Advantages and Disadvantages of Polished Concrete Floors

May. 27, 2024

Advantages and Disadvantages of Polished Concrete Floors

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Generally speaking, the disadvantages of polished concrete floors are very few. They involve things like discoloration, stains that are deeply embedded in the concrete, or imprints made when the concrete slab was initially poured. These disadvantages do not occur after a concrete floor has been polished and sealed, though. They are all pre-existing conditions from having a concrete slab that has not been sealed or maintained properly throughout the years.

All of these sorts of blemishes should be identified by your contractor prior to the start of your project. A flooring contractor with a keen eye and experience in the trade will be able to adequately manage his customers&#; expectations prior to commencing a project, and let you know exactly what to expect from your floor.

Polished concrete has, over the last decade or so, become one of the most popular flooring solutions available in today&#;s marketplace due to its affordability, ease of maintenance, efficiency, cleanliness, and ability to aesthetically fit into both industrial and posh environments.

As opposed to most other flooring options available, polished concrete floors come with a myriad of benefits that are unique to its own installation. Here is our list of advantages polished concrete flooring solutions provide to our customers:

Affordable

Polished Concrete floors are more economical than their hardwood, tile, marble or stone alternatives. Typically, the cost of polishing a concrete floor will match up to or be less than the cost of purchasing the materials for a tile or hardwood flooring installation.

Bottom-Line

Polished Concrete floors save facilities a ton of money in maintenance costs. While other flooring solutions require stripping, waxing and refinishing, a polished concrete floor requires no maintenance after it has been installed and remains intact permanently.

Longevity

As long as your concrete slab remains in place, so will your polished concrete floor. There is no potential for flooring failure, delimitation or lifting or breaking. Other sorts of flooring systems, for example, suffer by comparison. There will be no need for touch-up work or repair, no matter how long you keep your polished concrete floor.

Invulnerable to Moisture Damage and Mold

Unlike other flooring options, polished concrete is immune to moisture damage and mold, making it a great choice for families with allergy vulnerability or asthmatics.

Versatility

Polished concrete allows business owners and homeowners an unlimited set of options as to color and design. Polished concrete floors can be used in indoor applications as well as outdoor applications and can be stained and dyed with an unlimited variety of colors and designs.

Simple Care

The only care and maintenance that is required for a polished concrete floor is to swab it once a week with a neutral-based cleaner and water. That&#;s it.

Environmentally Friendly

There are no dangerous or harmful chemicals involved in the installation of polished concrete flooring systems. They are totally safe for you, your employees, customers and children. These flooring systems resist against mustiness, allergens and fungus.

Design

The stains and dyes available for polished concrete floors are limitless. You can choose different colors and different aggregates to incorporate into your concrete flooring system to achieve whatever aesthetic you want. Additionally, there are no grout-lines since these floors are completely seamless. The seamless attributes of these flooring systems open up and free any space of clutter and offer your clients and guest a more welcoming environment.

At Blackrock Industrial, we specialize in the installation of Polished Concrete floors and Decorative Concrete Overlayments and are known as one of the most reputable concrete flooring contractors in Florida. We take pride in our work and also in our ability to offer the most competitive pricing in this arena due to the fact we do not subcontract any of our work and own all of our machines and tooling.

Give us a call or Submit an Inquiry on our website to schedule a site visit with one of our installation specialists in order to receive an exact quotation for your concrete flooring project.

Should I Use Liquid Floor Screed or Traditional Floor Screed?

Whether you are looking for guidance on your next project or simply a refresher on the best liquid or traditional screed applications, our simple guide can help you understand this surface. If you are entirely new to using screed as a material, visit our introduction to screed blog post to learn more.

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What are the Different Types of Floor Screeds?

The variety of screed you use will depend on the type of concrete base, your expectations for the surface, and the standard of your foundations

There are three standard categories of screed available on the market: bonded, unbonded and floating all of which can be applied through both liquid and traditional screed methods.

Bonded: This is directly connected to the concrete subfloor (substrate) with an adhesive. The surface of the concrete must be roughened, and a bonding agent thoroughly applied for application to be successful. This thinner application typically lies between 25-40mm

Unbonded: Laid on a PVC/damp-proof membrane, separating it from the concrete substrate makes this surface an excellent choice in buildings where dampness presents a severe problem. This type of screed is ideal for thicknesses exceeding 50mm.

Floating screed: These unbonded surfaces are often used to reinforce an acoustic or thermal layer. In order to remain effective and long-lasting floating screed requires a minimum thickness of 65mm.

Liquid Screed

Liquid screed, also known as anhydrite screed, uses a binding agent called calcium sulphate instead of cement. Once water has been added, a reaction occurs, which creates gypsum until the calcium substrate has been depleted. This makes for a highly durable, self-levelling sub-floor, compatible with all floor types. This form of screed offers a low environmental impact and a range of benefits over traditional screeds. They are pumped, free &#;owing and can be installed in bays of up to m2 before any expansion joints to reduce movement are required. They hold twice the thermal conductivity of traditional screeds, making them ideal for under&#;oor heating applications.

Traditional Floor Screed

Traditional sand cement screed is regularly projects of all sizes, from domestic to large scale industry and commercial applications. Mesh and/or fibres can be added to increase strength and durability and reduce cracks caused by shrinkage.

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages to Liquid Screed?

Liquid screed lends itself to many applications, but its effectiveness depends on location and usage.

Advantages of liquid screed include:

Low labour costs: As liquid screed is poured from a hose, it can be over ten times quicker than laying a traditional screed surface, cutting down on overall labour costs.

Cost reduction: Costs are further reduced due to thin application depths, down to 35mm. Underfloor heating included, depths could be as low as 45mm in total, still remarkably thin by conventional standards.

Self-levelling: Pumped liquid screeds are effectively self-levelling and self-curing, translating into a sleek finish. This is particularly useful for remedying precast concrete beams and block floors with a camber that may cause problems when laying the final floor surface.

Suitable for underfloor heating: The liquid consistency envelopes the pipes eliminating voids and enhancing heat transfer between the pipes and the screed.

Disadvantages of liquid screed include:

Involved prep work: An expert must correctly prepare the initial pouring surface and final product before embarking on the next stage. This can cost you both in labour and in tools as screed cannot be poured without the floor first being sanded, tanked and any insulation covered by polythene. The final product must also be sanded as curing liquid anhydrite screed produces laitance, which could potentially impair the laying of the floor above it.

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages to Traditional Dry Screed?

Advantages of traditional screed include:

Durability: These hardwearing, durable surfaces work perfectly in heavy load applications and can last many years.

Energy efficiency: These floors commonly possess a high thermal mass. This can help improve the building&#;s thermal retention, improve energy efficiency, and reduce waste energy and cost.

Damp resistance: Once cured, traditional screed is non-absorbent. Lending itself to applications such as basements or industrial buildings.

Low maintenance: Traditional dry screed is easily maintained with a stiff brush and warm soapy water. It can also be polished to give it a more aesthetic appearance if left bare.

Disadvantages of this method include:

There is no adequate patching method available: If a large crack, fissure, or pothole appeared on this surface, it is almost impossible to patch in a way that doesn&#;t act as a weak point later down the line. This can be very costly as if something severe happens to this screed, as it will have to be entirely replaced.

No flexibility: Unlike liquid screed, once set, traditional screed has minimal to no flexibility, making it prone to cracking when general subsidence or land movement occurs.

What Type of Screeding Works Best for Different Projects?

Screed is as unique as your project and can be adapted to your individual needs, for example, adding resilience by incorporating mesh. The screed you choose can dramatically impact the outcome of your project, so before booking, we recommend you talk to our team, who can help guide you through the decision-making process.

Start a Conversation with Axtell on Your Next Project

Axtell are leading providers of liquid screed services across our area. With over 20 years of knowledge and experience, we are proud to provide the highest quality of products and services at the best prices. We are proud stockists of LKAB Gypsol classic and Gypsol Rapide Screed, both renowned for their respective environmental credentials in their sector.