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What is all the discuss "Polished Concrete Floors?" Polishing and grinding concrete flooring has been a topic of conversation over the past few years, and I am asked so many times what it's about, that I made a decision to write this article. Hard surface floors have been around since the period of the Roman Empire. It took a massive quantity of labor, and a lot of ingenuity to split huge stones, and hone them right down to make slabs ideal for flooring in buildings. To obtain additional specific than that's mind boggling, similar to, "How do they build the Pyramids in Egypt? " My response is, "I type of know how they did it, but I'm happy I didn't want to do the work".

Fast forward just a little, and we come to more recent times when people discovered that you could combine Portland (a clay chemical) with sand, rock and water, to help make the first concrete. The mixtures have been tweaked over the years, however the process has virtually remained the same. Contractors have got used different curing brokers, have implemented the usage of steel bar to ideally prevent concrete from cracking, and have implemented different types of moisture barriers to boost on the finished product.

Building owners have wished various kinds of flooring more than the concrete to provide a creating a warmer, and cleaner experience. In industrial services they have utilized tile, rolled linoleum, floor color, or epoxy to give a creating a more attractive appearance, and make it simpler to clean than bare concrete. That works for some time, but everyone of these products eventually wears out and needs replacement. That brings us up to the present time.

Since early in the twentieth hundred years, scientist experimented with different compositions to come up with a flooring items that would last for an extended period of period. Some tile products were made up of an asphalt foundation. Some were made stronger by adding asbestos to the mix. Don't get me wrong, it had been an excellent product, and after 40 years available, I've noticed some asbestos tile that goes back at least 60 years, and continues to be in good condition. The issue is that asbestos is a Carcinogen, as soon as the tile is broken, or disturbed, you can quickly be exposing you to ultimately cancer causing agents, in the surroundings. Guess who arrives on the seen when something like that is certainly reported? You have it! The Guys with Light Hats Riding on Light Horses. Now you have for the asbestos abatement crews. Can you say, BIG BUCKS?

Abatement is a tedious, and frustrating process, but it has to be done, before you can begin the procedure of restoring the cement floor underneath. You cannot do-it-yourself! Asbestos Abatement requires a lot of time of training, certification, annual re-certification, special devices, and folks who are crazy more than enough to wish to accomplish it. Just kidding! Luckily, there are individuals who enjoy that kind of function, and take satisfaction in providing a great finished product.

I, much prefer coming in after the cleanup has been completed. Concrete grinding apparatus has been around the development stage for over 70 years. Changes with some companies especially during the last 5-10 years have been dramatic. Why? Because, the government has determined there are enough floors out there, that are wearing out or broken, that they need to part of with some requirements for removal, since many of these flooring are in public areas buildings. Just what exactly are my choices as a facilities or building manager? Initial, you have to go on-line, and find a very reliable asbestos abatement firm, and get an estimate. Second, you need to find reputable Cement Restoration firm to provide you with the options at their disposal. Next, you http://elliotteagn135.trexgame.net/the-evolution-of-flooring-store-augusta-ga are going to have to put together a budget for the completion of the work, so that you, your plank of directors, or your school board isn't shocked by the cost of the completed task. And finally, you are likely to have to plan the task.

Due to the cost of the abatement, and the fact that they will need to tent off areas while the abatement is going on, there will be some dependence on some logistical planning. Everything you don't want to do is put it off, hoping the problem will treatment itself, or disappear completely. That's not going to happen. It generally does not happen that frequently, but I have seen instances where the inspectors can be found in and demand that the issue is corrected prior to the building can be used again. That's ugly!

Which are the definition of the term, "Problem"? It 's a predicament that you don't deal with. There are currently thousands of floors in public and private schools, schools, universities, court houses, and other public buildings who've been fore warned that they have to eliminate asbestos floors.

In the last five to a decade, they have continually been given an extension, or given a "pass", due to the fact that "They don't really have profit their BUDGET". Actually, the very first time I heard that was 1981, and the budget has gotten tighter each year. This has lead to the advent of apparatus and grinding pads for "The Do It Yourself", types. Do you know what? They don't work.

If you would like your custodian, to spend thousands of hours with a 250 RPM swing buffer, grinding grooves in your beautiful eighty season old Terrazzo, or Marble flooring, by all means, GO FOR IT.

THEN WHO MUST I TALK TO?

You can hire an extremely reputable Concrete Grinding and Polishing professional, who only does floors, for much less money than you would expect. They are able to grind, polish, seal, dye, or apply among hundreds of products to your flooring for the same or less overall than re-applying tile which doesn't have the same resiliency, and longevity as the prior asbestos tile products.

You can install carpet which typically has no more than 5-7 year life expectancy. Or you can go with a dyed ground that will outlast most of us. Your options are endless, but you need to look for a contractor that you can trust, and execute a little homework prior to making your decision. Some may recommend products that you would call floor color or epoxy. What are the advantages or disadvantages of that kind of product? There's probably nothing incorrect with that, nevertheless, you need a few facts before making your decision.

Floor paint that you'll typically buy in a do-it-yourself or hardware shop is fairly easy to use, but generally won't hold up to much traffic, either tires or foot traffic. And to be able to get the best results you still need to do the majority of the prep that would be essential for the other products. Epoxy is more durable once it really is cured, but can be damaged if exposed to some misuse before it is totally cured. (Two days for foot visitors) and (Up to thirty days for wheel traffic). If you cannot live with that, you then need to consider other options.

WARNING!

Epoxy is not easily repairable, and bears "NO " guarantee, if strict suggestion for it's care aren't observed. Don't expect the contractor another weekly after your beautiful flooring was redone to fix tire marks in your shop. It's not possible! If you prefer a floor that's less sensitive, you then should probably consider application of a penetrating dye, accompanied by sealer to provide you with an attractive floor surface finish which will probably be less vunerable to marring and scratching.

Okay, so now the questions. Are these types of floor finishes slippery? The best way to explain that's to clarify the grinding and polishing process.

When cement is poured you are bound to involve some inconsistencies. Why? Have you ever poured cement, or watched it being poured? Regardless of how good you are, or how good your products is, getting a huge slab of concrete completely level, is hard. The plenty of concrete from the prepared mix company could be inconsistent in one load to the next. Most concrete is certainly poured in the summer when heat and wind can affect the rate of time for the concrete to dry. If it's poured in the fall or winter season drying and curing brokers are added to the mix that may also result in problems later on. Important thing is, the finished flooring can have lots of imperfections in it so that you can deal with.

The latest equipment which is generally utilized by a concrete restoration company is intended to apply plenty of pressure to the diamond cups or "stones" under the machine that given enough time, will do an excellent job, of leveling your floor. The grinding gear generally weighs between 1,200 and 2,500 pounds which is a whole lot more head pressure than your swing buffer. A typical grinding machine is going to have no less than twelve stone which turn in a synchronized movement to pulverize the top 1/16" to 1/8" of concrete, exposing the softer sub-strata below. Why is it softer? Because as you will recall, I discussed the curing agents which is used at that time the concrete was poured. That product is intended to harden the top surface, and needs to be taken off before you really enter "Mechanically Changing" the ground. So you've got the skin off of the floor. What's next?

Next, you go to a little finer group of grinding stone to keep the grinding/leveling procedure. You go in direct lines in a defined area to make sure each portion of floor is floor evenly. All floors will require overlapping with the machine. Some will demand changing path with the machine to level the floor properly. All flooring will require edging against walls and in doorways to grind and level the floor adequately. All of this requires floor professionals with a fairly significant amount of experience and training to do the job the correct way.

Doesn't this create a whole lot of dust? Good question. Yes it does, but depending on the quality of the grinding tools which includes some pretty high efficiency and costly vacuums with dual "Hepa" filters, that are mounted on the grinder, 90-95% of the dust is sucked directly into the vacuum to be disposed of. What else?

How about noise? The grinders are generally not that noisy. The vacuums are, but can generally end up being operated so that they are of minimal influence to the public. Sometimes the function has to be done in the center of the night time. Sometimes areas have to be tented off to safeguard the public, or defend adjacent areas. That's all still left up to the companies estimator to determine all those logistical issues.

Bottom line is: If it needs to be done, the right company can accommodate all of these issues. Just how much area can be done in a typical eight hour change? Generally, about 1,000 sq. ft. with each machine and a crew of 3 people. Which includes edging, grinding with two different grits of stones, and at least two, if not really three passes with gemstone impregnated polishing disc's. As you can plainly see, I still haven't answered the question about whether the floor will probably be slick. Don't hurry me, I'm addressing it.

The quantity of polishing necessary will likely be determined by the customer. Since we talked about what concrete is actually made of a long time back, you will understand that it is mostly clay, and sand. Oh yeah! And rock. And depending where you are at, and the age of the floor determines how much, and which type and size of rock is definitely in your concrete flooring. It might be pretty normal, or it may be absolutely beautiful stone. On some jobs you will feel just like a jeweler polishing stones with impeccable beauty despite the fact that it may be nothing but river rock that has been buried for years. Many ordinary concrete floors when surface and polished with top quality devices will look more like Terrazzo than concrete. Terrazzo is normally a concrete mix that is poured like concrete, but has a specific mixture of little stones or marble chips in the concrete combine which is meant to have a lot more natural beauty than concrete. But believe me, you may be amazed at what concrete can appeared as if with the correct grinding and polishing.

Following the grinding and polishing is complete, you have presented the natural beauty of the stone. It might not look like it yet, but it will, after the penetrating sealer is usually applied. This product is intended to penetrate the smooth "sub-strata" of your flooring. Once it is dry to touch, your ground is prepared for high swiftness burnishing. I love Propane powered burnishers which operate at 2,500 RPM. With a gemstone impregnated burnishing pad the machine will generate enough heat on the floor to bring out the utmost luster of the ground whether your primary concrete mix was a very sandy mix, or includes a lot of outstanding stones in it. One method or the other, you will definitely have an extremely polished floor. Your floor will have the appearance of a Terrazzo or tiled flooring floor with several coats of ground finish on it.

You'll notice I don't call it wax, as many people do. That's because it isn't. Wax was not used on floors for 25-30 years. When I 1st started doing floors in the 60's, we actually used natural wax on floors. Very labor intensive. Up coming came what many people call wax. It is actually a plastic item or "Thermoplastic". That means it shines up properly when exposed to warmth from a burnisher.

Note: We've the ability to wet grind and polish Terrazzo flooring and apply an identical sealer eliminating the need to EVER strip and wax a terrazzo ground again. This is totally revolutionary, and should be achieved to every Terrazzo flooring, for the reason that it is much more "Green Friendly" than using caustic stripper and dumping the spent item into your sewer system several times per year. That is why these products were likely to have been taken off the market 10-15 years back.

Artificial plastics are actually applied to the very best surface of the ground. From right here on out I'll refer to them in a group of "Topical Coatings". Here's when we get to the nice part.

Topical coatings are what can actually make the floor slick, specially when wet. The process we just talked about is penetrating, not topical, which in essence makes it less slippery.

And now the cool part! Have you ever seen men carrying big sheets of "Plate Cup", with suction cups? How do they do this? I'm happy you asked. It's called "Tension Strength". The top is so easy that the cups retain connection with the glass. That's what your flooring will probably be like once it is properly floor, and polished.

If there is zero topical product on to the floor, the ground is less slippery than with color or epoxy. And if there is nothing at all on the top of floor it is virtually scratch and chip resistant. Is it chemical substance resistant? Some are much better than others, but it's only common sense that if you spill something that might damage the finish, then clean it up as quickly as possible to minimize the chances of damage.

How long does something such as this last? It depends on the product, but many manufacturers offer at least a five year warranty against any product failing. Theoretically the product can last much longer with care and a little maintenance (i.e. keeping it clean).

We don't mean to provide Epoxy a bad rap. There are numerous good manufacturers. They have to be mixed and applied quickly by a skilled technician to prevent product failing. And, there are several that are more slide resistant than others. Which means you are going to have to trust your contractor to advise you on the proper product, and appearance at some comparisons on the products on the internet.