While polished concrete is regarded as low maintenance, that does not mean no maintenance is required. Thus, it is important to regularly clean your floors to keep them safe, dry, and in good condition. The following article will guide you through maintaining your concrete polished Burnaby floors.

Sweep and Scrub Regularly

Polished concrete is easy to maintain due to its high durability. Sweep and scrub your floors daily using a microfibre cloth/mop, as this is most of the maintenance work needed. Soils and dirt are abrasive and can ruin the clarity and shine of polished concrete. However, high-traffic areas may need more attention, as these floors are prone to heel scuffs, spills, and other soils. Always use clean water and clean mops if you choose to mop your floor wet. Use an automatic floor scrubber with a nonabrasive pad to clean large areas. A mop and bucket can be used in smaller cleaning areas.

Choose the Correct Cleaning Solution

When choosing the correct cleaning solution for your concrete, it is essential to note that concrete is a reactive surface, meaning you may need to change the cleaning solutions used in your floor scrubber. Cleaning solutions made for polished concrete are different than those created for wax floors; thus, acidic, or high alkaline products may damage your polished concrete.

Clean Spills Quickly

While polished concrete is generally resistant to spills, it may still be prone to some liquid damage. If spills are left for too long on polished concrete, they can leave stains or eat away at the floor’s protective finish. Therefore, it is highly recommended for you clean any mess on the floors as soon as possible. However, if your concrete polished Burnaby flooring, does become damaged, it can be maintained by Canadian Floor Coatings.

Use Proper Polished Concrete Cleaning Tools

To ensure your polished concrete is always in prime condition, you must use the proper tools best fit for the job to clean and maintain it. Stone care solutions such as Diamabrush’s chemical-free polishing system and Trizact’s Stone Floor Protection System can help ensure floors are smooth, shiny, and bright and extend your floors' life. These tools can be used alongside standard floor scrubbers, meaning staff or you will not have to learn to operate with a new piece of equipment.

Apply A Protective Coat

Polished concrete is completed by applying a sealer, which will wear down over time. Wearing down the seal will make your floors look duller and make them vulnerable to stains or etching. Occasionally, the sealer needs to be reapplied to maintain the floor’s shine and protection.

Polished concrete is easy to maintain and can be an attractive floor type for many commercial applications if maintained well.

So, let's dive in. What are the benefits of polyurethane flooring, and why are more Coquitlam residents and business owners opting to use this resin over other products?

What is Polyurethane Flooring?

From a technical standpoint, polyurethane flooring is part of a larger group of thermosetting polymers. These polymers' molecular structure and density make them uniquely resistant to things like moisture, heat, bacteria, chemicals, and impacts. This inherent durability is why polymer resin floors are so widely used in commercial, industrial, and even residential applications where the environment is a concern.

What Makes Polyurethane Flooring a Good Choice?

Polyurethane flooring offers some distinct advantages over other resin floorings systems that are commonly used in residential and commercial spaces; however, it is also more expensive. Compared to epoxy or polished concrete, polyurethane is more durable, more tolerant of extreme temperatures, and offers better chemical and stain resistance. It is also less prone to surface imperfections like scuffs, scratches, and yellowing.

Also check out: Epoxy Flooring Vs Polyurethane Flooring: Which Is Better?

Temperature Tolerant

Polyurethane flooring can withstand temperatures as high as 120°C and as low as -62°C. Polyurethane offers more flexibility than other resins like epoxy, which allows it to expand and contract during temperature fluctuations, making cracks less likely.

UV Resistant

For areas that receive prolonged direct sun exposure, polyurethane flooring may be a better option than other types of resin, either for the entire floor or used as a protective topcoat. Unlike epoxy, which can sometimes yellow, polyurethane will maintain its appearance, even after years of sun exposure.

Chemical and Stain Resistant

Polyurethane flooring offers exceptional protection against stains, corrosion, and fading. It can withstand a broad range of chemicals and solvents, including natural chemicals like lactic acid, which can corrode and yellow epoxy.

Seamless Surface

Like all resin flooring, polyurethane flooring is poured, resulting in a smooth, seamless finish. This makes cleaning much simpler and is a huge advantage in spaces where bacteria is a concern, as in medical facilities, kitchens, or gyms. An important point to consider with polyurethane flooring is that while it is poured, it rests and dries on the surface of the concrete like a film. This isn't a problem for spaces where the concrete slab is in good condition; however, if there are imperfections or small cracks in the concrete slab, a multi-layer system with an epoxy base may be a better choice.

Moisture Resistant

A big problem with unfinished concrete is that concrete, while very strong, is also very porous. To ensure longevity, concrete should at the very least be sealed. However, in addition to the benefits already covered, polyurethane flooring provides robust protection against humidity and moisture, which can help increase the lifespan of your concrete, protecting against cracks, chips, and buckling.

Durable

Polyurethane flooring is exceptionally durable. It can easily withstand the type of heavy traffic you might see in a warehouse, airport hanger, or food processing plant, with minimal maintenance. Customers opting for polyurethane flooring in Coquitlam will pay more for the initial application, but it has a longer expected lifespan.

Polyurethane flooring offers businesses and residential consumers a highly customizable product that is both durable and functional. It costs more than some of the other available options; however, with the ability to incorporate polyurethane with less expensive resin systems like epoxy, it can be made to fit into almost any budget.

Not just for floors, polished concrete in Burnaby can give both residential and commercial spaces a unique design element, adding an interesting touch to countertops and even walls. If you are interested in incorporating this trending material into your nest project, read on to find out how to get a polished concrete finish in nearly any space.

How to Get It

There are two ways to get a polished concrete surface, although only one is a true concrete polished finish.  The first method involves grinding the existing concrete surface, using a commercial grade floor grinder and progressively finer grits of diamond abrasives, until the desired shine is achieved.  There are 4 levels of polish:

• Matte: This finish will have a hazy appearance with little to no reflection
• Low Sheen: From a distance may appear matte, closer inspection will reveal a slight shine
• Semi-Gloss: Light will reflect from the surface, viable even from a distance
• High-Gloss: Appearance will be similar to that of glass, high reflectivity

This method of mechanically produced concrete polished surfaces is more labour intensive than the “grind and seal” method we will discuss next, and is therefore more expensive. However, this method also produces a result that is low maintenance, highly durable against heavy foot traffic, and has a longer life expectancy.

Similar Post: What You Should Know About Epoxy Installation

“Grind and seal” is virtually indistinguishable from mechanically polished concrete. Concrete polished in Burnaby with this method is also ground down with a diamond abrasive, but rather than using progressively finer grits, a high performance concrete sealer is used to give the desired level of sheen or gloss. This method requires less labour, can be achieve quicker, and is less costly. It is also highly durable and very low maintenance.

How to Use It

Polished concrete isn’t simply a glossy grey surface; colours and stains can be applied in virtually any finish, and while greys and neutral tones are the most popular choices, the possibilities are endless. Decorative stamping and etching details can also be added to give a textured finish, like tile or wood flooring, or used to incorporate design or logo details.

From countertops and focal walls, to floors and stairs, polished concrete can be used in just about any space to add visual appeal and worry free functionality.

How Much It Costs

Polished concrete is a versatile material with endless possibilities that cost significantly less than many comparable options. As with other materials, the cost of a polished concrete floor will depend on the finishes selected, but in general the following comparisons can be made:

• Basic Polished Concrete: comparable to ceramic or carpet, however significantly more durable and customizable with color options
• Mid-Range Polished Concrete: includes more decorative details, such as multiple stain choices and scoring. Comparable in cost to laminate
• High-End Polished Concrete: provides for highly elaborate designs with complex patterns, multiple colour options, and hand applied detailing. Comparable to slate or terrazzo

When it comes to design, functionality, and features, polished concrete offers Burnaby residents a unique choice that is affordable, durable, and visually appealing.

Also Read: Best Floor Coating Option for High Traffic Area