Commercial concrete floor coatings matter heavily in how your office is perceived. It may look unimportant, but the fact is that a commercial building with a top-quality concrete surface creates the impression of professionalism and excellence for the room. It’s a mood booster for the people working there. However, commercial concrete flooring materials do more than create a fresh and appealing look for property owners. For building owners, here are some of the top benefits concrete flooring is a good choice.
1. Incredibly Durable
Concrete flooring is durable, with an estimated lifespan of a hundred years. Of course, that’s assuming the concrete flooring is installed correctly, sealed, and gets consistent maintenance. Even with high foot traffic, a flooring option such as polished concrete gets very little wear and tear, making it ideal for commercial applications. Concrete flooring is often considered an environmentally friendly option with minimal work needed to maintain it.
2. Versatility of Use
Concrete flooring can be used in a variety of situations. Polished concrete floors are perhaps the most popular, but there are more ways this can be adjusted for commercial property. For example, polished concrete can be painted or stained to match the overall decor of the property owners. It can be used for both indoor and outdoor installation. Some owners even include radiant heating systems with polished concrete floors to help with temperature control on the property.
The concrete floor can also be adjusted to meet certain needs. It can be troweled, polished, or smoothened, depending on the advantages the owner wants to have in the property.
3. Low Maintenance
Concrete flooring is low maintenance for a variety of reasons. For one thing, cleaning it can be accomplished with a simple soap and water solution. For the most part, however, the product is stain resistant and has a high thermal mass to store and release heat energy. While it does require professional maintenance, the process is done infrequently. Polished concrete floors need maintenance every two or three years, provided foot traffic is expected. For heavy foot traffic, maintenance of once a year for polished concrete floor surface should be sufficient.
4. Highly Reflective Surface
Polished concrete floors provide a shiny reflective surface thanks to the smooth and glossy finish. The shiny appearance is more than just aesthetically pleasing; it’s an energy-efficient strategy for retail space. Polished concrete floors reflect light, so you need fewer light sources to keep the space illuminated. This makes the setup eco-friendly and attractive at the same time.
5. Naturally Occurring Product
Another plus point of concrete floors is that they are naturally occurring. Like marble and tile, a concrete slab is collected and undergoes processing before installation. No excessively harsh chemicals are used on the material, making it eco-friendly compared to other flooring options. Of course, consider that polished concrete flooring still needs regular upkeep to justify its cost-effectiveness.
6. Resistant to Fire, Mold, and Moisture
It’s not uncommon to install polished concrete floors in commercial buildings, hospitals, and manufacturing properties. Commercial concrete is wonderfully resistant to fire, moisture, and mold. Compared to other flooring options, concrete floors do not warp or swell; they maintain their shape and are resistant to cracks with consistent upkeep. This also benefits business properties where heat naturally occurs. Manufacturing companies benefit from the cool concrete floor, which manages to temper the heat from the machinery.
7. Slip Resistant
Polished concrete floors can be slippery, especially when wet. However, concrete floor coatings can be adjusted to keep the space safe for users. Some may choose to place a carpet, but that somehow defeats the purpose of the commercial floor. Instead, installed concrete floors can have an exposed aggregate style. This is when the outer surface is removed so the underlying pebbles and stones can be seen. This helps create more friction on the top, plus most people are pleasantly surprised by the pretty pattern. There are other concrete floor coatings to choose from that can help make polished concrete less slip resistant.
8. Affordable Option
Generally, a concrete floor is cheaper than other flooring choices like wood, laminate, vinyl, carpet, bamboo, or cork. Even with the added concrete floor coatings, the average cost of a concrete floor is around two to 15 USD per square foot. With many advantages, such as durability, ease of maintenance, and long-lasting use, a concrete floor is a better option for a commercial space. Since it can hold heat, a polished concrete floor can make it easier to heat a room during the cold season. For a business with high overhead, this means more savings regarding electricity costs.
9. Pet Friendly
Unlike carpet, a new concrete floor with proper sealing is wonderfully effective for commercial properties that welcome pets. Malls, vet clinics, or any public building will love how the floors are easy to clean, even with pet tracks and fur. As more business establishments try to be more inclusive, the concrete floor minimizes cleaning while managing to welcome all kinds of people in the market.
10. Relatively Quick Installation
Laying a new floor of concrete may take two to six days, depending on the size of the area that needs to be covered. Unlike carpets, there’s a curing time for concrete, so it’s impossible to use the area immediately. Compared to tile fitting, however, concrete can be applied faster. The time may be shorter if the concrete is poured over an existing hard finish to refresh the appearance.
Final Word
Of course, you still have to weigh the benefits of concrete floors against some of their drawbacks, such as the fact that the surface can be hard to walk on and thus may be problematic for some people. Untreated and improperly regulated concrete floors can also track dirt and get stained. Getting people who know their job and understand the importance of protective coating should be a priority for business owners who want the advantages of concrete.
Contact Extreme Industrial Coatings for all your concrete flooring needs in California.
Well, after the umpteenth time tripping on our wonky driveway, my husband’s had enough and is all gung-ho about getting a residential concrete mix service to level things out. I guess the daily acrobatics just to get to the car have become too much of a morning workout for his liking. Thanks for letting us know that although polished concrete floors can be slick, particularly when wet, concrete floor coatings can be changed to ensure user safety.