Polished Concrete, Stamped Concrete, Stained Concrete, Tampa, Florida, FL

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What is polished concrete? It's a breakthrough technique that is taking American construction by storm. Polished concrete is produced by grinding concrete, new or old, to a brilliant shine which never has to be maintained with waxes or any other type of coating.

The process is achieved by grinding the surface of concrete with an abrasive medium that is called a bonded abrasive which throughout the process of grinding, new abrasive medium is uncovered. This medium is used to attain a particular class of aggregate exposure which is determined by the amount of surface cut depth and based on an A through D classification. This medium is also used to achieve a particular level of reflective attributes which is based on a level of 1 through 4.

The medium used are polishing machines outfitted with increasingly finer grit diamond-imbued disks which act as a sandpaper type medium to grind down the surface to the preferred level of polish and smoothness. The process usually begins with an initial rough grinding that can remove minor divots, discolorations and previous coatings. After this process a finer grinding is done, usually with diamond abrasives mixed into plastic or resin. Even finer grits are used after this to achieve the particular level of sheen and/or high-gloss finish. The final phase involves using polishing compounds to clean remaining residue and gives a dirt-resistant finish.

During the process, sealers are used, but make no mistake, the sealer is invisible to the naked eye and is not used for shine purposes, instead it soaks into the concrete and is used to strengthen and harden the concrete from the inside out.

Concrete polishing can be done one of two ways, wet or dry. While both are effective and often times used in combination the only true difference is the amount of mess made. The wet method uses water to reduce friction and act as a lubricant; this increases the life of the disks. The down-side is that it produces a sludge-type of mess that must be collected and disposed of. The dry method is used when the polishing machines have a dust-containment system; usually the dry method is used for the initial rough grind when more of the concrete is removed. For the finer grinding the wet method is typically preferred.

The ease in maintenance and the versatility in aesthetic outcomes from satin to a high-gloss makes this process ideal for several different applications including:

Warehouses
Retail Stores
Hotels and Restaurants
Offices
Homes
Auto showrooms

Polished concrete can withstand heavy forklift use and foot traffic and only requires occasional damp mopping while also resists tread marks and staining. The aesthetic appeal is one that can be compared to polished granite and marble without the maintenance or the price.

Advantages to polished concrete stem from aesthetics to green building. Polished concrete is a gorgeous, easy to maintain, durable surface. Some advantages include:

Cost savings due to elimination of conventional floor covers and the maintenance required for upkeep
Resistance to staining, moisture and foot traffic
Reduced energy requirements
Conservation of resources due to the recycled materials used for concrete
Long service life

What type of concrete can be polished?

Almost any concrete floor that is structurally sound can be polished with few exceptions. New floors must have cured for at least 28 days prior to polishing, existing floors may need preparation due to grease, coatings, blemishes, etc. Floors in need of extensive repair or are very porous may not be the best candidates for polishing.

Stamped concrete, commonly referred to as patterned concrete or imprinted concrete, is concrete that is designed to resemble brick, slate, flagstone, stone, tile and even wood. In this section you will see how stamped concrete can be used to beautify pool decks, driveways, entries, courtyards and patios. Due to the wide array of options when it comes to concrete pattern, concrete colors, and the cost of stamped, or imprinted concrete in relation to the materials it is a substitute fore, the choice of stamped concrete is becoming more popular and frequent.

Indoor Waterfalls, outdoor waterfalls, fountains and water features can be used in any corporate, office, residential or subdivision environment.
Water features like pools reflecting pools and floating fountains promote a relaxing, tranquil atmosphere that makes visitors and employees feel more comfortable.
Indoor water features, weeping water walls and indoor fountains also create a unique design aesthetic fore any modern office ore home interior design scheme.

PO Box 290, Terra Ceia, FL 34250,

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Phone: 941-721-4900, Fax: 941-721-4988

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