How to Choose the Right Concrete Floor Polish for Your Home
How to Choose the Right Concrete Floor Polish for Your Home
For many years, concrete polishing has become a modern and elegant flooring solution in most new homes in Australia due to its durability and easy maintenance. Flooring of concrete can turn an ordinary bare concrete floor into a sleek glossy dance floor or brighten up a room considerably. However, selecting an appropriate type of polish and treatment becomes a real problem as each type offers a distinct surface, longevity and look. This is a short guide to aid you in choosing the right polish for your home with a brief look into different types of concrete treatments on the market.
Decide on the Level of Gloss
Certainly, the level of gloss is one of the most critical aspects to look at when choosing polish for your concrete floors. There are three main finish levels:
- Matte Finish: A matte surface finish gives the least sheen and gives a purely natural appearance. It is most suitable for areas one would like to have less formal signature such as a home office or the living room. Matte finishes are also very effective if used in areas that have too much light because they cut the amount of glare.
- Satin Finish: Satin is a half-gloss paint that gives a radiant finish slightly shinier than that of eggshell. This finish is perfect for those who wish to have a little shiny reflection but get it in places such as the kitchen, bathroom and other parts of the house.
- High-Gloss Finish: A high-gloss finish reflects light beautifully and creates a polished, modern look. This finish is popular for polished concrete floors in Melbourne homeowners who want a high-end look in spaces like entryways or dining rooms.
Explore Different Types of Concrete Treatments
The decision that you make on the kind of concrete treatment determines the strength, appearance and level of maintenance needed for your floor. Here are some common options
- Grind and Seal: Grind and seal entails making the concrete surface smooth, to a specified aggregate exposure degree, and then exposing it to a sealant. This method is one of the most flexible and cost-effective that allows polishing decorated concrete. Grind and seal are ideal for both interior and exterior surfaces and give a satin finish. However, it is still possible to need reapplication of the sealant from time to time since it does wear out.
- Mechanical Polishing: Mechanical polishing does not employ the use of surface sealant like the case with grind and seal. However, to achieve that shiny finish you find in some concrete surfaces, the concrete floor is coated with finer grits of diamond abrasives. Mechanical polishing is incredibly long-lasting because no surface coat will deteriorate over time and can be ideal for commercial places with high traffic rates. This treatment also gives natural slip resistance which is considered important in homes with children or those with pets.
Consider Durability and Maintenance Requirements
It is important to consider what level of traffic your floors are likely to experience and how much time and effort you are willing to devote to its maintenance. It, however, needs to be understood that even though concrete floor polishing is low on the maintenance scale, some of the circulated finishes will need an even higher touch than others.
- Grind and Seal are normally sensitive floors that may need resealing after a few years of heavy traffic. This may be such a pragmatic decision if you’re considering efficiency at the lowest possible cost but do not overlook the possibility of addressing the irregular maintenance needs.
- Mechanically Polished concrete floors are more durable and in common need the least amount of maintenance because of the lack of any urethane surface coat. Daily sweeping and mopping should suffice to maintain them in excellent condition; therefore it is suitable for homes that receive a lot of traffic or those who want a glorious shine without worrying about frequent polishing.
Match the Finish to Your Home’s Style
Polished concrete floorings can be done in different finishes, so you can easily integrate with the different home interior designs. For instance:
- Contemporary or Modern Homes: Glossy finish or any type of finish that has very less exposed aggregates can fit in with modern architectural designs. They are very pretty and can even make a room look larger than it is.
- Industrial Style: A grind and seal with exposure of the aggregate make floors unique looking and when used in industrial premises, give floors some texture and roughness. This finish should therefore be used with darker variants or metals to provide an industrial outlook of the fittings.
Consult with Professionals
Homeowners who want to install Melbourne polished concrete floors will find that the choice of treatment can turn an ordinary slab into a focal point and an attractive feature in your home. For those people who want that shiny high-gloss-like finish or a simple grind and seal, it is important to know the various forms of concrete treatments and their maintenance to give your floor finish the glamour and endurance depending on your way of life.