Polished concrete is an exceptional flooring alternative. Its durability, versatility and industrial chic have seen its popularity rise in recent years. Discover how it's installed, what it costs and what's involved in maintaining it.
Traditionally reserved for garages and driveways, warehouses and other industrial spaces, concrete has elevated itself as a premium choice for residential projects. From heritage-style renovations to contemporary new builds, it offers renovators a seamless finish with modern elegance. However, polished concrete flooring presents some challenges in terms of planning and timing. Decisions will need to be made early in your project, allowing installation at the correct time, accounting for curing times and also factoring the cost within your budget.
Concrete flooring is extremely hardwearing and essentially scratch and chip resistant. Requiring very little maintenance after installation, the surface is easier to clean than other flooring alternatives and will last for generations. Offering a gentle, natural appearance, it can be polished smooth or honed to expose stone and aggregate for a decorative effect, with either a high gloss or matte finish.
Concrete flooring is also considered an eco-friendly option, offering longevity, thermal efficiency, no requirement for additional flooring layers and is made from all-natural materials. Thanks to its compatibility with in-floor heating, this durable flooring finish is also invitingly warm under foot.
Polished concrete will set you back between $50 - $170 per square metre. This will depend entirely on whether you are polishing existing concrete or laying new concrete to be treated, as well as the type of finish you are going for. Polished concrete involves a detailed mechanical process to gradually smooth the concrete surface to the desired finish. The upfront costs are usually higher, but it requires much less maintenance over the longer term.
Honed concrete, also known as grind and seal, involves grinding down the concrete to expose your preferred amount of the underlying aggregate and then treating it with a topical sealant. For this reason, it's often more affordable to install honed concrete but more ongoing maintenance is required - roughly every 3-7 years.
Any concrete pour must always be carried out by a professional, as there are many variables to consider that an amateur just may not be aware of. In renovations and new builds, it's a good idea to lay concrete floors before any doors or door tracks are fitted. Plus, kitchen units and partition walls should always be built on top of the finished floor.
While the bulk of the curing process happens within the first few days, concrete can take up to 28 days to dry fully - even in our warm Australian climate. This time needs to be factored into any project as the floor needs to be completely cured before any additional polishing or finishing can take place. The other consideration for internal concrete is the structural integrity of the building and its ability to support the extra weight - around 200kg per square metre.
One of the key positives of concrete flooring is that they require very little maintenance. Simply a regular sweep, vacuum and mop will keep them free of debris and grime. After installation, check with your provider which cleaning products will suit yours best to keep it vibrant and prolong its life.
Call us today on 0410 238 215 to speak to the team about how you would like to incorporate the versatility and elegance of concrete in your home in Sydney's Northern Beaches or North Shore area.