The Pros And Cons Of Polished Concrete

When it comes to concrete floors, there are plenty of options for homeowners and businesses to choose from. One of them is polished concrete. It is a great choice if you are looking for clean, shiny, smooth, and, most importantly, durable flooring. Guardian Garage Floors, one of the top garage floor coating companies in the area, takes a look at its benefits and drawbacks.

What Is Polished Concrete?

Polished concrete flooring is made through a process that involves grinding the surface to remove any dirt, oil, and other debris. Polishing compounds are then applied and worked onto the floor using a polisher. The end result is an attractive high-gloss finish that can last for years with proper care and maintenance.

Benefits Of Polished Concrete Floors

Polished concrete floors are a common sight in industrial and commercial buildings where there’s no chemical exposure or food production and packaging are a part of daily operations. They’re among the many cost-effective types of concrete flooring on the market.

Drawbacks Of Polished Concrete Floors

Polished flooring, however, has its disadvantages. The application method discussed above can’t be done on broken, old, and severely cracked concrete. Damaged concrete, therefore, must be replaced first before polishing. It is also not as durable as an epoxy garage floor or its other counterparts, and must be cleaned with a scrubber frequently to restore its sheen. Maintaining its clean appearance may not be worth the effort, especially for many business owners.

A Better Alternative

Nowadays, homeowners and businesses alike look for other alternative flooring solutions that can give them value for money without the extensive maintenance. Polyaspartic floor coatings, for instance, have numerous advantages that make them a more versatile choice over polished concrete. These include:

• Ease of installation. Polyaspartic floor coatings can be applied using a squeegee, nap roller, or seal-coat broom. After application, the flooring can be ready for foot traffic in an hour or two.

• Slip resistance. The coating creates a hard, sealed shell that creates a textured surface for better traction underfoot.

• Durability and ease of maintenance. With proper installation, polyaspartic flooring can last a long time — no need to deal with concrete floor replacement every few years. It is also non-porous, which means cleaning spills and debris is a breeze.

• Color choices. Polished concrete floors might be glossy, but you’re only limited to only a single color scheme. Polyaspartic coatings, meanwhile, come in many different color choices, giving you freedom to customize your flooring with aesthetics in mind.

For top-quality garage floor coating services, turn to Guardian Garage Floors. Our experienced technicians have the best combination of experience and equipment to quickly and conveniently install polyaspartic coatings on residential, commercial and industrial concrete floors. Call us at (615) 645-3696, or fill out our online form to request an estimate.