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Polished concrete floors have long been favored in various commercial settings, from retail stores to educational institutions. Their resilience, longevity, and low maintenance requirements make them particularly well-suited for high-traffic areas. However, the term “low maintenance” should not be mistaken for “no maintenance.” Understanding the Limitations of Polished Concrete While polished concrete is renowned for its durability, it is not invulnerable to wear and tear. The last thing any facility manager wants is to perform routine cleaning and inadvertently cause significant damage due to incorrect maintenance procedures. Specialized care is essential for ensuring the long-term performance of polished concrete floors. The Role of Sealer in Polished Concrete Maintenance A common misconception is that the sealer on polished concrete floors eliminates the need for any maintenance. Although a sealer does enhance the floor’s appearance and provides a level of stain resistance, it is not a permanent solution. Over time, the sealer may deteriorate, leaving the flooring susceptible to damage and looking less than its best. Reapplying the sealer is one aspect of maintaining your polished concrete floors. Best Practices for Maintaining […]
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Polished concrete is quickly becoming the go-to flooring choice for a range of commercial applications – from showrooms to retail stores, warehouses, and more. This trend is due to its longevity, minimal maintenance needs, cost-effectiveness, and aesthetic appeal. However, to fully appreciate the merits of polished concrete, it’s important to understand the intricate process behind its creation. The Polishing Process – A Multi-Step Journey The process of polishing concrete involves several steps that systematically transform a plain concrete slab into a smooth, glossy, and attractive surface. It’s a craft that demands attention to detail, the right equipment, and technical know-how. Step 1 – Evaluation of the Concrete Slab Before starting the polishing process, professionals assess the concrete slab’s condition to determine its hardness, flatness, and the presence of any cracks, stains, or existing coatings that need to be removed. This evaluation informs the choice of diamond grits used in the grinding process. Step 2 – Grinding The grinding process utilizes industrial-grade diamonds embedded into a metallic matrix, forming a diamond abrasive that grinds away the surface of the concrete. This […]
...READ MOREWe recently had the opportunity to work on a concrete floor restoration project that required grinding and polishing. The floor had endured years of neglect and lacked proper maintenance, resulting in a gritty, dirty surface. The property owner sought a durable and aesthetically pleasing alternative to their existing flooring, and contacted Colorado Concrete Repair for their help. You can see the “Before” photos, here: Upon assessment of the concrete floor, our team recognized the extensive wear and tear it had suffered over the years. The first step in our process involved grinding down the top layers of damage to remove any imperfections and prepare the surface for the polishing phase. Utilizing specialized grinding tools and techniques, we meticulously worked to refine the floor and eliminate leftover scratches from the grinding process. With the grinding phase complete, we proceeded to polish the concrete floor. The polishing process involved carefully smoothing the surface and enhancing its appearance. By employing progressive grit levels and using high-quality polishing compounds, we were able to achieve a beautiful, glossy finish that exceeded our client’s expectations. The […]
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As a concrete and epoxy flooring contractor, we’ve found that many of the calls we receive for epoxy flooring end up finding that polished concrete is actually what they need. Epoxy is amazing, and we do a large portion of the epoxy flooring and epoxy repair services in the Denver Metro area. But, after discussing the needs with those that call us for epoxy, many customers choose epoxy flooring instead. Reasons to Choose Polished Concrete Over Epoxy Both epoxy and polished concrete are great options. They can also be combined, as many commercial properties put an epoxy coating over polished concrete. But there are several reasons why someone that was originally interested in epoxy might actually be interested in polished concrete. These reasons include: Durability – Both flooring options provide exceptional durability, but polished concrete is especially suitable for high traffic areas. It resists abrasion, is very unlikely to chip or peel under impact, and can withstand very heavy loads when under pressure. Maintenance – Epoxy is not *difficult* to maintain, but it does have special requirements and wears away […]
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Our name, “Colorado Concrete Repair,” sometimes accidentally gives the impression that we only do repair. We are frequently the #1 concrete contractor for new concrete and epoxy flooring, and many commercial property owners contact us to create their brand new custom concrete floor. But we also do repairs. Recently, we’ve been getting a lot of calls from commercial property managers that are looking for a way to improve on their existing concrete floors. One solution that we may want to consider is polished concrete. It is possible, depending on the repair, to polish concrete in order to repair it, and give it a brighter and more stylish appearance. What Happens When Concrete Floors Age? Concrete floors will eventually need repairs. Some repairs are smaller, with minor cracks and other issues that affect how well the floor continues to function. Concrete can also have small pieces chip off, or can become discolored. Large cracks are also possible, but are more common with improperly installed flooring. No matter what, concrete floors will eventually need some type of repair as they get older. […]
...READ MOREChatfield Farms, who we featured in a previous post as we worked on one of their event venues, also needed help with their office. They had an existing concrete floor, but it was older and didn’t have much of a visual pop. They were hoping to get a new concrete office flooring look that would be cost effective and also last for years to come. Our Approach to Better Concrete Flooring We wanted to help Chatfield Farms with their office flooring, but we wanted to do so in a way that fit their budget and still looked amazing. Luckily, we did not need to replace the existing concrete. Instead, we polished it. We ground off the top layers of the concrete until we were able to get to the mirror finish that was waiting underneath, which gave the concrete a very shiny and attractive appearance that really helped improve the look of not only the flooring, but the entirety of the property. We then densified the ground to produce a harder finished floor, and then finished off all of it […]
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