Uncoated concrete wears pretty well, at least most of the time. It is however, susceptible to damage both in the way the original mix and spreading in the first place was applied as well as the damages of everyday traffic and use. Polishing concrete protects the floor surface, provides a reflective and easy to clean finish that is attractive and slip-resistant. 

Unfinished concrete is labor-intensive to clean. First, it must be vacuumed, then a harsh chemical (ammonia is suggested) to scrub the floors with a stiff brush or other commercial cleaning devices. While performing this bare concrete scrubbing process, dust and dirt can quickly accumulate. Polished concrete on the other hand only requires a mild detergent with water and mopping. Polished concrete is clearly an easier process that doesn’t require all the time, effort, and investment to maintain your commercial floors.

How do you know it’s the right time to invest your money and effort into polishing your existing concrete floor? Let’s examine these seven parameters: 

1. Most importantly, your business does not have to be shut down for the polishing process. Polished concrete requires little to no shutdown of facilities during the application process, saving your company time, money and in some cases, resources. Generally, the cost for having this done is normally the first thing companies bring up when considering whether or not to attempt to repair a floor with imperfections and in need of a good polishing. The cost shouldn’t be your only concern, the safety of your employees should probably be at the top of the list for your company.

2. In the course of everyday wear and tear of traffic moving all over concrete (whether on foot or in vehicles), concrete produces dust which irritates the skin and the lungs. For many employees, this causes air-born allergies to flare up to the point that it increases absences due to lung infection illnesses. Can your company afford to pay for paid absences due to illnesses to your employees that could have been prevented? Polished concrete floors cuts down on these irritants so you don’t have those paid absences.

3. Are there cracks throughout the flooring? Not only are they unsightly, but they can lead to further cracking, weaknesses beneath the floor surface especially during weather changes such as thaws and freezes, flooding, hurricanes, and especially earthquakes. They can also unnoticeably let in moisture that can lead to unseen mold which can attribute to allergens in the air as well.

4. Does your concrete have unsightly stains that don’t come out with the usual scrubbing using detergent and ammonia solutions with a stiff brush or commercial scrubber? If your facility uses chemicals of any kind such as in a laboratory, a garage, a dry cleaners, or in a processing plant for example, the concrete could be absorbing toxic chemicals that it continually releases back into the air creating an unhealthy environment for anyone who enters the building.

5. Has the floor begun to chip or pit? Pitting can be caused by poor mixing in the original pour of the floor, while chipping can be caused by heavy pedestrian and commercial vehicle traffic. Regardless of the cause, they are unsightly, and a place for dirt to get trapped in which is unhealthy and a major contributor to air pollution and allergens.

6. This same dust and dirt is difficult to clean, from air ducts as well as the floor. Polishing the concrete floors cuts down on both of these efforts.

7. Not only are all of the above damages to floors an eyesore that traps contaminants, but they are also dangerous to walk over and drive machinery over as well.

8. Bonus: Polishing your concrete floors will increase the lighting in your building by as much as 100% over an unpolished concrete floor. Not only will that improve visibility, but it can also actually cut down on your electric bills.  And it can make the entire building feel warmer too. 

Polished concrete comes in numerous, highly attractive finishes from contemporary to traditional. Each floor is unique. You get an endless variety of colors and textures with polished concrete. It can imitate granite or marble at a fraction of the cost and it comes with much simpler maintenance since it only requires a mop and a mild cleanser. It’s also much more environmentally friendly than other flooring options. Polished concrete can also be ground down to aggregate to make it look like a terrazzo finish.    

It can have a matte, gloss, or high gloss finish. You can choose from an endless variety of colors.  You can have staining that mimics ceramic tile in as complicated a pattern as you desire. If you want to create a custom design or company logo, graphics can be inlaid into this flooring. The possibilities are only limited to your imagination. 

Polishing your concrete floors is far cheaper than the alternatives: Epoxy floor coating for example will likely require you to close your facility for a few days or longer while the coating dries; Granite or marble which for many companies is cost prohibitive may be prone to cracking and need more long-term maintenance and cleaning. 

Other choices include carpet, which simply will not endure over time. It harbors mold, mildew, and nasty microorganisms that are very unhealthy for you. The tile option will also need much more maintenance and cleaning because it collects dirt, grease, and other harmful bacteria that resides in the tile grout. 

By now, you should have a good understanding of the advantages of a polished concrete floor, and know the signs when your commercial floor needs concrete polishing, and when it is time to bring in a a well-trained crew to turn your worn out floor into an attractive and useful surface.

A good way to qualify a company that’s well suited to do this work, is to ask if they are licensed, bonded, and insured. Also ask these questions to make sure you are working with a legitimate company who has experience with these types of flooring projects. Ask how long they’ve been in business. Ask to see examples of their past work. Ask for references and call those references to ensure that they have lived with their floors for the long term and are satisfied with the product, workmanship, finish, and customer service. This will give you and your company the peace of mind necessary to continue a dialoge and proceed with the job. 

At the end of the day, you will have a floor that not only looks beautiful, but gives you the benefits of lower overhead costs because of its ease of maintenance, fewer repairs, and long-term durability. A floor that has a high slip-resistance rating, resists chemical penetration, is environmentally friendly with low allergen production, and is even fire-resistant.

With polished concrete floors, you and your company can be confident you’ve made a wise choice.

DISCOVER THE DIFFERENCE WITH EPOXY FLOORING PROS – (248) 759-8055 FOR A FREE ESTIMATE