The smooth surface of polished concrete flooring can enhance any design or style. With recent improvements in techniques and equipment, concrete polishing has become a very cost-effective flooring option for retail and commercial businesses. Finishes range from satin to high-gloss and a variety of dyes and stains available. Because of this, polished concrete floors have also become a popular alternative to high-end tile and stone with apartment buildings, condominium complexes, and even private residences.
Cost Factors of Concrete Polishing
Grinding, polishing and sealing an existing concrete floor is generally less expensive than covering it. But with any flooring purchase, there are numerous cost factors. The following conditions need to be taken into consideration when pricing a polished concrete floor.
- The overall size of the floor – Unlike most flooring purchases, larger areas can be less expensive than smaller ones. The reason for this is that larger areas more easily accommodate the concrete polishing equipment thus simplifying the process.
- Stain, dye or design chosen – Polished concrete floor designs vary from simply polishing the classic gray concrete, to adding stain or dye, to segmenting the floor and finishing each section differently to create a unique and one-of-a-kind pattern.
- Finished sheen desired – With concrete polishing, the amount of grinding needed and the time it takes is determined by how shiny the concrete will be when finished. This is, perhaps, the most important cost factor to consider as a high-gloss finish requires significantly more polishing than a satin sheen.
Advantages of Polished Concrete Flooring
When comparing the cost of flooring options, wall-to-wall carpeting is often the least expensive choice and natural stone such as slate or marble is the most expensive. The cost of concrete polishing is somewhere in between, but the added advantages make it the wiser choice by far. Those advantages include:
- Strength and durability
- Ease of cleaning and maintenance
- Average lifespan of the product
- Sustainability of the materials used
With unlimited design options and a finish that never needs waxing, Xtreme Engineered Floor Systems’ polished concrete floors are not only an economical choice, they can be the best choice. For more information, contact Xtreme Engineered Floor Systems today.
