We cover our floors in various materials for the look and feel, ranging from carpet to wood and stone, tile, laminate and other options. When we build a new house, it usually has a concrete slab to start, which is covered soon after that.
What about leaving the floor bare? While it may seem unfinished, exposed concrete floors are beautiful, modern, and on-trend for upscale homes. Polished concrete flooring is a beautiful feature to any building.
Do you want to opt for a great look with lots of options? Here are the types of polished concrete floors for your home.
What Is Polished Concrete?
We all know what concrete looks like, and it is a combination of cement, aggregate (sand and gravel) and water that, when mixed, becomes a solid mass, like a rock. Foundations are poured with this mixture to form a solid base to build our homes. But to keep your floor as concrete, and it needs to be treated so it is no longer porous and susceptible to damage.
Polishing is a multi-step process including the:
- Sealing
- Grinding
- Hardening
- Polishing
- Finishing
This leaves and incredible finish that is stain-resistant, hypoallergenic, hard-wearing and easy to clean.
Now let’s look at the options.
Type #1: Neutral Polish Concrete Floors
It can come in different finish levels for a normal, polished look on your floor.
Soft Matte
This will appear hazy and soft with minimal reflection.
Low Sheen
You will get a little overhead reflection with this low-level sheen. It is the most common level of finish.
Medium Gloss
If you want objects to reflect, this level will provide that. It is typically used in restaurants and retail stores.
High Gloss
With high gloss, it will look as if it is wet and appear as glass, reflecting lots of light.
You will retain that industrial, grey concrete appearance that remains relatively unaltered.
Type #2: Cream Polish Concrete Floors
If you want a more smooth, consistent look, a cream polish may appeal to you. This is also referred to as bronze, and it is easy to achieve as you use diamond pads to enhance the colour. There is no grinding unless the floor is uneven, which could expose the aggregate. This may not work if the floor has scratches or stains, so a newly poured floor works best.
A cream polish will bring out the natural textures and colours of the original poured floor, leaving it in its organic state. If you prefer, you can add a stain to enhance it more.
Type #3: Salt & Pepper Polish Concrete Floors
How about a gold finish for your floors? Salt & pepper polish is gently grinding the surface to reveal small amounts of aggregate that looks like speckles of salt & pepper, and you polish it to achieve a high-gloss finish.
This works for homes and businesses as it blends well in almost any setting. The process takes a little longer but looks great and reflects light well.
Type #4: Exposed Aggregate Concrete Floors
If you want a more striking look, a full or silver aggregate finish is what you may like. The process fully exposes the larger stones in the cement through a deeper grinding of 1-3mm, and it’s left with a matte finish instead of a gloss polish. It is then sealed for protection. You will achieve a granite-like appearance that is skid resistant and takes heavy foot traffic well.
What colour you achieve depends on the geographic origin of the aggregate, and decorative elements like sea shells or coloured glass can sprinkle into the freshly poured concrete.
Benefits of Concrete Floors
Here are some of the advantages of polishing your concrete floors instead of covering them:
Benefit #1: Low Cost
Polishing a concrete floor is low compared to other options like carpet, tile or wood. You also save money over time because it doesn’t need replacement.
Benefit #2: Durable
Concrete gets harder as it ages and is a strong and resilient compound. It is also very difficult to damage as it can handle heavy foot traffic and equipment.
Benefit #3: Lots of Options
You can choose a variety of finishes, textures, colours and even decorative engraving or stencilling if you want.
Benefit #4: Sanitary
With polished concrete, you don’t have to worry about spills because it is waterproof and can have anti-microbial protection. Food and debris have nowhere to hide or build-up, as well as dust and allergens. They are also easy to maintain by simply washing them with a wet rag or mop and some detergent.
Benefit #5: Sustainable
Polished concrete has no harmful coatings or requires adhesives or dangerous coatings. It doesn’t require additional material, as you are just polishing the existing concrete, and you can reduce your artificial lighting because it is naturally reflective.
If you want this modern, clean look, go with polished concrete floors. Choose from the different types, and then enjoy your stylish, resilient floor for years.
