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​Thinking of specifying concrete polishing for your project? Polished concrete is an excellent flooring option in almost any setting. It offers design, functionality, and ecological properties that can't be achieved with any other type of flooring. The benefits of concrete polishing include:

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  • Strength - A properly polished and densified floor can increase the natural strength of the concrete by up to 400%. No other type of flooring can compare to that.

  • Ambient light reflection - Increase the amount of natural light of your project with just your floors. Specifying high gloss concrete floors will help to increase light reflection, reducing the amount of lighting required, which will in turn reduce building and operating costs.

  • Slip resistance - Most people assume concrete floors are slippery. However, the static coefficient of friction for a properly polished floor is .50, equivalent to the required OSHA standard.

  • Endless design possibilities - We like to think of a concrete slab as an artist thinks of a blank canvas; it is the foundation for almost any type of floor you can imagine. The sheen levels can vary from matte to high gloss, almost any color or pattern can be achieved, and the designs can be as clean and simple or intricate and elaborate as desired.

  • Ecological - Polished concrete floors are considered very Eco-friendly. The products used in the concrete polishing process qualify for LEED EQ credit 4.1: low-emitting adhesive and sealants, and EQ 4.2: low emitting paints and coatings. Neither the products nor finished floors produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

  • Cost effective - Depending on design options, polished concrete typically has a very economical installation cost. Most flooring options require the purchase of material plus the cost of installation. Because the floors are created using the concrete foundation already in place for the construction of the building, the installation costs rival those of VCT and tile options.

  • Very low maintenance - Concrete floors are very easy to maintain. Sweeping, mopping and scrubbing are a breeze, and the use of densifier-based cleaners can actually improve the quality of the floors over time. Concrete floors have the potential to last the life of the building.

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Inappropriate Applications for Polished Concrete
Concrete polishing isn't perfect in every application; however, there are typically concrete alternatives to use in these settings

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  • Restrooms or Acid-Exposed Areas

Acidic substances, particularly those left for long periods of time, will deteriorate the polish. Due to the acidity in urine, polished concrete is not ideal for use in bathrooms or other areas exposed to acidic substances with any type of regularity. There are many sealers on the market that withstand exposure to urine, so sealed concrete in these areas is a good option.

  • Wet Areas

Acidic substances, particularly those left for long periods of time, will deteriorate the polish. Due to the acidity in urine, polished concrete is not ideal for use in bathrooms or other areas exposed to acidic substances with any type of regularity. There are many sealers on the market that withstand exposure to urine, so sealed concrete in these areas is a good option.

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Think polished concrete is a great option for your project? Click the link below to download our Polished Concrete Master Spec, or click the "Help Me Modify" button for help on perfecting the spec for your project.

 

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Updated Feb 2018

If you need a modifiable MS Word copy of the spec, please contact us via email or phone. If you have any questions or need any assistance customizing the spec to your project, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Our spec is ever-evolving, as our growing industry is constantly changing, so please periodically check the website for updated versions.

Densifier Discussion

​Sodium Silicate. Lithium Silicate. Potassium Silicate. Sodium Silicanate. Colloidal Silica. What?!

 

What is a densifier and why is it important?

 

With the development of polished concrete we have seen a number of new products introduced to assist contractors with the polishing process.  The most significant development in concrete polishing has been the introduction of concrete densifiers.  There are a large number of concrete densifiers available on the market today, and choosing the right densifier for your project can seem like a very daunting task when considering all of the available options.  Here we will try to shed some light on the subject of densifiers, and provide you with some information in determining the best product to use on your floor.

 

There are several different types of densifiers on the market with regard to the chemical composition.  Sodium silicate, lithium silicate, and potassium silicate are the different compounds we'll discuss in this article.  The densifier is applied to the floor to create a denser surface structure and increase the longevity of the polish on the floor.  The primary way in which they do this is by increasing the abrasion resistance of the floor making the surface less susceptible to scratching, scuffing, and dusting.  Dusting is the process of the concrete surface deteriorating and creating fine dust particles on the surface as it wears.  This is the most common and most detrimental issue with polished concrete in that it wears the polished surface away and exposes the unpolished surface below.  The primary purpose for applying a densifier to a polished concrete surface is to prevent this from occurring.

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