Chances are that you will have seen a polished concrete surface at least a few times when out and about in commercial shopping centres or other locations of commerce or industry. We’ll also wager that you might not have known that you were looking at concrete, perhaps mistaking the surface in question for vinyl, resin or tile.
Polished concrete has in fact been around for decades now, combining the material that the world has fallen in love with, with a process that makes it more attractive. This article will provide an overview of polished concrete, answering any questions you might have on its origin.
What is Polished Concrete?
As the name suggests, polished concrete is any concrete surface that has been processed to give it a smoother, more aesthetically pleasing appearance. This process is known as polishing as it gives concrete – a traditionally dull material – a shine to rival the shiniest ceramic tile.
The construction industry has had an ongoing love affair with concrete as a building material for centuries. It is cost effective, relatively easy to produce, environmentally friendly and best of all, it performs well.
If you look at any large structure, especially anything taller than 3 storeys – you will often find that it has been constructed from concrete. Each individual floor will be concrete as will the walls and of course the buildings foundation.
What is becoming more prevalent is the use of concrete internally, as a finish. This takes shape as exposed concrete ceilings and walls to plinths and other architectural features constructed from concrete.
Why Polish Concrete?
Concrete has traditionally been used as a structural material which meant that the quality of its finish wasn’t paramount as it would usually be hidden from public view internally.
To make concrete more acceptable as an interior finish, polishing was the adopted solution. In addition, polishing and sealing concrete can actually protect its surface when installed in high foot traffic areas which can see the surface of unpolished concrete blister and crack over time.
Polished Floors and Walls
The two most popular interior concrete components of any building to polish are the floor and walls. This also includes exposed concrete pillars and columns which are kept in plain sight within the circulation areas of some buildings.
That high sheen, glass like finish which can sometimes resemble marble is purely down to the polishing process.
Residential, Commercial and Industrial
It is perfectly possible to install a new or retrospectively polish a concrete floor in any type of building. That includes a typical office as well as our own private homes. Perth polished concrete is available to all those who reside or are based in Western Australia and would like a modern flooring solution of their own. The cost of laying a new polished concrete floor varies by the level of sheen as well as the amount of aggregate present within the concrete but a personalised quotation is available to all those interested from several concrete specialists.
Concrete doesn’t seem to be going out of fashion any time soon so consider the installation or polishing of your own concrete surfaces.