Polished Concrete Brisbane
Polished concrete flooring in Queensland that can be turned by a head
Do you want to design the perfect polished concrete floor for your house or business?
Brisbane Polished Flooring is your one-stop shop for all things polished! We help you to choose the best flooring that suits your needs and fits within your budget. Our staff is highly skilled and has polished thousands concrete floors throughout Australia. They will provide you with the best advice possible. A long list of positive customer reviews, Husqvarna and Auskut certificates support our commitment to quality. These certifications show that we can deliver high quality polished concrete.
Why Choose Us
We value open and honest pricing. You can use our Cost Calculator to receive a free, no obligation quote on your polished concrete project.
Virtual Reality Showroom
The world's first Virtual Reality Polished Concrete Showroom. Call today to arrange a tour at the Polished Concrete FAQ. This tour is available by appointment.
Brisbane Polished Flooring has created a searchable, comprehensive list of Frequently Asked Questions pages to help you quickly and efficiently find the answers you seek.
Our concrete polishing service
We offer a broad array of services to residential as well as commercial clients. We can accommodate projects from one to 10,000m2, with a variety in finishes and styles. Our services are offered on new builds/pours and existing concrete/renovations.
Brisbane Polished Flooring can polish your concrete.
Get access to a team of certified experts, fully qualified, and committed to quality
The world's first software to display all available finishes in virtual polished concrete.
It's convenient to have a showroom where you can see every type concrete flooring.
It is a great deal and there are many options that will suit your needs.
Polished concrete makes for the perfect no-wax floor. Concrete polishing professionals can make concrete surfaces shiny and new with the right floor grinding equipment. It's easy to see why concrete is so appealing for both homeowners and businesses.
What IS POLISHED CONCRETE?
A concrete surface can be gradually polished by heavy-duty machinery to achieve the desired level of shine and smoothness. Find out how polishing works and what the basics are about polished concrete.
WHERE IS POLISHED CONCRETE AVAILABLE?
The most commonly used places for polished concrete are:
Large warehouses, warehouse outlets
Retail stores
Hotels and restaurants
Office buildings
Auto showrooms
Private residences
POLISHED CONCRETE FLOORING BENEFITS
Polished concrete floors are preferred by retailers, homeowners, large-box store owners, medical and educational facilities due to the superiority polished flooring has over other floor finishes. Decorative concrete in the shape of polished floors has been the obvious choice due to the high value it provides and the fact that it can compete visually.
Residential Benefits:
Cost savings - Traditional floor covering materials don't need to be used when slab on grade is used to finish the floor surface
Extended life-cycle savings : Polished floors don't require replacement and are not as susceptible to damage as other materials.
Very easy to clean Does not harbour dirt, dust or allergens
Available as a wide range of colours and designs
Commercial and Retail Benefits
Cost savings. Using the slab on the grade floor for the final floor surface is more economical and the maintenance costs are lower
Better resistance to high foot traffic. This is how a grocer in Tennessee explained that he can only maintain the traffic patterns within his store. This means that he doesn't need to move large display cases or wax the floor.
Easy to maintain and long-lasting: Polished flooring is easy to clean. They only require a light mopping. They are also less likely to require messy waxes, coatings, or the labor, time, and expense involved in applying them. The shiny surface of polished concrete is resistant to forklift truck tires, oil spills, and staining.
Resistant from moisture transmission issues - Polished concrete lets the floor breathe and eliminates the problems associated with concrete flooring materials such as tile.
High light reflectivity is essential for office floors, hotels, restaurants, or other public facilities who want to project a bright and professional image. This also reduces the energy required for artificial lighting.
Sustainable flooring alternative: Polished Concrete does not require harmful coatings, cleaners, adhesives, or other chemicals
CAN ALL CONCRETE POLISHED
With proper preparation almost any concrete floor can easily be polished. There are exceptions. How to determine the suitability of your floor for polishing.
What DESIGN OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE IF CONCRETE FLOOR PUBLISHING IS AVAILABLE?
The polished concrete's smooth reflective surface offers many possibilities for colouring, scoring and creating various designs. For polishing concrete that is already in place, dyes and stain are the most preferred methods.
Because polishing is a multistep procedure, you have the option to choose the sheen you prefer -- satin or high-gloss. This will allow for easy maintenance and aesthetic appeal. Polished concrete can be used in many different applications because of its versatility.
See our project profiles and design ideas to see how you can colour your polished concrete floor using stains and dyes.
WHAT IS THE CONCRETE COST FOR POLICISHED CONCRETE?
The cost of polished concrete will vary depending upon the location, square footage and preparation. You can expect to pay between 3 and $12 per square feet. Due to the use of smaller equipment in tighter spaces, residential prices may be slightly lower than commercial. Polished Concrete cost will give you a better understanding of what you can expect.
HOW DO POLISHED CONCRETE PERFORM TO OTHER FLOORING OPTIONS?
Decorative polished cement has several benefits that other flooring materials don't have, especially when it comes durability, performance and sustainability. This comparison chart displays how polished concrete compares to tile, vinyl and wood flooring, as well as laminate and natural stones.
ARE POLISHED CONCRETE LOORS TOUGH TO MAINTAIN
Concrete floors with polished finishes are extremely durable. However, they need to be maintained in order to keep their stunning shine. They are typically easier to maintain that other decorative floors. Routine maintenance removes any dust or debris that can cause damage to the surface. Learn more about polished concrete flooring maintenance.
ARE CONCRETE FLOORS POLISHED SLIPPERY
Although they may appear as smooth as glass floors, polished concrete floors are safe to walk on if they are kept dry and clean. Additionally, polished concrete floors tend to be less slippery that waxed marble or linoleum. But, it is essential to avoid slip-and falls in public spaces with heavy foot traffic.
Here are some tips that will improve the slip resistance of polished concrete floors.
Polish floors must be free from grease, oil, and standing water. Follow a regular maintenance program and wipe away any spills and stains that may occur on the floor.
Apply an antislip conditioner. These products contain special additives which improve traction. They need to be reapplied every other week, but can still be used for routine cleaning.
Polish concrete with anti-slip grit additives will need a sealer coat. These products are mixed in the sealer to improve traction without affecting the polished appearance.
Add rubber mats to your high-traffic entranceways.
IS POLISHING CONCRETE CONSIDERED a GOOD DIY PROJECT
It is important to remember that concrete floors require a lot of skill and special heavy-duty polishing machines with diamond-impregnated blades. These disks gradually grind down the surface until it reaches the desired shine and smoothness. The equipment and skill required to polish concrete floors is too expensive. It's best to hire a professional concrete polishing company to complete the work. Find a local concrete polishing business.
APPLY DYES IF POLISHED CONCRETE
A concrete dye is one of most effective ways to beautify polished concrete. Concrete dyes are more versatile than acid stains. They also come in a wide range of colours and, unlike concrete stains that can react chemically with concrete. Therefore, concrete dyes tend to have more predictable results and are less mottled. These effects allow for more creative control, which allows you to create intricate graphics designs.
Dyes are made up of excellent organic pigments. They penetrate concrete to create translucent colour effects. Dyes can be used either as a primary or secondary colouring agent. You can mix most dyes to create endless colour variations. You can also make interesting decorative effects with multiple dye colours or faux-finishing methods.
When to use dye on polished concrete: Dye producers often recommend using dye at the grit level prior to final polishing and then applying a demensifier. Bob Harris, author Bob Harris’ Guide to Polished Concrete Floors states that he's been able to apply dye at the 400-grit level after the slab is densified. Since dyes dissolve quickly, they will penetrate well. It depends on the concrete's condition so you can check with the dye manufacturer to find out what they recommend.
It is not necessary for you to neutralize your floor after applying dye to it. Harris recommends an auto scrubber that has a vacuum recovery device for larger projects. A mop or wet-vac is recommended for smaller projects. The dyes dry quickly so final polishing can be completed as soon as possible.
Solvent vs. Water-based Dye: Some of the solvent-based dyes can be premixed and shipped ready for use. Other dyes ship in dry powdered form, and need to be mixed with acetone before they are used. To reduce the intensity of colour, dyes can be thinned with additional Acetone. All solvent-based dyes have a high flammability, so be careful. Protective gear includes a respirator that is approved and safety glasses as well as gloves. Also ensure the room has adequate ventilation and that no open flames or open flames are allowed.
Water-based colors are often ready to go and don't require any mixing. Harris said that water-based colors can be used on polished concrete in the same way as solvent-based ones (around 400 grit). You may still need to use the densifier before applying these dyes, especially if concrete is very soft. Water-based dyes can be applied more safely than solvent-based ones, as they do not contain any acetone.
Application instruments: To apply solvent-based dyes, the best tool to use is an airless or pump-up sprayer that has an acetone resistance cone-shaped nozzle. This will ensure uniform coverage. Avoid applying dyes with a brush as these dyes dry quickly. This will result in brush strokes. You can achieve the best results with an airbrush for small detail areas.
Water-based colors offer greater control and can also be applied to small areas using traditional paintbrushes as well as artists' brushes. If the surface is smooth, you can create colour-washed looks by ragging the dye or sponging it on the surface in an irregular motion. You can apply the dye with a pump-up sprayer, followed by another person using a rayon mop or microfiber applicator to massage the dye onto the surface.
Tips to achieve the best results
The coverage rate of dye may vary greatly from floor-to-floor depending on how concrete is mixed, the surface profile and what colour intensity you are trying to achieve. You should not use the dye container's coverage rates as a guideline.
A great way to get more variation and deeper colours is to layer dye color upon dye color. Multiple light dye applications will penetrate the skin deeper than one heavy coat. Do not apply a second coat of dye until the first has dried. Wait at least fifteen minutes.
Use either solvent-based or water-based dyes. Dry polishing will produce better results than wet because it could activate the dye, causing it to bleed.
Apply a test dye sample before covering the entire floor. This allows you to assess the intensity of the dye and how easily the floor takes it. Test the dye in an area where it will not be visible, such a closet, or in a storage unit.
UV-stable dyes can't be used on concrete. If used on outdoor surfaces, they can fade.
WET VS. DRY POLISHING
Concrete polishing techniques can be used by contractors using dry or wet methods. But, most often they use both.
Wet polishing uses liquid water to cool the diamonds abrasives and remove any remaining grinding dust. Water acts as a friction reducer and lubricant. This helps to prolong the life of diamond abrasives, especially resin-bonded disks which can melt at very high temperatures. The only problem with the wet process are the mess and the crews that must collect and dispose it. This can slow down the production.
Dry polishing doesn't require water. Instead, contractors use dust-containment equipment that virtually eliminates all mess. Dry polishing is often used to remove concrete. As the surface becomes smoother crews switch from metal-bonded diamond abrasives to the finer resinbonded diamond abrasives. They then move on to wet-polishing. Some manufacturers have made resin-bonded disks to withstand the friction from dry polishing.