Polished Concrete Under the Lens

Written By Chouhab on mercredi 28 janvier 2009 | 07:24

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.

So if beauty is moot, what does matter? Certainly, concrete's longevity is paramount. And I do not think I need to argue with anyone when it comes to the tenacity of a material so commonly used in punished roads. This claim is certainly accurate.

Now comes the cost. Is it really affordable? Well, it would probably be, but then we have to remember something. Unlike most other floor designs, which are reliant on new materials, you're basically paying the service of the floor contractor. So he's about as expensive as he could want to be. The general contractor, however, charges about as much as what you'd pay when you install your own cheap ceramic tiles.

Last, but probably the most important to the discussion, would be the all-too hyped claim that concrete is readily available. This is what I contest the most. You see, while concrete in this day and age is literally everywhere, the proper concrete for polishing is another matter entirely. Concrete is indeed a good choice, as long as you have the right concrete to begin with.

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