polished concrete floors
Concrete floors are a popular choice for various reasons–they’re low maintenance, durable, and can be installed in many colors and styles. There is no denying that polished concrete floors look beautiful and make a bold statement. However, this type of flooring comes with a few key pros and cons that you should be aware of before deciding. In this article, we’ll look at the pros and cons of polished concrete floors and help you decide if this is the style of flooring for you.
Luxury Polished Concrete Floors
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Craftsman Concrete Floors provides innovative, eco-friendly concrete flooring services for both residential and commercial projects across Texas. Whether designing a new build or renovating an existing space, our experienced team is committed to delivering meticulous customer service and satisfaction, segment-leading expertise, and an equally stunning and sustainable finished product.
Pros of Polished Concrete Floors
Are you looking for a floor that will make your home or business look amazing? If so, polished concrete floors might be the perfect option for you. This article will share the advantages and disadvantages of using polished concrete floors in your residential or commercial property.
They’re Durable
We’ve designed our polished concrete floors to last longer than other flooring options. We install polished concrete in various heavy-traffic commercial uses, including kitchens, retail, airports, warehouses, restaurants, etc. Because the wear surface of a polished concrete floor is extremely hard, polished concrete does not show scratches or scuffs. Further, polished concrete never requires the use of wax or sealers, so they are not only durable but also low maintenance.
To learn more, visit our ‘6 reasons why polished concrete is the most durable flooring‘ page
They look Great
Whether looking for a fresh update to your business or building a new home, polished concrete floors are a great choice. With abundant design options, including styles, and finishes, one can create tailor-made aesthetics to perfectly complement your project.
Because of their versatile aesthetics, concrete floors are the perfect solution for a modern residential project, barndominium, or office renovation.
They’re Inexpensive to Install
Polished concrete costs less to install than most other types of flooring, making them an affordable choice for those on a budget. On average, polished concrete floors range between $4 – $10 per square foot. In contrast, other common flooring options like hardwood or tile typically start over $10 per sq. ft. Simply put, polished concrete floors are the best value flooring you can install for your new residential construction project.
Visit our polished concrete price calculator for everything you need to know about pricing polished concrete floors for your project.
They’re Eco-Friendly
Because concrete floors use the existing structural concrete of a building rather than flooring installed on top of the slab, they’re inherently very environmentally friendly. This means concrete floors use less energy and water to install than any other type of flooring. In fact, Polished concrete floors are so environmentally friendly that they’re one of the primary sources of environmental tax credits and LEED credits for builders.
Because polished concrete floors do not require periodic repair and replacement like other types of floors (tile, wood, vinyl, etc.), installing them can reduce lifetime waste by up to 97%. Additionally, concrete is a high thermal mass material i.e. they have an inherent ability to absorb heat during the day and release it gradually at night, making it an ideal flooring option for passive solar building plans.
They’re Easy to Clean
Polished concrete floors are easy to clean, thanks to their smooth finish. You only need a vacuum and a damp microfiber mop for regular maintenance. With such an easy cleaning process, large businesses often install polished concrete floors to reduce their daily cleaning costs.
For more info, visit our ‘top 3 cleaners for polished concrete floors‘ page.
They’re Safer
Unlike other types of flooring such as wood, carpet, or vinyl laminate, Polished Concrete Floors are VOC-Free. Due to their unique installation process, polished concrete floors do not release volatile organic compounds into the air you breathe.
Inhaling volatile organic compounds is linked with many negative health impacts, including migraines, allergies, throat and eye irritation, and kidney damage. This makes Polished Concrete Floors ideal for residential projects, especially households with children and pets. We installed polished concrete floors in many medical facilities and diagnostic centers for the same reason.
Because of its very flat surface, polished concrete is considered a slip-resistant floor. Polished concrete is more slip-resistant than any other smooth, hard flooring type. Because of this, we often install polished concrete in high-traffic retail stores such as Walmart or Home Depot.
They’re Moisture and Flood Resistant
Polishing a concrete floor involves a penetrating liquid called a silicate densifier which reduces the natural porosity of the concrete. This reduction in porosity translates to a reduction in the amount of moisture that a polished concrete floor will absorb when exposed to spills or floods. In most cases, polished concrete floors require no repair after a flood, such as those commonly experienced by homeowners when pipes break during a freeze.
Polished Concrete Floors Gallery
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Cons of Polished Concrete Floors
Polished Concrete Floors in Texas are becoming increasingly popular, offering many advantages over traditional floors, especially in new residential projects. Here are some points to consider when installing polished concrete floors:
The Quality of The Concrete Pour is Critical
Because polished concrete floors utilize the existing concrete slab, the quality of the concrete pour dramatically influences a finished floor’s appearance. If you’re pouring a concrete slab you know will later be polished, follow our ‘tips and tricks for concrete pours’ guide to get the best-looking floor possible.
To learn more, visit ‘5 tips for the perfect concrete pour‘
They are Hard
While concrete floors are a durable and resilient material, their inherent hardness can be fatiguing for workers because the floors have no ‘give’. To counteract this, we recommend thoughtfully placing anti-fatigue mats in facilities where employees must stand for large portions of the day.
They can be Cold
Because polished concrete floors have a high thermal mass, they generally feel slightly cool to the touch. While this will reduce your energy bills during the summer, concrete floors will feel cool in the winter–similar to a tile floor. To combat the cool-feeling floor, radiant heating may be added to polished concrete floors.
Looking for More Information about Polished Concrete Floors?
Our primary polished concrete page has resources and galleries to help you learn more about polished concrete floors. As always, give us a call for a free consultation.
About Craftsman Concrete Floors
At Craftsman Concrete Floors, we specialize in luxury residential and commercial polished concrete installations. With nearly 25 years of experience installing concrete floors and terrazzo, we’re the preferred installer of countless luxury designers, builders, and architects.
Our in-house design team is available at no cost to help you achieve your project’s desired goals. We employ well-known veterans of the decorative concrete industry, many with decades of experience. Proudly, all our employees are full-time W-2 employees receiving a living wage. At Craftsman Concrete Floors, we never subcontract jobs.
