How Do You Build A Polished Concrete Floor? - Fixanswer

Polishing concrete is not an easy DIY project, since it requires heavy equipment and special diamond tooling. We recommend hiring a

professional concrete polishing contractor

to complete your project.

How thick do polished concrete floors need to be?

How thick does a concrete slab have to be to be polished? Yes, it is possible to have a topping slab poured over existing flooring. Please keep in mind that any screed or topping slab needs to be an absolute

minimum of 70mm thick

. The maximum recommended thickness is 100mm.

How much does it cost to do a polished concrete floor?

While there is no one set price you can usually expect prices to range

between $65 – $140 per square meter

depending on the desired finish (e.g. grind & seal or mechanical polish) Compared to other floor finishes on the market, Polished Concrete is a cost-effective option, however you’ll find prices vary depending on a …

Are concrete floors cheaper than wood?

Yes,

concrete floors are generally more affordable than hardwood floors

. Generally, a concrete floor costs between $2 and $15 per square foot, while hardwood floors cost between $12 and $20 per square foot, according to Floor Critics.

What is the difference between sealed and polished concrete?

The differences are quite significant in process,

duration, cost, and durability

. For polished concrete, the concrete is polished using finer grits of diamond abrasives until the floor reaches the desired level of shine (level 1-4). However, with sealed concrete, the finish is achieved from a high-performance sealer.

Can you have polished concrete in bathrooms?

Is polished concrete suitable for bathrooms floors? ‘

Polished concrete can look nice in bathrooms

– there’s no grout so it gives a very clean look. It’s easy to slip on a highly polished floor when wet though, so you need a finish with extra sanding to give it some texture,’ says the renovation specialist.

Can you polish any concrete floor?

Almost any structurally sound concrete floor

, whether new or old, can be polished. … Some retail and warehouses facilities that plan to polish their floors after placement may specify a floor that is as smooth as possible to minimise the polishing steps required.

How long do polished concrete floors last?

Polished Concrete Floor Lifespans

With professional concrete installation, a proactive polished concrete floor maintenance plan, and occasional deep cleaning, a polished concrete flooring system can last

20 years or more

with minimal hassle.

What is the difference between polished and burnished concrete?

Burnished polished concrete

resembles polished concrete but does not require as many steps

. … The burnishing machinery heats and buffs the topical coating into a concrete surface. It’s important to note the finished floor is less durable than polished concrete and does require more maintenance.

Do polished concrete floors scratch easily?

Polished concrete flooring is extremely strong and resilient and is able to withstand the pressure from very heavy foot traffic and equipment. It is very difficult to damage and

is nearly impossible to chip or scratch

.

What is the difference between polished concrete and epoxy?

There are many differences between epoxy and concrete polishing.

Epoxy flooring is water resistant

, provides a non-slippery surface and will not be damaged as a result of a chemical spill. … Concrete polishing is a smooth and clean surface that does not peel or scratch as compared to epoxy flooring which can scratch.

How deep does a concrete floor need to be?

Standard concrete floor slab thickness in residential construction is

4 inches

. Five to six inches is recommended if the concrete will receive occasional heavy loads, such as motor homes or garbage trucks.

Are concrete floors bad for your health?

According to experts, concrete floor systems can cause everything from

bunions and ingrown toenails

to shin splints, lumbar strain, and achilles tendonitis. It can also lead to lower back pain, stress fractures, knee pain, and worsening of arthritis symptoms.

Do I need air bricks with a concrete floor?

If the suspended timber floor has been removed and replaced with a solid concrete floor, the void will also be filled in with concrete, so there’s nothing to ventilate. In this situation, the air

bricks can either be blocked or replaced with regular bricks

, but first check with a builder or surveyor before you do this.

How much does it cost to polish and seal concrete floors?

Most homeowners pay

between $3 and $8 per square foot

for residential polished concrete flooring. Costs are lower for sealing only or a single layer of polish and higher for intricate designs (up to $15 per square foot or more).