One
of the most sought after interior floors for residential and commercial is
polished concrete.
This
explanation from ppc imaginarium does an excellent job explaining the process.
Concrete polishing can also be applied to self leveling concrete. Self leveling
cement overlays have evolved during the past few years. They smooth
out uneven surfaces or use as an underlayment for tile, hardwood and
carpet.
One
the most intriguing aspects of concrete is its finish – it can be rough and raw
or smooth and polished. Polished concrete results can differ depending on
the level of polishing.
The
process of polishing concrete is not dissimilar from sanding wood.
Diamond-impregnated disks vary in fineness to progressively grind
down the surface of the concrete. Various levels of shine and smoothness
can are available.
Preparing
to polish concrete requires removing existing coatings using the
correct tools. Coarse grinding blades start at 16 to 20-grit for
tough surfaces.
Disks
of varying grits may are used achieve the desired result. A high polish
finishes uses up to a grit of 1500 or finer to achieve a glossy finish.
For
smaller areas near walls, use hand sanders with polishing pads. Like sand
paper, the pads vary in fineness and are ideal for working on smaller
areas.
Source: PPC Imaginarium
You
can also choose metallic epoxy or a grind, stain and seal floor.
Metallic
epoxy coatings are an evolution of stained and sealed concrete. There are many
colors available from natural earth tones to vibrant, multi-color marble like
effects. Metallic epoxy is popular in offices, showrooms and, retail stores.
Grind
and Seal incorporates the polished process with less labor. Floors are grinded and stained
in earth tones and sealed with urethanes or clear coat epoxies.
How
Much Does Concrete Flooring Cost?
The
cost can range from $2.00 - $10.00 per square foot depending on the condition,
size and system.
A
simple grind and seal for floors in good condition can be $2.00 - $3.00 PSF for
large, wide open spaces.
The
same system can be $4.00 - $7.00 for small spaces with columns, floor vents,
stairways and other obstacles.
A
heavier grind stain and seal can range from $3.50 - $7.00 PSF.
Polished
concrete with a liquid densifier and stain can range from $3.00 - $10.00 psf.
Metallic
epoxy ranges from $6.00 - $12.00 psf depending on size and color factors.
