Many people believe that concrete is boring; an industrial building material—not anything suitable for usage anywhere requiring an aesthetic touch. These opinions could not be further from reality.

In the past several years, concrete has been reborn. New technology has led to breakthroughs in polishing technology, and polished concrete flooring has taken the world by storm.

Polished concrete in Canberra

is the next big trend, for many good reasons.
What is Polished Concrete?
Basic run-of-the-mill concrete is composed of cement that has been mixed with coarse and fine aggregate materials. The thick, wet raw material can be poured, spread or moulded and, after time and the proper curing techniques, hardens into a durable and easily maintained surface.
Polished concrete is created by taking finely finished concrete and grinding it down progressively, while using sealant materials to create a smoothly-shining and attractive flooring surface. Due to its many benefits and beauty, the popularity of polished concrete in Canberra has skyrocketed.

Polished Concrete Styles

Polished concrete is surprisingly versatile in terms of style. One may choose from the basic grey polished finish to having special aggregate materials, like coloured glass, or even particular items embedded into the top layer of the concrete, such as seashells. Certain finishes resemble marble or granite, and the silky-smooth texture and sheen of the flooring lends a look of luxury to almost any setting.
Many people are using polished concrete in Canberra as a home flooring choice, saving on time and money while increasing their home’s value and visual appeal.

Economic Benefits of Polished Concrete

This type of flooring is not only beautiful, but it is also a very wise investment. Concrete is an extremely cheap and durable building material, and almost every home has a concrete foundation regardless of other construction elements.
The homeowner saves a great deal of money by not having to lay a second flooring surface for aesthetic reasons. There have been some reports that the highly reflective surface of polished concrete in Canberra has lowered some homeowners’ power bills by way of lessening their need for ambient lighting, as well.

Environmental Benefits of polished concrete

The concern for the natural environment has led many people to use polished concrete in Canberra.
Polished concrete flooring requires no waxes or chemical solutions to preserve its sheen, thereby not contributing polluting agents to the water supply. Additionally, there is no need to use additional materials such as wood, stone or artificial plastic-based building supplies, so materials are conserved.
As discussed previously, many satisfied customers have mentioned that their energy bills have gone down, and a drop in the demand for energy is always a good thing.

Comfort in Every Season

A polished concrete floor can actually make your home much more comfortable, regardless of the season. During the wet, cool months of winter, polished concrete in Canberra will absorb the heat of the sunbeams that enter the home through the windows, keeping the home warmer.
Concrete by its very nature absorbs moisture, keeping the floor nice and cool in the heat of the summer. This flooring type is an efficient insulating material that contributes to the overall ambient temperature in a positive way.

Health Benefits of Polished Concrete

Polished concrete is completely dust-free, and does not encourage the growth of fungi, mould, or any other allergenic substance. The surface does not require chemicals to maintain its brilliant shine, so asthmatics and those with breathing problems or chemical sensitivities will find they have fewer health issues.
It is not as slippery as other flooring types, even when wet, despite the high sheen, so there are fewer chances of slips and falls on floors of polished concrete in Canberra during the rainy season.

Where to Use Polished Concrete?

There are many applications for polished concrete in Canberra. Obviously it is wonderful for industrial and health care settings, since it requires hardly any maintenance to keep clean and hygienic.
It is wonderful for office buildings, for the same reasons. Home use for polished concrete flooring is universal. Kitchens, bathrooms, patios, pool areas, garages benefit from this lovely and sturdy flooring, but by adding in design elements as aggregate, it adds a whole new level of personality to a room.
Common aggregates are river stones, black basalt, coloured glass, and granite.

Designing Your Flooring

The choices in designing customized and beautiful flooring schemes for your home using polished concrete in Canberra is limited only by your own imagination.
The floor can be all one type of polished concrete with a certain colour of dye or aggregate, or it can be poured in varying sections that contrast or complement each other.
Add design elements into the top layer of flooring that are typical of the room’s use: baby and child items in a nursery, computer chips in the office, shells and coloured sand on the patio or by the swimming pool.

First Step of the Process: Preparation

If you have chosen to use polished concrete flooring in your home, notify the builder as soon as possible, so they may use the finest finishing process on the raw concrete during construction.
If your home has already been built, call out one of our experts to evaluate the floor, as some concrete will need to be prepared prior to the polishing process. The concrete must be at least 28 days old, to ensure it has cured and hardened properly.
It must be cleaned thoroughly to remove any grease, dirt, dust or other organic matter from the surface.

Second Step: Grinding and Grouting

Once the floor is prepared, it is ground three or four times, and then grout is applied. The first grinding will be done with coarser diamond segments that have been embedded in a metal matrix, but the later grinds will be done with consecutively finer diamond abrasives.
The grout will smooth out any surface imperfections as well as fill and eliminate any air bubbles in the surface that resulted from the original pouring process.
Once the grout has set, the surface is ground down twice more. The surface is now ready to be sealed.

Third Step: Sealing, Curing and Grinding

The sealant, known as a densifier, goes through a chemical reaction when it is applied to concrete, bonding with it to form a crystalline structure that is amazingly durable and smooth.
The floor is then left to cure overnight. After this, the floor is polished another few times with finer-grade diamond abrasives. Once the floor is as perfect as possible, it will have a stain and sealant applied.
After this has cured, the floor is ready to use. It will require only water and the occasional mild cleanser to remove any stickiness or dirt.
The use of polished concrete in Canberra is growing rapidly as more people become aware of the many benefits of using this type of flooring.

Allow us to transform your home into a healthier, safer, more energy-efficient—not to mention more attractive—living space with our professional concrete polishing services.