Pros & Cons Polished Concrete

Polished concrete is a durable, low-maintenance flooring option that’s become a top choice for high-traffic environments like manufacturing facilities, production floors, retail stores, restaurants, hospitals and more.

While polished concrete has a few challenges, most are easy to overcome and its advantages often far outweigh the drawbacks.

To make an informed flooring decision, it’s always best to understand the demands of the environment where the flooring will be located and to balance any pros and cons.

What Is Polished Concrete?

Polished concrete is a durable, high-gloss flooring finish made from a standard concrete slab composed of cement, water, sand and aggregates. 

The surface is treated with a chemical densifier to harden it, then mechanically ground, honed and polished using diamond abrasives. This process creates a smooth, glossy finish. 

You can also add stains or dyes for color appeal and a protective sealer can enhance resistance to wear and discoloration, especially in high-traffic areas.

Benefits of Polished Concrete Floors

From high durability to versatile design options, these benefits make polished concrete a top choice for long-lasting and cost-effective flooring in commercial and industrial spaces.

High Durability

Concrete that’s been highly polished is extremely strong and resilient. It can withstand the pressure of heavy foot traffic and equipment, making it difficult to damage and nearly impossible to chip or scratch.

Life Span

A properly installed, sealed and maintained polished concrete floor can be expected to last a hundred years or more in even the harshest commercial environments. Its life span will far surpass that of other floor coverings, such as carpet, vinyl tile and wood laminates.

Easy to Maintain

Polished concrete flooring is relatively easy to maintain. A daily sweep with a dust mop or broom prevents dirt accumulation and a weekly damp mop helps remove smudges, scuffs and watermarks while restoring its glossy finish. Maintenance requirements may vary slightly based on the finish, but overall upkeep is minimal. 

Cost-Effective Over Time

Depending on the level of complexity, polished concrete floors can cost as little as $2 a square foot or as much as $30 a square foot. Most installations are very cost-effective, especially if you have an existing concrete slab that’s ready for staining or polishing.

With such a long life span, there are major long-term cost savings involved with these reflective floors. In basic terms, you’ll likely never need to replace worn or damaged flooring in your lifetime.

Design Flexibility

There’s an endless variety of color and texture effects associated with this concrete finish and it’s able to simulate the look of dozens of pricier materials. You can also add decorative engraving and stenciled graphics to the surface.

Sanitary and Easy to Clean 

Properly finished and sealed concrete can be resistant to fluids, especially water. Coatings can provide waterproof barriers that seal the concrete and keep out contaminants. Some coatings can also provide anti-microbial protection. 

High-quality concrete flooring should never have cracks or crevices in the surface that can trap food and dirt and harbor bacteria.

High Light Reflectivity

Concrete that’s highly polished can significantly boost the amount of natural light in a space, potentially reducing the need for artificial lighting and saving on energy costs. 

That degree of reflectivity will depend on the type of polish you choose, with higher-gloss finishes more significantly increasing the Light Reflection Value (LRV) of a room.

Slip-Resistant

Any concrete surface can be slippery, especially in moist environments or areas prone to spills. But these concrete floorings can be sealed with a non-slip epoxy coating to add texture and prevent falls and injuries. 

Chemical-Resistant

Though it may not appear so, a non-sealed concrete floor is actually porous. However,  concrete floors can be sealed with a chemical-resistant epoxy coating to protect them against extreme chemicals (alkalis and acids) and corrosion.

Thermal Shock-Resistant

Thermal shock-resistant coatings can be applied to this concrete finish to prevent disbondment, delamination, cracks, bubbles and other deterioration if the floors are subjected to very hot water or steam washes. 

Static Dissipative

An unsealed concrete floor often exhibits antistatic tendencies, although that’s always dependent upon the floor’s moisture levels. Anti-static coatings can be applied for peace of mind so that static discharge can’t cause damage to static-sensitive equipment.

No VOC Emissions

Concrete floors do not contain harmful Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) like hardwood floors or vinyl and synthetic carpets.

A Greener Choice

Because polished concrete flooring serves as both the slab foundation and the finished floor, it minimizes materials and waste. No flooring overlay is necessary when your slab ticks all the boxes. Should a commercial concrete floor ever need to be removed, it’s composed of biodegradable materials that can be recycled for later use.

Challenges of Polished Concrete Floors

While polished concrete has many advantages, it also comes with some challenges. Understanding these potential drawbacks will help you make a well-informed flooring decision for your project.

Rigid Surface

The strength and durability of this material can also be a drawback. As the surface is very hard, it won’t cushion or “give” under feet, making it uncomfortable to stand on for long periods. To overcome this, you can add anti-fatigue mats to areas where employees face hours on their feet on a day-to-day basis.

Chilly Surface

Another drawback of concrete floors is that they don’t tend to retain heat very well. That means that in the winter, the surface of the flooring is going to feel cold. However, this is no different from ceramic tile or natural stone flooring. 

To overcome this, you can embed radiant heating cables in concrete floors to reduce heat loss. Best of all, you’ll usually pay lower utility costs than with a forced-air system, because radiant heating consumes less energy to achieve the same level of comfort. 

Moisture Risks

If concrete flooring isn’t properly finished and sealed, it becomes very susceptible to moisture penetration. If liquid manages to make its way into the pores of a concrete floor, it can sit there and lead to the growth of mold or mildew. If you have a trusted professional installing your polished concrete flooring, you shouldn’t have to worry about this.

Noise Factor

This concrete finish can be loud, much like ceramic tile, natural stone flooring and some hardwood or bamboo floors. To reduce this noise, you can furnish the space with rugs, heavy drapes, acoustic wall panels and other elements that absorb or block sound.

Is Polished Concrete Right for You?

With over 25 years of experience, Black Bear Seamless Flooring  is a true specialist in polished concrete floors for commercial and industrial spaces. Our skilled crews tailor each project to meet your unique maintenance and aesthetic needs, ensuring a durable, attractive floor that will stand the test of time.

Serving New England and northern New York, we bring the expertise, equipment and industry best practices that are necessary for a successful flooring project. We work closely with you from assessment to installation to find the best solution for your space.

Contact us and let us help you make your polished concrete flooring project a success!

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