Thursday, January 29, 2009

Investigating Polished Concrete

By Sam Weyland

They say that it's the future of floor design. To a growing number of people, they say that concrete polishing is the most optimal way to spend on floors, as most structures have a concrete foundation anyway. But is that really the case? Does the abundance of concrete equate to a good material for design?

There are many hailed advantages of polished concrete over its competitors, foremost among them are aesthetics, toughness, cost and availability. Over the course of this article, I will go over each one, and then decide if this type of flooring method is indeed as good as they say it is.

Of course, if you've seen polished concrete in the past, then you will probably agree that the finish is elegant. I use the word "probably", because beauty is relative. Everyone has different ideas of what a beautiful floor should be like, so I would call this a moot point. I will assume that all the other options are likewise aesthetically appealing throughout the remainder of this article.

But if beauty is not really an accurate criterion, then durability is. One of the things that you would want from your floor is ability to stay functional for a long time. After all, changing it on a regular basis will quickly result in it being expensive (which we will go to later). Concrete itself is very tough, but the polishing process closes the material, and makes it last even longer. This claim is 100% true.

Affordability, again, is a contested issue. Yes, the cost of having it done by a contractor is relatively cheap. But if you are a dedicated do-it-yourself kind of guy, then you probably won't be fond of concrete polishing. The diamond-related polishers are expensive, and truth be told, you probably won't be able to do as good a job. In short, this option is indeed cheap, but you have to find a contractor that won't screw you over.

Finally, there's the issue of availability. They claim that concrete is available as the foundation of your floor in the majority of cases; however, a major drawback for concrete polishing is not mentioned. Simply put, not all concrete is fit for a good polish. Polished concrete is a good choice, granted your concrete is polishable to begin with. - 17913

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