Polished concrete surfacing is an excellent alternative to older, far more expensive traditional flooring options. Aesthetically, polished concrete can mimic the lustre of precious stones like marble and granite while keeping its physical resilience. Additionally, polished concrete surfaces are sealed with protective epoxy coatings, which help waterproof the surface. Compared to other bare concrete surfaces, this extends the longevity of the surface by lessening water-related problems.
The concrete and epoxy layers create an aesthetically pleasing and functional flooring option. Additionally, it requires little to no additional materials to add a beautiful new look to existing concrete floors.
But how does one polish something as stone-solid as concrete? And what makes the extra coating so unique?
The Concrete Resurfacing Process:
Concrete resurfacing requires ‘surface preparation’ for an existing floor to proceed to finishing and sealing.
What is Surface Preparation?
Surface preparation uses diamond grinders with various grades of diamond-encrusted belts to even out a surface before any coatings are applied. This involves hours of re-applying these belts over the surface uniformly until the desired smoothness and sheen are acquired—the shiner the floor, the more intensive the polishing process.
Diamond Grinders
Diamond grinders are large devices that scour over floors with belts encrusted with diamond particles. These belts operate like sandpaper, ranging from larger to smaller grains for different purposes. The ‘grit’ as they are called, are measured on a scale; lower numbers indicate courser (larger) sized grit, and higher numbers consequently reflect finer grit.
Initially, the belts with larger grains in them are used to clear out vast amounts of debris. This is especially true with older concrete surfaces that are pitted, covered in grout, or have significant depressions. This step of the grinding process is much like applying a general coat of paint, or in this case, wiping the slate clean.
Finer grades of grit are for the detail-oriented parts of polishing, otherwise known as the part that controls the surface’s shine.
The CSP Scale (Concrete Surface Profile Scale)
An additional measure called the CSP or ‘concrete profile scale’ measures the concrete floor’s coarseness or smoothness. The CSP scale is contained between 1-10, with lower numbers indicating the most smooth surfaces, and higher numbers indicating coarse finishes.
While it may seem contradictory to purposely desire an extremely coarse texture, it does have its applications. Some bonding agents require divots in order to latch onto properly, and concrete surface preparation can be used for more than just floors. Pools that need to be prepared for coatings can be prepared with concrete grinding.
Crack Repair
Common issues that must be dealt with before the resurfacing process begin involve cracks. Cracks are prevalent in older concrete surfaces, created by water-induced fault lines. These cracks not only represent a destabilized foundation; they also represent an ugly and uneven surface. Many contractors will provide concrete crack repair by filling these cracks with epoxy resins so as to restore them back to normal.
Re-polishing Existing Concrete Floors
The benefit of polished concrete surfacing is that it can be used on existing concrete floors. The first step of creating a new concrete project is to do surface preparation. Surface preparation comes in the form of diamond grinding, as we discussed; however, it also can appear as acid washing and sand-blasting. The purpose of surface preparation is to remove caked-on dirt, grease, and paint for the epoxy bonding agents to correctly and evenly bond to the surface.
When the concrete is completely leveled, a surfacing agent usually made from epoxy is applied. This substance forms a protective layer, which makes the concrete mostly waterproof, slip-proof, and resistant to scratches from wear.
Benefits of Indoor Polished Concrete Surfacing:
Concrete resurfacing is a popular choice because of the functional improvements it brings to standard concrete floors. Its simplicity makes it a cost-effective and attractive solution.
Water Resistance
Even though concrete is associated with dense, heavy objects, it is quite porous. Concrete surfaces and bricks all have microscopic holes in them, allowing water to seep into them and damage them. When water seeps into concrete pores, they begin to erode at the concrete foundation, resulting in cracks. Untreated water infiltration can lead to a structural loss in concrete.
Stain Resistance
In addition to being water resistant, polished concrete similarly prevents staining from occurring. Since the epoxy coating infiltrates and seals the pores within the concrete surface, it becomes very repellant. Polished concrete will repel water, paint, oils, and greases that naturally accumulate in untreated surfaces.
Imperviousness to Mould
Along with being resistant to water damage, the same kind of structural damages can occur as a result of mould. If water can enter concrete pores, that same water provides ample opportunity for mould growth, which can still be very damaging. The mould itself will not damage the infrastructure of the concrete. Still, it can discolour the surface and cause additional health problems if left untreated. Excessive mould growth can produce mycotoxins, and provide other bacterial microbes opportunity to fester. This is not safe for any kind of environment and can create lasting problems that can only be fixed with professional mould remediation.
Increased Life and Durability
The most attractive aspects of concrete are its durability, which is why it is used as the foundation of buildings. Polished concrete only adds to this longevity with its extra strength derived from epoxy coatings.
One interesting fact is that polished and sealed concrete is more durable than regular concrete. This is because the resin not only creates a protective layer, it also seeps into the porous structure of the concrete. This allows for protective resins to expand inside the tiny cavities that water would typically infiltrate. The new density provided by this internal expansion is what doubles the strength of polished concrete.
Slip Resistance
Polished concrete floors are commonly mistaken as being more slippery than average. Don’t let the sheen of polished concrete fool you; walking on polished concrete surfaces is not the same as walking on an ice rink. Concrete and polished concrete is no more slippery than the average tile or hardwood floor system. Regular foot traffic should not cause any trouble or accidents unless you have below-average traction for some reason.
Epoxy can have anti-slip formulas added to it.
Slipping may become a hazard when the floor is wet; a universal hazard for most floor systems.
Accentuated Ambient Lighting
An energy-efficient by-product of polished concrete, especially the highly polished floors, is accentuated ambient lighting. Specifically, highly reflective floors can distribute and amplify even the smallest amount of light. Due to the principle of ‘bounced light’ and the nature of light particles, the nearby ambient light increases.
Think of reflective polished floors like a mirror that photons bounce off of. Like a rubber ball, light particles are continually bouncing off surfaces, desaturating in colour each time this happens. This is why walls surrounding a reflective surface are much brighter than they would generally be.
Does not Produce Efflorescence
Surpassing another by-product of untreated concrete, polished concrete does not produce efflorescence, saving unnecessary cleaning expenditures. Efflorescence occurs in porous materials like concrete and involves a salt being pulled from the substance. Water can enter the pores of concrete, drawing out internal salts present in the mortar. When this happens, white, solid mineral deposits begin growing. Sometimes mistaken for mould, these deposits act similarly to stalagmites found in caves, and are not harmful to your health.
Minor efflorescence can appear as a white, chalky substance that covers the outer layers of masonry, which can sometimes be seen on brick walls. The main disadvantage of efflorescence is the aesthetic disruption they cause. However, they can grow to be minor physical obstructions in some cases.
Concrete Surface Maintenance:
Polished concrete is a great and cost-effective decorative flooring option because of its shine. Maintaining the shine of polished concrete will require regular maintenance.
Use a Microfiber Mop
Microfiber cloths and mops are required for cleaning polished concrete because of their non-abrasive qualities. With polished concrete, anything that is rough or aggravating can create small scratches in the epoxy layer surface, which can dull the shine over time. Additionally, microfiber cloths and pads can absorb more soil particulates than regular mops, which is very important.
Soil and dirt can also damage and scratch epoxy surfaces. Using a microfiber cleaning tool will prevent the cleaning process itself from damaging the floor by mopping with aggravating dirt particles.
Do not use Harsh Chemicals or Anything Acidic.
Acid treatments and harsh industrial cleaners like ammonia or bleach are sometimes used to remove stains from floors. This is one of the worst approaches to cleaning a polished concrete floor, as the harsh chemicals will dull the shine in the long run. Acidic chemicals will destabilize and erode the epoxy coating that gives polished concrete its benefits.
Avoid Using Overly Sudsy Cleaners or Letting Cleaners Dry On Polished Concrete Surfaces.
Soap and bubbles are a sign that a degreaser is working correctly. The soap traps and separates grease, oils, and dirt from surfaces. While this is ideal for a cleaning solution, it may not be so suitable for a polished concrete floor. Leaving any cleaning agent, especially bubbly ones, to dry can dull the shine of your floor. Soap can leave a layer of film which muddles the surface.
Sweep Daily
Since dirt and debris are aggregators, it makes sense that daily sweeping is part of maintaining a polished surface. As mentioned previously, dirt grains will scratch surfaces, causing damage and dulling epoxy layers. Foot traffic only worsens this, as shoes can scrap and dig the grain into the resin.
August 19, 2020 9:55 am