Q. Do you charge an estimate fee?

A. We provide free estimates. There have occasionally been special circumstances which required us to charge a fee for estimation, but this is never done without your prior notification.

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Q. Will the polished concrete be slippery?

A. Polished concrete has been tested and found to usually meet or exceed OSHA slip resistance standards. The floor might be shiny, but that doesn't mean it's automatically slippery.

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Q  How soon can I use the floor after the polishing?

A. Polished concrete is ready for use immediately. If the concrete is sealed, wait 30 minutes.

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Q. Does my polished concrete need to be sealed?

A. Polished concrete is naturally stain resistant in itself, but impregnating sealers can also be applied to help prevent spills from soaking into the concrete before they can be cleaned up.

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Q. Will I need to wax my polished concrete floor to make it shiny?

A. Not at all. The use of progressively finer grits to smooth the concrete creates a surface which reflects light rather than refracting it, resulting in a shiny floor without the need for waxes or other topical coatings.

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Q. How does polished concrete impact the environment?

A. Though the overall use of concrete can be somewhat controversial, polished concrete prevents waste by utilizing the existing structural slab rather than using other resources and materials to cover it. Correctly maintained, polished concrete retains a natural shine without the use of topical treatments which often contain smelly or noxious chemicals. Polished concrete is also LEED compliant and extremely long lasting. It is one of the most sustainable flooring options available.

 

Q. How messy is concrete polishing?

A. Grinding which creates slurry can be a little messy, but we thoroughly mask and protect surrounding areas and carefully contain the slurry produced. For dry-grind polishing we also mask and protect the surroundings, as well as utilizing a vacuum system which contains up to 98% of airborne particulates in conjunction with the grinder to keep dust to a minimum. Any remaining dust is easily swept up.

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Q. Can concrete floors with radiant heat be polished?

A. It is generally possible to polish floors with radiant heat, since the heating system is usually 4" below the system, but it is vital that your contractor is advised of what they are working with and care is taken to maintain proper depth.

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Q. What kinds of concrete floors can be polished?

A. Whether your slab is 100 years old or newly constructed, just about any concrete floor can be polished. If the concrete will be regularly exposed to acids or has already been saturated with oil, polished concrete may not be ideal. We provide free estimates and assessment of your floor's suitability for polishing.

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Q. What kind of clients do you serve?

A. Although we are willing to provide concrete polishing services for clients who own or manage commercial and industrial properties such as warehouses, retail spaces, showrooms, industrial plants, government buildings, etc, the bulk of our clients are residential homeowners.

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Q. What, exactly, is polished concrete? Is it some kind of coating?

A. Polished concrete differs from waxed or coated concrete. The problem with applying something to concrete to create a shine is that it looks beautiful at first, but quickly becomes scratched and scuffed. Eventually coatings show traffic patterns, peel or flake off, and trap dirt and contaminants. We use a natural polishing process similar to that of marble polishing. Our floor machines are equipped with diamond embedded pads with various grits depending on what it is we want to accomplish, from heavy grits for grinding away damage or leveling the floor to fine grits for achieving a glass-like, high polish. We also use a variety of impregnating hardeners and sealers, as needed, to strengthen and protect concrete floors. Our methods are much more cost effective than waxing or coating concrete, because our polish lasts a long time with minimal maintenance.