have gotten any acknowledgements for their designs in the concrete and polishing industry. This will be a good sign that they are reputable contractor in the concrete and polishing industry.

Once you’ve gone through this checklist and hired a contractor that fills these requirements, you’re ready to begin. You will now get a quality job done on your concrete polished floor that you’ll enjoy for years.

Read more articles:

/polished-concrete-floors-way-go/

/exactly-concrete/

The post 7 Things To Look For In A Concrete Polishing Company appeared first on carol skelton.

Introduction: Polished Concrete Floors

A polished concrete floor is a foot traffic beauty with a glossy finish look for residential and commercial buildings. Modern polished concrete floors can be customized for coloring, you can create design patterns into the raw concrete, before it is polished, i.e., a company’s logo. You can also place specialized minerals into the concrete and control its reflection, depending on the different levels of polishing methods that are applied.

Methods for Polishing Concrete Floors

Polishing concrete floors requires two different methods – either the wet method or the dry process. Dry polishing is the more common method used, especially in commercial industries. Wet polishing calls for water to cool the diamond abrasives, because water reduces the friction that a grinding machine would use, plus it acts as a natural lubricant. With dry polishing, water is not used, instead a floor polishing machine is used that is connected to a dust elimination system that vacuums up dust, dirt, and other contaminants that are unseen by the human eye. Can both methods be used – yes, the dry method starts the process, then the wet method is used to smooth out the concrete surface.

Are Newly Polished Concrete Floors Safe

Even though polished concrete floors look smooth and slippery, they are completely safe to walk on, even in heels for women. However, the floors must be kept clean and dry. Polished concrete floors have been proven to be safer than many waxed floors or polished marble floors. To keep polished concrete floors safe daily, use these tips:

• experts should apply an anti-slip solution with a grit additive
• accidental trips and falls are eliminated if you keep polished concrete floors free from oil, grease, and liquids like water
• in high traffic areas, use mats or rugs, which can be designed to match your interior

Benefits of a Polished Concrete Floor

• polished concrete floors are extremely durable, thus giving you a longer life cycle savings, while serving as a long term investment
• cleaning is easier with polished concrete floors because all you really need is to use a mop to take off the dust from daily traffic, plus polished concrete floors are allergy free requires less maintenance
• polished concrete floors cost less than traditional floor covering materials
• these floors save energy by reducing the lighting needed from artificial lighting
• concrete polished floors are resistant to moisture and is a more breathable system
• even though you can use rugs for decorative purposes over a polished concrete floor, it is not necessary. It is extremely resistant to high foot traffic areas.

Polished Concrete Versatility Environments

If you are a homeowner or a business that would love to have polished marble or granite flooring, concrete that is highly polished, gives you the same luxurious and beautiful appearance. You can apply a terrazzo look to your concrete by grinding through the top of the concrete surface to reveal the minerals. For a particular design or color, stains can also be applied to polished concrete during the polishing process. Polished concrete floors are highly favored in environments that includes warehouses; retail stores; residential homes; hotels; restaurants; and many office buildings.

Read more articles:

/7-things-look-concrete-polishing-company/

/exactly-concrete/

The post Polished Concrete Floors – The Way To Go appeared first on carol skelton.

Concrete is a material that is commonly used all over society. This substance is used to make roads and as a foundation for railroads and houses. Concrete is also used in warehouses and is often employed for making columns in buildings. When manufacturers make concrete they form this substance by combining specific ingredients such as water, aggregate and cement.

How is Concrete Created?

The cement that is used within concrete is created from powdered limestone and powered clay. Both of these substances are heated together inside of a rotary kiln until they produce a fine gray colored powder. Manufacturers then mix this powder with aggregate and water to make concrete. Aggregate material could consist of materials such as:

• sand
• crushed stone
• gravel
• slag

Old crushed concrete could also be used as an aggregate material within newly formed concrete.

After concrete is formed and molded it sets like stone. This substance creates a strong bond that provides strength and durability to different objects that it was used to create. Concrete is also resistant to the elements. Weather elements such as heat, snow, ice and cold can damage concrete. However, it will usually takes many years before this happens.

The Importance of Reinforcing Concrete

Concrete is a strong substance but it also prone to crack. The material has a weak tension quality. One way that construction workers and builders overcome this problem is by reinforcing the material with steel. Tension is the pulling force that is exerted onto an object. Builders typically use rods, bars and mesh. When concrete is reinforced it is given the ability to hold up under tensile and shear stresses caused by wind, vibrations, and earthquakes. This is extremely important for building construction. Especially in locations where earthquakes and extreme weather conditions are present.

How do Cracks form in Concrete

While concrete is a strong and durable substance it is also prone to cracking. Concrete cracks for many different reasons. When concrete is poured when it is too wet it will cause the substance to shrink once it has set. Sometimes contractors add too much water to the concrete mix. Lack of crack control joints or they are improperly installed. Concrete will usually crack over a period of time but once again this material is strong enough to be used as a foundation over time.

Mixing Concrete

When builders mix concrete they have to combine the ingredients in such a way to ensure that there is enough paste to fill the spaces between the aggregates. Concrete that is not properly mixed will be difficult to mold and will produce concrete with a rough surface. This surface might contain tiny spaces which would make it porous. Mixtures that have more concrete are typically easier to mold and usually produces a smooth surface. Mixing concrete is a science and an art.

The main thing about concrete is that is a necessary building material that is often used in construction projects. Even though the material is not perfect and will eventually crack it still remains the perfect substance for building structures and roads.

Read more articles:

/7-things-look-concrete-polishing-company/

/polished-concrete-floors-way-go/

The post What Exactly is Concrete? appeared first on carol skelton.