Sept 14, 2011

Polished concrete a hot topic in the flooring world

Believe it or not, polished concrete floors are a huge choice among architects and designers in today’s business establishments. Many homeowners, too, are choosing polished concrete floors over other flooring options. What do you think when you consider a polished concrete surface? You might consider a drab, industrial gray look. That spells B-O-R-I-N-G! However, with updated polished concrete techniques, polishing concrete takes on a whole new look! If you work with the right business, using a quality company like Concrete Reflections, your floor can be about any color you choose.

Today, decorative concrete is becoming the choice for many businesses and organizations including schools, warehouses and showrooms of all kinds. With the right care, concrete can turn into a shiny, reflective surface that is extremely durable. Not only that, concrete floors are highly functional and easy to clean. They also, thankfully, require little maintenance for busy homeowners, shop keepers or for warehouse managers. Some designs even look like marble or cordovan leather.

To summarize, why buy polished concrete? It’s a long-term investment. Maintenance costs are very low and it is easy to clean and easy to manage. It also looks pretty doggone beautiful when done correctly. So next time you need to make a flooring decision, consider polished concrete.

September 3, 2011

Bring out the best in your floors

Choosing the correct floor option can be a little overwhelming. There are so many types of flooring materials out there now. One choice that is becoming more popular in the past decade is polished concrete, an elegant looking, stylish flooring  option that turns ordinary concrete into a luxurious, modern-looking floor. It’s surprising how great concrete can look with a little attention from a concrete polisher.

How do people use polished concrete in the workplace? It’s a great choice for storefronts and warehouses that want a quality product but also for those that want a long-lasting floor option, with low maintenance. The process requires a trained professional, a concrete polisher who uses industrial equipment to polish floors. This is not a good option for a do-it-yourselfer. The polisher uses disks filled with fine diamonds that grind down the rough layers of concrete. Sometimes chemical fluids are used to bring out as much shine as is possible from a concrete floor. The fluids and the polisher do wonders on your surface and bring the floor to life.

Here are just two simple advantages of polished concrete: It’s less expensive to install than some other flooring options and much less expensive to maintain.

A polished concrete floor is more durable than other types of flooring such as carpet and linoleum, which require more cleaning and maintenance. Plus, they are not as long lasting.  Choose concrete floors, polished to a glowing shine, to get the most from your money and also to make a statement about the quality of your business.

August 30, 2011

Need a worry-free floor? Choose polished concrete!

Homeowners considering the natural look of marble may want to consider the less expensive option of polished concrete for their home. The outcome of a polished concrete floor is not only as appealing, some say, but in many cases it is more flexible in its appearance compared to marble.

Polished concrete maintains its looks for a long time, with very little maintenance. There is a long life to polished concrete. It is scuff and break-resistant and remains beautiful for a long time. It also can be used for exterior and interior floors, matching many color schemes. Staining can be used to transform the concrete into something that looks totally different- perhaps from deep green to a sky blue. 

Finally, and this is good news for busy families, polished concrete holds up well to the foibles of children and pets. And who wants to spend a lot of time working to make your floors look good each day? Floors should look good all year long with just a mop, a little water and a little sweeping. No expensive waxes or special treatments are needed.

Aug 18, 2011

Changes have come to contemporary flooring

The construction industry, within the last decade or so, has embraced the polished concrete floor. While sometimes utilized in industrial settings, concrete polishing is now becoming a flooring of choice in offices, retail spaces and event residential homes.

Why so much interest? It is a well-known fact that to polish concrete connects the durability of concrete with aesthetics associated with natural stone. What’s the result? A glowing, gleaming finish, that not only looks really great but is easy to take care of. And, it is truly durable. A nice footnote is that concrete floors are an environmentally sustainable flooring choice.

Whether old or new construction, a polished concrete floor can be utilized. In new construction, the slab can be poured specifically for the purpose of creating a feature floor, or a workspace that is highly functional. In existing buildings, slabs that are already there can be ground down and polished to create a long-lasting and quite appealing floor that maintains its shine.  It’s surprising how durable this flooring is, and also, as a side note, it is exceptionally easy to maintain.

August 11, 2011

Five reasons to choose polished concrete

If you are in the process of making a big flooring decision, consider these five reasons to explore polished concrete:

1.     It’s an environmentally sustainable choice.

2.     When done correctly, polished concrete looks great and the shine lasts a long time.

3.     It is low maintenance and requires little more than a damp mop or broom on occasion.

4.     There are many ways to create patterns and designs of interest in polished concrete, and also to change the style and color of the concrete.

5.     Polished concrete is extremely durable. It is scuff-resistant and dirt wipes up easily.

In the market for a quote? Contact concrete polishers Concrete Reflections for a discussion about your flooring choices.

June 29. 2011

Polished Concrete on an upward trend

Many folks not totally in touch with the building industry may not know about one rising flooring trend that is making its mark in the general building industry. The trend is toward using polished concrete as a floor of choice for homes, businesses and industry.

The whole polished concrete industry was not introduced in the United States until the early 1990s and has made huge upward strides since then. Rapid advances in the tools and equipment used in polished concrete have made the industry more viable and also better. Diamond drills now cut faster and will not leave scratches or burn marks. These diamonds last longer and longer than those used by previous concrete polishers. Another reason for the rise in polished concrete is a change in specifications being written for contractors and owners of polished floors. Contractors now find it easier to achieve the desired finish than years before.

June 15, 2011

Costs of polishing concrete

When determining the cost of flooring, the overall lifetime cost must be taken into consideration. Look at the numbers and you will see that a benefit of polished concrete is there is less maintenance cost. If you look at high traffic areas such as corridors, schools and hallways, polished concrete holds up better and lasts longer, without unsightly scuff marks or other distractions. Polished concrete floors resist tire marks and scuff marks- consider how that would affect the maintenance of a school or large office! Also, polished concrete removes the needs for waxes and messy coatings plus the labor, time and expense to apply these coatings.

Polished concrete has a lifespan that is longer than materials such as upgraded stone tile or VCT (vinyl composite tile). Check with Concrete Reflections to learn more about this fabulous floor choice.

May 31, 2011

Another reason to love polished concrete: it’s DURABLE

Choosing polished concrete is a good alternative for another reason: durability. Surprisingly enough, this floor type really requires very little in terms of maintenance. No abrasive cleaners are required, and the surface stays shiny with minimal upkeep. Maintenance costs drop significantly once a floor undergoes concrete polishing.

Concrete Reflections has found that people who retain our services actually end up reducing costs associated with upkeep by up to 60 percent. That’s a significant savings, especially over the 20 years we guarantee our product.

The news is: America is on the cusp of a concrete polishing revolution, and for good reason. This is a durable, quality option for business owners who care about the way their business looks and operates.

5/22/2011

Polished concrete not good for a DYI project

Thinking about polished concrete as an option for your business? Have a knack for getting things done by reading and doing DIY projects?

Truthfully, while many projects do invite lots of DIY experts, tackling polished concrete is probably not a good project for someone who might be a jack of all trades. Why?

To create a long-lasting finish that is guaranteed for 20 years, we at Concrete Reflections employ the highest level of expertise to create a true work of art. This is a significant process to turn a boring, lifeless concrete floor into a reflective surface that has beauty and appeal.

With our process, there is nothing to chip, fade or peel. Nasty oil spills and tire marks, which can be hard to handle, simply wipe off quickly. We've found that using our special process for concrete polishing means the difference between a short-term shine (which could be a four-step process at a much cheaper price) to a quality floor outcome, our 10-step process that is guaranteed in writing. We use state-of-the-art equipment, and we know our business. Trust the professionals. Give us a call today.

Surprise! A polished concrete floor can be a green floor

Did you know transforming an ordinary cement floor into an extraordinary floor is an eco-friendly action if you choose polished concrete ? What? That may come as a surprise, but it's true. A professionally done polished concrete floor involves a green process that includes LEED certification up to the platinum level. The process does not include applying coatings, epoxies or acrylics that contain harmful VOCs. That's where the problems come in for the other guys.

Another surprise about choosing polished concrete as your floor of choice Polished concrete is actually a really safe choice. That's important when thinking about your employees and issues related to the safety of customers, too. Floors by Concrete Reflections have been certified as high-traction floors, receiving a positive rating you can trust in terms of safety. It's just another benefit that concrete polishers bring to safety and ecologically-conscious business owners.

Polished concrete surprisingly decorative

Businesses and architects alike all face a dilemma when planning for a long-lasting floor. High quality flooring, which is decorative AND durable at the same time, can be expensive and also requires money-draining upkeep.

If your business has above average foot traffic, or needs to sustain its high-quality look despite the wear and tear associated with power equipment and fork lifts, then polished concrete is a great option. Why? Here's an important reason.

People may not realize, but concrete that has been treated can be beautiful. It can mimic the look of natural stone, and its high gloss shine is both durable and a good choice for safety. The many ways that polished concrete can be modified end up in a look that is not just a shiny, stony gray color. Using finer and finer grinding surface, the concrete polisher grinds down the concrete until it has a tremendous shine. You'll be surprised how the concrete takes on a beautiful life of its own in the hands of a professional.

Give your old concrete a new look!

Let's face it, concrete can be ugly and unappealing.

Give your old concrete a new look with the surprising benefits of polished concrete , a new approach to the decades old question: What can I do to make my floors look better? When you have a beautiful floor in your showroom or warehouse, clients feel more comfortable and recognize you care about your business by keeping it attractive and clean. Thanks to the work of concrete polishing companies, your old concrete can take on a new life. And that will appeal to your customers and clients, now and for years to come.

This surprisingly affordable alternative to other flooring options has many advantages: safety, sustainability and plus, it just looks great. Any concrete floor, using the expertise of concrete polishers , can be turned into a beautiful, sleek surface that does not slip and requires no further epoxies or additives to maintain.

Maintaining a floor can be expensive! However, the cost of a polished concrete floor compares favorably with vinyl composition tile. Maintenance costs are the key concrete polished floors are about 60 percent less than VCT, so you put money in your pocket that might have been used just to maintain your floor.

What do you think of when you think of concrete? Most people might think of a gray surface, a sidewalk, a driveway with oil stains on it. But a floor that is good for the environment, safe and easy to maintain? Very few of us would think of concrete as a top choice for our home or business.

However, this important component of modern construction is undergoing a renaissance of sorts. In the last decade, it has become much more common to choose polished concrete as a choice for homebuilders, architects and designers. And the reasons are simple. This durable floor is smooth-looking, easy to clean and is unique, especially for outdoor use. Far from the rough and unattractive concept many have of concrete, polished concrete can be dyed and changed to look like marble and it can be shined to a brilliant shine that lasts and lasts.

The shine of polished concrete comes from the many steps taken by a concrete polisher who use finer and finer diamond grits to take the surface from porous to smooth. Epoxies and enhancers with harmful VOC's are not used. Concrete polishing turns out to be an excellent investment in the long run, a high-traction floor that is safe, durable and beautiful.

Concrete polishing can create beauty, long-lasting value

While concrete has been around for generations and has been used as a building material throughout the world, recent advancements in the way it can be used have upped its aesthetic and practical value. Today's concrete can be enhanced as a material to create vastly different looks to fit public places, businesses and homes.

Concrete can be manipulated by changing its texture and appearance or using a different type of concrete to bring out the beauty of the surroundings. Additives of a variety of materials, such as colored glass or colored minerals, can create a decorative quality that is surprising.

Through a variety of methods, concrete polishers have learned how to create a smooth, sleek appearance. For concrete polishing , you start with a rough, uninteresting and boring surface, and through the use of smaller and small diamond grinders, the floor takes on a sparkling, smooth appearance. When you consider the kind of abuse commercial floors take on a daily or even hourly basis, from traffic and feet and equipment, then it is pretty amazing that a floor can be transformed from a gray porous sheet into a shiny, attractive surface that will not slip or stain. And the good news is: maintenance costs usually drop by 60 percent when you install a polished concrete floor. Believe it or not, oil spills imply wipe off this surface! Your polished concrete floor only needs minor or occasional touch-up for years down the road.

Why not consider polished concrete?

Perhaps you have never heard about the benefits of using polished concrete as a floor surface. This sustainable, beautiful and durable surface is gaining in popularity with both business owners and homeowners in the last decade. I'd like to share with you a few reasons to consider concrete polishing before deciding on what kind of floor you'd like for your showroom, warehouse or home.

Since most modern businesses are built on a concrete slab, using the existing exposed concrete is a sustainable choice that eliminates the energy and need for other materials by applying a floor covering (like carpeting). Moving your home or business toward green sustainability is certainly a goal we all can appreciate.

One benefit of a polished concrete floor is that it is low maintenance. Once the floor is polished to a durable and attractive shine, this non-slippery surface stays beautiful for years to come, with no need for further waxes or epoxies. When you choose a polished concrete floor, there is nothing to chip, fade or peel. This is a low maintenance floor solution at its best.

Another benefit of choosing concrete polishing is that anecdotal evidence suggests it actually improves the natural lighting within the building and reduces lighting needs.

Finally, for those who consider allergy issues when choosing a flooring option, the polished concrete floor reduces allergen and dust mite problems, and doesn't support mold growth.