Areas Ideals for Applications: Show Rooms, Super Markets, Domestic Dwellings, Shop Malls, Schools, Restaurants, Garages, Hospitals, Retail Shops, Industries, Boutiques, Cafeterias. Polished concrete is desirable for those who want a stylish easy to maintain floor that can withstand the abuse of everyday life. With decorative concrete, you can transform that boring floor into a floor that looks like cordovan leather.

Moving outside, polished concrete floors have many advantages over the popular wood deck. With wood decks, you must stain and seal it each year. Maintenance work is high. Decorative concretes are strong and withstand almost any weather condition. The beauty of decorative is beyond compare. You can make your floors into the more expensive stones and pavers at a fraction of a cost. Concrete is versatile and can be conjured into any shape. Even ordinary, gray concrete can be stained to a glossy finish.

Polishing concrete is not a do-it-yourself job; it requires specialists and special equipments. Polishing enhances an existing surface and brings out the landmarks and character of its previous life. Regardless of whether you own a home or office, consulting with a contractor is a good idea when weighing the options for your polished concrete flooring. They will be able to point out the factors you may not have considered previously, and detail the best course of action, going through with a particular decorative concrete alteration such as polishing or staining and then future maintenance. When properly done, this technique can bring depth and detail to an ordinary surface and save you both money and headache in the long run. Xtreme Polishing Systems welcomes home and business owners, architects, designers and contractors to collaborate with them.

Decorating with concrete is not something you would ordinarily think of doing, but when you learn about its versatility and beauty, the more tempting it becomes to think of concrete work as an art form. Decorative concrete can transform your thinking as well as your floors, pool decks, and countertops.

Polished Concrete for Old or New Floors:

If you have an existing concrete floor and would like to give it a fresh new look, polishing is definitely a great option. The only “major” preparation that usually needs to be done is a little cleaning. The installer can power-wash your old concrete floors in order to prepare them for polishing. After that, he can get to work on doing the actual polishing – and you’ll be left with a stunning new floor.

Perhaps you’ve been thinking about having concrete floors installed, but aren’t thrilled about their lacklustre appearance. In that case, polishing may be just what you need. If you’re on the fence about having concrete floors installed, you should know that having them polished can make them look absolutely amazing. The one thing you probably need to take note of is that a professional installer will most likely wait a minimum of 1 month before polishing newly poured concrete. This is so that the concrete has time to set properly. After that period of time, the floor can be polished to a beautiful shine.

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Preparing Your Concrete Floor:

As preparation, in some instances your polished concrete professional will add penetrating hardeners to your concrete floors in order to make them ready for polishing. A professional can look at your concrete floors to determine whether or not they are suitable for polishing. If hardeners need to be added, don’t worry – that step can be accomplished very quickly. Many times, it is done after the initial grinding stage is complete. It produces a nice crystalline structure that is conducive to producing truly amazing polished floors.

Dry Polishing and Wet Polishing:

More than likely, your polished concrete company will use a combination of dry and wet polishing. The initial grinding is usually done using dry grinding. Dry polishing equipment has built-in dust containment units on it to keep dust at bay. Later, wet polishing equipment will be used to produce the shiny, glossy look that you want. Wet polishing produces less friction; its cooling effects help generate the polished look that you are after. Once the process is complete, occasional dusting is all that should be necessary when it comes to maintaining your concrete floors. They may need to rebuffed later on, but that shouldn’t be necessary for a very long time.

The latest diamond technology that gets the concrete surface naturally polished is appealing to people looking for an aesthetically pleasing, minimum maintenance and ecologically sound flooring solution.

Polished concrete systems are designed to grind, cure and polish concrete floors to eliminate the need for environment-damaging chemicals and constant resurfacing with paint or resin. It creates floors with a high gloss, contemporary looking finish.

How ecologically friendly is the POLISHED concrete? Is it really so “Green”?

“Green” approval is interlaced with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, (LEED) certification. LEED addresses the major concerns of green building including: the use of resource-friendly materials, energy saving design, and providing healthy indoor environmental quality (IEQ).

Lets evaluate how polished concrete responds to LEED requirements.

Nature of Concrete

Concrete consists of crushed stone, sand, cement and water. All ingredients are perfectly natural, therefore have a very low carbon footprint. No plastic, no glue, no by-product. 5* ECO rating!

Material Production

Concrete is always produced within the short distance to the job site therefore utilizes regional materials, resources and local labor supply. There is no need to ship concrete over long distances, which can result in wasted energy. Transportation costs and carbon emissions are reasonably low. Locally produced – locally consumed. No China made – Go Canadian!

Installation of Polished Concrete

Specifically designed refinishing machines use thermo-resistant diamond bits to progressively smooth the concrete floor. As a result, the surface gets polished, highly reflecting sheen by pressurized heated mechanical abrasion, which obviously does not produce harmful Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), chemical fumes or like. A concrete floor will not require the use of adhesives or sealers, in contrast with carpet, wood, stone, tile, and especially VCT. The densifier-hardener does not produce any fumes. The lithium silicate creates a hardening reaction with the calcium hydroxide occurring naturally in concrete. Therefore, the installation of polished concrete is indeed, a pollution-free “Green” process.

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Grinded concrete dust is a valuable material and can be safely reuses or recycled.

Use this dust for your next housing project!

Energy Factor

Finished concrete dramatically saves energy. During summer, the concrete slab draws the ground’s natural cooling abilities into the building. In the winter, if a building has been designed to expose the slab to natural sunlight, it will soak up this radiant heat. Then at night, the slab will slowly release the heat into the building to provide thermal comfort and a warmer interior. Some smart folks install radiant heated polished concrete and really enjoy the “King” life.

As a result, the energy bill for heating and cooling goes down considerably. Good for you, good for our Earth!

Indoor Air Quality

Our everyday life is mostly indoors; therefore, good air quality is a crucial factor for the health. Mold, dust, allergens from animals, fungal contaminants and unpleasant smell affect our life daily. Vinyl tiles absorb fumes and tobacco odor, dust mites like to reside in carpets and mold blooms in the grouts.

On the contrary, a polished and sealed concrete surface can greatly reduce the penetration of moisture and hence, the growth of bacteria. Polished concrete is the best covering option where an allergy free, VOC free and fumes free environment is required. Remember, 40% of North Americans have various allergies, and this number is growing!

Lifespan of Concrete Floor

Polished concrete is a long-lasting solution due to its unique durability. This long-lasting floor will not need to be refinished, disposed or replaced. It is a lifetime solution; therefore it eliminates waste, without using a vast amount of resources that it takes to install new flooring, like VCT, laminate or epoxy.

A concrete floor destined to outlast its owner. And is it “Green” feature? Probably.

How “Eco-Friendly” is the Maintenance?

Unlike painted or resinous floors, polished concrete also requires no further treatment or coating. No waxing / stripping cycles, no steam cleaning and no solvent sealers, like other coverings, needed. In the long term, this will GREATLY save costs since no labor, resurfacing or expensive cleaning materials are required, nor is there a loss of productivity while the floor is repainted or re-coated. Cleaning the polished surface requires only stone soap and water; kind to both the environment and the floor.

Therefore, from a maintenance prospective, the polished concrete has one of the highest ratings in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, (LEED) program. In result, your hired maintenance company, building superintendent or even your homeland “Boss-Lady” will love to clean the polished concrete floor!

Concrete dusting can be completely avoided by using polished concrete and this will help you to keep your home or business place completely clean and safe. Concrete dusting can cause serious breathing problems for infants and children.
Water and other contaminants will never penetrate the surface of concrete slabs because it’s polished with resistive materials.
The strength of concrete dramatically comes up with concrete polishing, which also is considered as the reason to polish concrete floors.
There is no better way for you to customize your lighting set up than polished concrete. Indoor lighting works really well with polished concrete. This is way a lot of showrooms, dance clubs have already tired the same. It’s also believed that the energy consumption can be brought down dramatically with enhanced lighting set up.
Though polished concrete looks extremely shiny and beautiful, they are one of the best slip resistant flooring options in the business, especially when compared to natural stones and vitrified tiles.
Industries always prefer going for polished concrete because they are excellent in eliminating tire marks created by fork trucks and carts. There is no resin to burn the surface of a polished concrete floor and this is the reason for them to respond exceptionally well with harsh conditions.
Decreased floor maintenance is another great advantage. You literally can save a lot of money on maintenance costs and in the long run, this will prove to be a very valuable investment.
As you can see, polished concrete is one of the most cost effective and maintenance free flooring solutions available at the moment. However you can enjoy all these financial benefits without compromising on visual appeal and that’s the true beauty of going for polished concrete floors.

The art of polishing concrete has been in existence since many years while it has been a craze recently because of luxurious looks and cheap price. Polished concrete requires less maintenance and so finds its applications in large commercial organizations. An interesting fact about polished concrete floors is that these are eco-friendly and so is a safe flooring option. Other than that, such floors are free from allergies and highly resistant to mites and similar organisms.

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You can find options for polished concrete in a variety of designs and colors that greatly imitates the look of high grade stones. And the credit goes to the advanced polishing equipment technology. With this no-wax flooring technique, contractors today transform both new and old concrete floors into a new glossy one. Concrete is poured onto the floors and is stained according to homeowners’ requirements and taste. Staining with colors replicates the usual look of concrete and creates high luster floors.

Polishing concrete can be done in different levels from mild to high-gloss in a perfect way to meet the choices of homeowners. Choosing polished concrete floors has many advantages when compared to other flooring materials used for construction. The smooth appeal attained with the help of stain concrete works best for complex organizations like hotels, restaurants, hospitals, etc. Choosing a reputable contractor in your area can help you discover the unique designs possible with concrete and guides with providing elegant looking floors.

There are two different ways of concrete polishing, the dry and wet polishing. To know what suits your requirements best, you can check online for reviews and customer experiences. Doing a research online will also give you information about cost and other factors about concrete polishing methods. Installation of polished concrete is simple and so is the maintenance. No special maintenance is required as a regular cleaning alone is enough for maintaining the luster and quality of these smooth floors. To achieve the shine and smoothness of your need, it’s necessary that you choose a contractor company with enough expertise.

With its superior durability, versatility and performance, polished concrete is still the top most choice of majority of homeowners.

Concrete is commonly installed in floors and outdoor living spaces earlier. Nowadays kitchens and bathrooms are also remodeled and made unique in appearance with polished concrete floors at affordable costs. Whether you look for traditional or modern style decoration, you can find a variety of concrete designs to match your choice and requirements. Investments you make for home is more important when compared to other expenses. Remodeling living rooms and outdoors with polished concrete is one of the excellent investments since it offers many benefits.

Along with making the floors look great, polished concrete is energy efficient and requires only little maintenance. Since this is easy to clean and allergen free, is mostly preferred by people when compared to other flooring options. It’s now possible to create contemporary styles of polished concrete since you can find professional companies offering finest designs and flooring options at reasonable prices. Unique patterns and different colors of concrete are also available so that you can refurbish your homes with stunning designs and colors to make it look exceptional.

Flooring with polished concrete is done using various techniques including trowelling and burnishing. Also special aggregates are added to concrete to get fascinating colors and designs. Polished concrete floors created over marble, tile, granite and stones give smooth and lustrous flooring to your living rooms. Whether you’re renovating your old homes or decorating new homes, using polished concrete flooring is a good and beneficial option. Advancement in polishing equipments and techniques is the reason behind the increasing popularity of concrete floors worldwide.

Professional remodeling companies offer interesting options for remodeling your homes and outdoors like stamped concrete patios, concrete flooring and decorative concrete driveways in a much reasonable cost. Browse online as there are a variety of beautiful patterns and colors available depending upon your choice and budget for you to choose from.

Polished concrete floors are obtained by using polishing disks with coarse diamond segments to remove blemishes, stains, light coatings, and minor pits from the floors. Depending on the condition of the floor and the level of polishing required, rough grinding is done for about 3 to 4 times. This floor is then further polished using finer grits of polishing disk. Polishing is done to get the desired level of sheen, with contractors switching between different polishing disks in the process. Experienced polishers know when to switch grits just by observing the floor and the amount of material to be removed. At the final stage is the process of concrete sealing which is done applying a sealer that hardens the concrete. Some professionals apply commercial polishing agents to enhance the appeal.

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What are the costs involved:

Polishing concrete floorings are definitely cheaper than natural stones such as granite and marble. Costs usually depend on the area to be covered, the complexity of the design, the desired sheen to be achieved, and the number of workmen involved. However, they depend from place to place. Also, the larger the place, lesser are the costs. Smaller rooms would need smaller equipments and the difficulty in getting into smaller space, and the difficulty in achieving consistency in the design.

Maintenance of the polished concrete flooring:

Contrary to popular belief, polished concrete floorings are easy to maintain as they do not require regular waxing or other sealers. Dust moping and wet moping (with some cleaning solution) can remove the dust and grime, and also ensure that the floor looks shiny. Soil and other particles can act as abrasives and hence its important that you mop it with microfiber pads. Also, when wet mopping, make sure that the cleaner does not dry on the surface (although give it some time to absorb the dust and grime), as it might leave an ugly mark on the surface.

Unlike wood you dont have to worry about waxing or using sealers. Routine maintenance includes dust mopping and wet mopping. This removes the dust and stain that gets collected on the floor. Water and a simple chemical free cleaning agents are enough to clean the floor. And if the floor is stained, a simple mop with a soft pad is enough to clean it. A major problem with other types of floorings is that they need to be protected from stains and hence need floor covering materials like carpets etc. Concrete flooring is also available in a wide variety of colors and can be used to create a stunning visual effect. Patterns can be created by cutting into the surface and creating a tile effect or any other desired effect.

They can also be made to replicate the effect of natural stone. This is done by acid staining the concrete with a variety of acids and then polishing it to create an effect of marble and granite. The technology used to polish concrete has advanced to such a level that it is now possible to create high polished floors that do not need waxing or polishing at all. You can get different levels of sheen; from satin to high gloss.

Polished concrete is popularly believed to be slippery. But these arent any more glossy that ordinary concrete and yet less slippery than polished marble. But if youre worried about the accidents, you can always apply anti-slip conditioners. These conditioners contain additives that make these surfaces less prone to accidents.

But before you choose a contractor for concrete polishing, make sure to exercise caution. There are several companies that claim superior work that lasts long. But not all of them can deliver their promises and hence make sure that you speak to a registered and certified professional.

Polished concrete floors can take the mundane gray surface and bring out features that already exist but would never be noticed. It can also improve the mood of workers and also increase ambient light levels, therefore reducing power needs. It can transform an area that is dirty and difficult to clean into a low maintenance area that requires no polishing and only a broom to keep it looking like new.

To create polished concrete floors, a liquid hardener that penetrates the surface of the material is applied by a technician, and allowed to dry. This hardener transforms the porous surface into a rock hard impenetrable surface. The surface is then ready for the first grinding. A disc with diamond grit, mixed with a metal matrix is used to grind the surface, evenly and systematically, until it is flat and smooth and devoid of chips and dimples. This may take a couple of passes of the technician and his floor grinding machine. After that, it is ready for the following steps. A finer grit which is mixed with a matrix of resin or plastic is then selected to be used to produce a hard sheen. The technician will decide on the number of the grit, according to the surface condition and the desired finish he is trying to achieve. Several more steps may be used with a final grit as high as 1500 to achieve the desired finish.

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Polished concrete floors can turn what is a high maintenance surface that absorbs grease, liquids and grime, into a surface that stays clean and shiny without cracking or crumbling. The benefits can be applied to many different areas with a diverse amount of uses including:

Manufacturing. Polished concrete floors resist grease and oil and heavy foot traffic.
Warehouses. Skid marks from lifts are easily removed and increased light level mean better visibility and better safety.
Food Processing. Resistant to spills of all kinds and high pressure hose downs. Able to withstand extremes in temperatures with no effect.
Retail. An attractive surface that can withstand the constant flow of shopping cart, low lift and foot traffic. Resistant to tracked-in dirt, water and mud.
Repair and maintenance shops. Easily cleaned and durable. Will not chip or crack easily from impact.
Hangars and garages. Can tolerate heavy vehicular traffic and will not absorb oil and fuel spills.
Commercial buildings and hotels. Certain mixes of aggregates when polished will rival expensive granite in aesthetic quality for a much lower cost, greater durability and less maintenance.
Institutions. An excellent choice for schools, hospitals and penal institutions.
Polished concrete floors can be an excellent green floor choice for virtually any commercial and even some residential situations. An old cement floor, regardless of cleanliness and condition, can be almost magically transformed into a handsome, shiny surface with tiny pieces of stone that in many cases actually sparkle. For new construction many different mixes are available to determine the final look of the finished surface. In new installations color may even be added to the mix. The benefits are many and the limitations are few, making polished concrete the material of choice for many architects, building owners, developers and designers. Low maintenance, beauty, durability and energy efficiency add up to the perfect solution for today’s demanding indoor environments.

If polished concrete floors are being considered for your building, be sure to seek out a contractor who has all the extensive training required to perform the task with the specialized skill that is requires. This is not a procedure to be done by an inexperienced company. It requires not only training but expensive equipment that is used specifically for this type of surface

Hiperfloor is a coating free system with the objective of providing a finished floor with little ongoing maintenance.
Your floor should be maintained on a regular basis by vacuuming and cleaning in the following manner: To bucket of warm water, add recommended amount of “Tough Green” Cleaner (or low ph cleaner), and mop floor with a microfibre mop. The floor should be damp for the shortest time possible. This will leave the floor clean & streak free. This simple cleaning should be carried out as required to keep the floor looking its best.
Avoid cleaning with any other products as this may cause rejection of coating when maintenance is required.
CAUTION: Concrete floors may be slippery, particularly when wet, please take care as no responsibility is accepted. Do not use any buffing type machine or product or any type of abrasive cleaner as this will dull the surface.
PERIODICAL MAINTENANCE
Low Traffic Areas / Residential
Depending on the surrounding environment these areas will require a burnish using a high speed burnisher with Red Nylon Pads only when deemed necessary.
High Traffic Areas / Commercial
Burnish on a regular basis with a high speed burnisher using Red Nylon Pads to maintain a high gloss and or dust free surface.
Caution: Do not use any Bleach Based or Citrus Based Cleaners
Simple Tips:
Fit protective pads to chairs & tables.
Castor legs should be fitted into castor cups.
Use a dry Microfibre Mop regularly.
Avoid direct heat from free standing heaters.
Spills should be cleaned up straight away to avoid penetration or damage.