Polished concrete floors

Polished concrete flooring creates a very flat and smooth surface, which is aesthetically beautiful, sustainable and eco-friendly. Polished concrete floors are used in a variety of different settings and is typically chosen for its decorative qualities, low maintenance and durability.

After polishing concrete, dirty grey floors are transformed into stunning, easy to clean, environmentally-friendly and durable surfaces. A polished concrete floor provides an extremely high-quality finish similar in appearance to marble or terrazzo. With a life cycle cost of up to 60% less than any traditional floor covering,

With over 20 years experience polishing and finishing concrete you can be guaranteed we have the knowledge and experience to realize your dream projects.

What is Polished concrete?

Polished concrete floors are achieved by removing the very top layer off a concrete slab, exposing the aggregate underneath.

Removal is achieved by grinding away between 1 mm and 4 mm off the surface with diamond disks.

Once the desired grind is reached, the concrete can be honed and polished until the surface becomes hard and smooth, with a matt or gloss appearance.

Briefly, the concrete polishing technique involves:

• Grinding the concrete down until the desired amount of aggregates appear.
• Consolidating the concrete with a special impregnator. This process causes a chemical change with the result of a higher hardness of the floor.
• Honing and polishing to produce a high gloss shine on the surface.

Each step in the process increases the shine and reflectivity of the polished concrete surface. As it is a multi-step process, you can view the floor at the various stages of grinding to determine the level of shine required.

Benefits of a polished concrete floor

Specifying concrete suitable for a polished concrete floor

The most crucial element of a polished concrete floor is the quality of concrete and the pour. It is vital the slab mix, placement, finish & curing are done correctly You should always work with an experienced contractor. Your concrete slab is your final floor finish and should be treated with this in mind. Standard concrete slabs and old concrete can be polished, the final outcome is determined by the colour and mix of aggregate in the concrete screed.

Polished concrete floor for industrial purposes

Despite the smooth look of polished concrete, it is no more slippery than other types of flooring.

Polished concrete floors are very easy to keep clean even in heavy traffic areas.

The flat surface of a polished concrete floor greatly decreases the vibrations that otherwise occur with forklifts. An absence of a electrical isolating covering reduces the stress on electronic components caused by ESD-disturbances.

Easy maintenance, even with heavy use

The easy maintenance of polished concrete is key in high-traffic areas where trolleys are used – such as airports, hotels, supermarkets and warehouses – eliminating the need for waxes. Non-allergic properties are important for hospitals, private residences, schools, etc.

Its glossy surface resists the marks of forklift truck tyres and staining from chemicals and oil on industrial floors. This versatility and toughness makes the concrete an ideal and ultimate flooring material for most floor applications.

Maintaining the shine requires only minimal effort. Just clean the floor regularly with a damp mop to remove grit, and use a suitable cleaner to enhance the shine. With basic cleaning, the floor will keep its lustre for years.

In high-traffic areas, sometimes buffing the floor with a floor pad will be required. Should more intervention be required, the floor can be lightly re-polished after a couple of years.