6 Key Questions Answered About Polished Concrete Flooring

Give a distinctive look to your home with the raw and elegant beauty of polished concrete flooring

Pooja Khanna Tyagi 6 November 2019

Houzz India Contributor. An Architect , Interior Designer, Valuer, a Marathon Runner, and love Writing Poetry and Creative Stories on Building Design. Have been practicing since the year 2000 with specialization in the field of Corporate Interiors with projects extensively published in journals of national repute. Recently honoured with the reputed A3 Foundation award for Journalism for the year 2016. Currently practicing and residing in Delhi. Website: www.khannaenterprise.com, Email: poojakhanna224@gmail.com, M:9891993392

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A concrete floor refers to the exposed floor slab which forms the raw flooring as well as the structural element of the building. The raw floor can either be finished with flooring materials such as tiles, wood and natural stone, or it can be left exposed and polished to form polished concrete flooring. Usually, an additional topping layer of concrete is poured over the existing concrete slab, which is then followed by polishing.

Centrum Architects

1. How is polished concrete flooring installed?

The raw surface of the existing floor is cleared so that it is free from dust and debris. A reinforcing mesh is placed on the base floor, which reduces the risk of the concrete cracking. Next, a concrete mixture, comprising aggregate, cement, water and colour additives (optional), is prepared and poured onto the reinforcing mesh.
Once the concrete is poured, it is levelled. Adequate time should be given for the curing and setting of concrete. Note that concrete will take at least 14–28 days to achieve maximum hardness, after which it can be polished.
After the concrete is fully set, heavy-duty machines are used to grind the concrete surface to achieve the desired smoothness and shine, which ranges from a satin fijish to a high-gloss one.
Lastly, the surface should be sealed with a penetrating sealant so as to make the flooring resistant to damage caused by stains and spills.

Between Spaces

2. What are the benefits of polished concrete flooring?

Polished concrete flooring is a hard-wearing flooring material, it is highly durable and lasts a lifetime.
These floors have an anti-skid surface.
Polished concrete flooring is very easy to clean and maintain. The routine cleaning consists of sweeping and then wiping with a damp mop.
This flooring stands out because it offers various possibilities in terms of colour, pattern and design, which can change the look and feel of any space.
Another plus is that polished concrete flooring is environmentally friendly. This is because the surface of the raw concrete floor does not need to be additionally finished with other flooring materials such as tiles, stone or wood, which reduces the carbon footprint.
Polished concrete flooring is flexible. It can be cast with joint lines or as a seamless surface without any joint lines. Also, it can be poured to create various shapes.

3. What are the disadvantages of polished concrete flooring?

Polished concrete flooring is extremely hard and may cause injury if someone hits the surface hard. Hence, it is not advisable to be used in areas that are used by children or elders.
Also, the hardness of polished concrete flooring makes it uncomfortable to stand upon for a long period of time.
Polished concrete flooring feels hot in summer and cold in winter.

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Cornerstone Architects

Another disadvantage is that polished concrete flooring has the tendency to get damaged by water seepage from the ground, especially in the coastal areas. This may result in the growth of mould and mildew.
Polished concrete flooring is porous, which makes it susceptible to staining and damage caused by spills. Make it a point to periodically seal the flooring.
Another minus is that polished concrete flooring has the tendency to develops cracks over time, just as you can see in the image above.

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NIMMO American Studio For Progressive Architecture

4. Which areas are most suitable for its installation?

Polished concrete flooring can be installed indoors as well as in the outdoor areas of the home. It is highly suitable for outdoor areas such as the terrace, patio and driveway because of its high resistance to the effects of the weather.
Polished concrete flooring is preferred for high-traffic commercial spaces, warehouses, basements and so on.

Tip: A light polish will give the concrete surface a very natural look whereas a heavy polish will expose the aggregate, as in the image above.

Why Concrete Flooring Deserves Your Top Consideration

Architecture Paradigm

In this example, just see how polished concrete flooring is used to create a seamless flooring between the indoors and the outdoors.

5. What is its cost?
The cost of polished concrete flooring starts at ₹60 per square foot.

How to Embrace Concrete in Your Home

Dipen Gada and Associates

6. How to add colour to a polished concrete floor?

Who says polished concrete flooring has to look dull and grey? In this example, the polished concrete flooring is stained blue to give the bedroom a bold and bright look.
For new flooring, colours can be mixed directly into the concrete before it is poured on the floor, while an existing concrete flooring can be coloured with concrete stains that penetrate deep into the concrete flooring, or by painting with concrete floor paint.

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Blue Sky Building Company

In this example, the polished concrete flooring is stamped with the print of natural wood grain to create a stunning effect.

Read more:
These 10 Indian Homes Prove That Concrete Is Cool
Why Concrete Flooring Deserves Your Top Consideration

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Have you use polished concrete flooring in your home? We would like to see it. Share images in Comments below.