Several flooring options are available for those buying a new house and looking for flooring choices or those who plan to renovate their home. Polished concrete flooring ranks among the most widely preferred flooring among Australians, along with timber, tiles, and vinyl. An increasing number of homeowners opt for residential polished concrete flooring.
Its versatility, affordability, and durability have made polished concrete flooring popular. It is mainly assumed that residential polished concrete flooring does not have too many options to offer its customers. Depending on your choice and budget, you can select various options.
Residential Polished Concrete Flooring Choices
The final look of a polished concrete floor depends on the kind of grinding done to achieve the desired finished product. The type of grinding required determines the cost of the concrete flooring project. Based on it, residential polished concrete flooring can be divided into three types:
Grind and seal concrete floors
This is the simplest and most affordable of all options as it involves minimal grinding and is less labor-intensive. This process includes grinding the concrete first, and then a topical sealer is applied to seal the surface. The sealer may get damaged with time and use, but this can be fixed by re-sealing the concrete surface every few years
Honed concrete floors
A penetrative sealer is used to protect the floor surface, which increases its durability. This procedure involves grinding the surface of an existing concrete floor using diamond tooling to achieve a flat, smooth finish. These are not slippery and are often preferred around the pool area and verandah.
Mechanically polished concrete floors
The floor's grinding, honing, and polishing using diamond-bonded abrasives. Then a chemical hardener is applied to solidify the concrete surface. Differing levels of shine and gloss can be obtained through varying degrees of grinding. This is an expensive option, but it looks as good as new for a long time and is popular among house owners.
Once you decide the kind of residential polished concrete flooring you want for your house, nothing should stop you from going ahead. The benefits of polished concrete flooring are many, as you shall see below.
Advantages Of Having Residential Polished Concrete Flooring In Your Home
Easy to maintain
Concrete is the toughest material one can use for floors and requires almost negligible maintenance. Thus making it a preferable choice by many. Routine cleaning is all that is required to keep this flooring looking shiny. The solution used for mopping must have a neutral pH value to protect the surface.
Highly durable
Its toughness as a material adds to its durability, and with minimal care, it can look the same for years. It can also tolerate heavy footfalls, which is more relevant for commercial spaces than residential polished concrete flooring. Staining and scratching floors is an issue with children and pets, but it is resistant to both, making it an excellent option for homes.
Saves money on energy bills
Its thermal mass material ensures that its ability to store heat and release it slowly makes it suitable for summers and winters. In summers, it absorbs the cool night temperatures and releases them during the daytime, and in winters, it soaks in the heat during the day and releases them at night, keeping them warm. You can save on your electricity or gas bills, thus making it a sustainable and eco-friendly option.
Adds style to your interiors
Polished concrete floors can achieve a smooth finished look, and with the inclusion of colors and textures, a highly elegant and sophisticated look can also be achieved.
Conclusion
Due to its many benefits and styling options, residential polished concrete flooring has become one of the Australian homes' most widely preferred choices.
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