Polished Concrete Floors

Content

• Introduction to Concrete Floor Polishing
• Residential Flooring
• Commercial Flooring
• Concrete Floors are Ideal for
• Different Concrete Polishing Systems
• Diamond Polished Concrete
• The Process
• Densifying the Concrete
• Grind and Seal Polished Concrete
• Concrete Dyeing
• Related Polished Concrete Articles

Introduction to Concrete Floor Polishing

Concrete is a composition of stone and cement paste that has been polished by hand since the roman times. Due to the ever increasing demand for industrial, commercial and residential decorative finishes to concrete floors, My Floor has revolutionized a unique flooring system by using Husqvarnas world leading equipment, diamond tools and concrete treatment products.

At my floor we have integrated the Husqvarnas Hiperfloor™ process with our own knowledge and techniques in polished concrete. This unique flooring system consistently transforms your existing or new concrete floor into a highly abrasive resistant, smooth and visually appealing polished concrete floor.

Hiperfloor™ is not a surface coating or a floor covering product, it is a method for mechanically grinding, treating and polishing the concrete floor surface using advanced diamond technology. A choice of gloss levels can be selected from honed satin, semi-gloss or a high gloss producing a mirror like polished concrete floor.

Traditionally, concrete floors have been covered over by a variety of floor coverings, surface coatings and topical sealers otherwise known as "overlayments". Often, when considering the life-span of the overlayment, this process represents expensive installation, ongoing maintenance and eventual replacement costs, however, in all circumstances the underlying structural concrete remains. Hiperfloor™ substantially reduces the need for overlayments by converting the actual existing concrete into an economical, durable and low maintenance finished surface; able to withstand the toughest of traffic whilst producing spectacular visual appeal.back to top

Polished Concrete a 'FRESH' look for Residential Homes

My Floor specialises in polished concrete and can offer solutions which are effortless and versatile enough to achieve any vision of what your home can be. Although it's typically suited to modern homes and apartments, polished concrete is quickly extending outside these applications and into a broader range of different home styles by using centuries old materials together with new and improved methods, polished concrete is clearly the cutting edge of architectural design.

Generally most homes will already have an existing concrete foundation, which means it would be an extremely economical solution for any home renovations. My Floor can transform your existing concrete floor into a glass-like finish which is smooth, low-maintenance and cost effective by using state of the art diamond polishing tools and techniques. Instead of covering your existing concrete with carpet, tiles or vinyl which increases the harmful bacteria and allergen levels in your home why not protect yourself and your family by appointing My Floor to polish the existing concrete.

Polished concrete is different to any other floor surface, as it creates the perfect balance of beauty and practicality. The glass like effect of polished concrete shines and reflects light to reduce energy consumption, yet is solid, durable and low-maintenance. Whatever your needs may be, My Floor can offer a tailored solution to suit your home or business environment. My Floor's concrete polishing process and expertise create the inherent advantages of this revolutionary surface by grinding and polishing the natural aggregate to transform it into an aesthetically attractive surface that doesn't require any topical coatings, epoxies or harsh varnishes as its naturally stain and soil resistant which helps to minimize after care.

If you're not yet convinced why you should choose a polished concrete floor for your home, here are some facts:-

• Polished concrete is virtually maintenance free, no harsh chemicals or detergents are required.
• My Floor's signature finish is extremely high-gloss which brightens any living space in your home.
• Concrete polishing can accentuate and compliment any decor
• Polished concrete is durable, resistant to traffic and spills with a luxuriously smooth surface that doesn't trap allergens or toxins as it's a natural material which improves the quality of your air
• Our exclusive product is so durable, we back it with a 10 year warranty!

This is why you should choose polished concrete for your home and let My Floor show you how the most humble concrete surface can be transformed to make your domestic dreams seem real.

Our services are readily available in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Tweed Heads and on the Sunshine Coast.back to top

Polished Concrete a 'MODERN' look for any Commercial Project

Commercial spaces are typically a challenging environment which requires a flooring system that is resilient and practical. Whether the commercial space is to be used for retail outlets, garages, warehouses, art galleries, factories or salons it will be sending a strong message to clients and customers as it's the face of the business/company.

Polished concrete, unlike other more traditional flooring systems creates a balance which is not only practical but clearly the cutting edge of architectural design.
By polishing concrete the finish is unlike any other floor surface. It creates the perfect balance between beauty and practicality. The glass mirror-like effect of polished concrete is solid yet durable and low-maintenance. My Floor’s concrete polishing process and expertise create obvious advantages for any commercial space by grinding and polishing the natural aggregate and transforming it into finish little to no aftercare.

My Floor can offer concrete polishing solutions tailored to suit any commercial project which will deliver:-

• Versatility for small and large commercial environments with a range of different finishes
• Polished concrete is extremely low maintenance, cost effective and creates an eco-friendly working environment for employees
• Polished concrete is highly durable to foot or industrial machinery traffic and more resistant to stains
• My Floor's signature finish is extremely high-gloss which brightens any work space and is highly recommended for any retail, art galleries and salons as it will accentuate and compliment any decor
  
• Polished concrete is durable and resistant to spills while providing a luxuriously smooth surface

My Floor can cater for any large or small sized commercial project finish requirements, by grinding and polishing the existing concrete also removing any existing surface such as tiles, laminate, vinyl, resins, concrete toppings and epoxies, producing a practical surface which is ideal for an unlimited range of different business types.

Our services are readily available in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Tweed Heads and on the Sunshine Coast.back to top

Click Here to view some photos of our recent projects located in Brisbane, Gold Coast and on the Sunshine Coast

Concrete Flooring is ideal for:

• Residential Flooring
• Commercial Flooring
• Industrial Flooring
• Internal Living Areas
• External Living Areas
• Concrete Driveways
• Showrooms
• Restaurants
• Retail
• Salons
• Pubs and Clubs
• Hotels
• Garages
• Supermarkets
• Hospital Flooring
• Anti-slip Flooring
• Architectural Homes
• Eco-Friendly Flooring Solutions

Different Concrete Polishing Systems

Diamond Polished Concrete Flooring

My Floors Signature finish and Hiperfloor concrete polishing solution is the way of the future as far as commercial and residential flooring goes. In the past most polished concrete floors were based on the standard grinding and sealing process, which included grinding to the required amount of aggregate exposure while applying film coat sealers to provide an enhanced, wet look. These sacrificial coatings require a long term maintenance program which consists of stripping and re-sealing the floor on a regular basis in order to keep the polished concrete look at best. This represents expensive on-going maintenance costs.

Our own Signature finish and Hiperfloor concrete system minimises any long term maintenance by eliminating any stripping and re-sealing programs. This is a complete flooring system which involves grinding, treating and polishing actual concrete surface with a combination of specially designed densifiers while progressively grinding the surface with finer and finer diamonds to achieve the desired gloss level. This specially designed floor solution increases abrasion resistance and impact strength while providing an extremely hard wearing polished concrete floorthat requires very low maintenance. Because there are no surface coatings, the concrete floor retains its gloss for decades; we even back it with our exclusive 10 year warranty! back to top

The Process

A diamond polished concrete floor is very time consuming if done correctly, this is due to the fact that there are at least 10 to 15 steps involved. The general rule is to start the initial grinding with a coarse 16 or 30 grit diamond and finish with a 3000 grit diamond. These diamonds are impregnated inside a metal or resin bonded segment. Typically the diamonds grit size will double once the first grind has been carried out. The use of 16 or 30 grit size diamonds, then use 60/80 grit diamonds followed by the 120 grit segments. We then start the polishing process with a 50 grit diamond resin pad instead of a metal segment. When using the resin pads the steps may be 100, then 200, 400, 800, 1500 and finally 3000 grit. Throughout the process we use a densifier to harden the concrete surface which allows the concrete to be polished. A grouting chemical is also used throughout the process to fill in any holes, cracks or imperfections that were exposed from the initial coarse grinding step. The concrete is then sealed with a natural look impregnating sealer; this sealer penetrates 2-5mm inside the pores of the concrete preventing any deep staining from oils and spills.back to top

Densifying The Concrete

A deep penetrating hardener called a densifier is used to saturate the concrete floor during the polishing process. This increases the integrity of the concrete up to 10 times its original density - transforming porous floors into a dense surface that inhibits water, oil and other contaminants from penetrating the surface. More importantly, a densifier adds abrasion/impact resistance to a concrete floor and reduces overall maintenance. back to top

Grind and Seal Polished Concrete Flooring

This system is the standard polished concrete system where the concrete surface is ground to the desired level using coarse 16 or 30 grit metal bonded diamonds. When the desired grind level is achieved the surface is re-ground with usually a 60 grit diamond to remove any visible scratching. Grouting and patching may be required to fill any voids, holes, cracks or imperfections. The surface is then cleaned and prepared for the application of either a gloss or matte surface coating, or an impregnating enhancing sealer.

My floor uses an extensive range of penetrating and film coat sealers that can be applied to meet any specification and design requirements. These sealers range from the traditional solvent based sealers to the advanced water based environmentally friendly sealers. Choosing the right sealer plays an important part of the polished concrete process, different sealers will alter the appearance and feel of the surface. A grind and seal polished concrete floor will require stripping and re-sealing on a basis of 1-5 years depending on the volume and type of traffic, the chemicals used to maintain the floor and the ongoing wear prevention strategies. back to top

Concrete Dyeing

Dyes can also be used to alter the existing interior grey or coloured concrete. However, they are not UV (ultraviolet) stable and can potentially fade when used externally. These materials are applied using a sprayer during the polishing process; in which they penetrate into the concrete surface, creating natural translucent colours. Single and multiple applications are possible. (Applying dyes more than once makes for richer vibrant colours.) My Floor has a variety of 25 different coloured dye options to choose from for your next commercial or residential polished concrete project. Decorative concrete cutting may also be introduced; adding a variety of shapes and patterns to your concrete floor. back to top

Related Polished Concrete Articles

Please read through the below articles which are designed to help you make an educated decision on choosing the suitable contractor for the right flooring solution.

The “dirty” truth about carpets

Why do you want a polished concrete floor?

The top 3 things you should know before choosing a polished concrete contractor

Concrete Polishing vs Conventional Floor Coverings

Personalise your floor with the polished concrete appeal

Our Service Locations:

Queensland

• Brisbane
• Gold Coast
• Sunshine Coast
• Toowoomba
• Noosa
• Townsville
• Cairns

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"Your professional Concrete Polishing company! - Servicing Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast"