Polished concrete floors are indeed versatile and durable, but it is important that minimum care is taken to ensure that the shine and sheen isn’t lost. Polished concrete, when not maintained properly, can make the floor look dull. Here are a few things that people need to know about maintenance before installing polished concrete floors;

  • Unlike other floor types, polished concrete does not need wax polish or sealants. The floor is extremely durable thanks to the densification and extreme polishing that they are made to go through.
  • The regularity of the mopping depends on the traffic that the floor is subject to. For instance, floors subject to heavy traffic have to be mopped once in a day to ensure that dust particles do not scratch the surface.
  • Harsh chemicals used in common household cleaning solutions remove the shine from the floor. Instead, washing the floor with a mild detergent would suffice. But do not clean without the detergent; dust settles on the floor when plain water is used.
  • Do not allow water to dry on the floor. The water stains left on the floor look ugly and are difficult to remove over time.
  • Before wet mopping, make sure that you have mopped it well with a dry and soft cloth to remove the dust particles. This makes it easy for you to clean when wet mopping.
  • Tea, oil and other staining products should be cleaned instantly. This is to prevent the concrete surface from absorbing any of the material. Stains on these floors can sometimes be permanent.

When looking for a company to undertake polished concrete jobs, make sure that you choose Kansas City based Concrete Solutions. The company has been in the industry for more than ten years and can guarantee utmost satisfaction.

Concrete floors are often subject to bad publicity. ‘They’re so difficult to maintain’, seems to be the main grouse. But contrary to popular opinion, concrete floors are easy to clean and maintain. Unlike other floor types, there are no grout lines, which means you do not have to worry about ugly stains along these lines. They may not be high maintenance, but certainly need regular upkeep. Here are a few things that you need to know to maintain concrete floors;

a)      Sand and other dust particles act as abrasives and rob the floor of its shine and sheen. But so do the chemicals found in commonly found cleaning liquids. Instead, use a mild detergent with a microfiber pad to get rid of the dust particles. The water should be clean and so should be the mop. Using water alone, with a cleaning solution would leave the dust particles as they are, on the floor, causing further damage.

b)      But before you wet mop, make sure that the dust is removed with a dry and soft pad. The regularity of the cleaning largely depends on the traffic subjected on the floor. Thus, high traffic floors need regular cleaning- at least once in a day.

c)      Concrete is a porous material; it absorbs stains quickly. Make sure that you wash off the stains quickly, even if it was subject to concrete coating and sealing.

d)     Water should not left on the floor to dry by itself. When wet mopping, make sure that you undertake the process in small areas. i.e., ensure that the area is completely dry before moving on to another area.

When looking for professional concrete coating and sealing service companies, choose the best! Kansas City based Concrete Solutions have more than a decade of experience in undertaking concrete flooring jobs and allied services related to them.

It is common for contractors to complete concrete flooring jobs by sealing and coating the floor with sealants. Concrete absorbs moisture quickly, thus exposing it to the vagaries of the weather during extreme climatic conditions. The climate in most of the US forces people to experience the freeze-thaw cycle. To protect the floor from contracting during winter and expanding during summer, a process of coating and sealing is applied on the floor. Even in places where the climatic conditions aren’t harsh, it is important to apply sealants to prevent stains and dust particles from making the floor look unattractive. Dust particles and sand cause abrasions, thereby giving them a dull appearance. Cleaning the floor with common household chemicals can also steal away the look of the floor.

Contractors usually advise people to apply sealers after the concrete is fully settled. This could be anywhere around 15 days to a month. Acrylic-resin sealers should be applied as soon as the concrete floor is laid so as to allow the floor to withstand the weight of the installer. It is best to allow the contractor to decide on the right time to apply the sealer as this largely depends on the type of sealant applied.

Generally, the type of sealant to be used depends on the material that the floor should repel. For instance, to repel oil based stains, siliconate should be used, and to repel water acrylic-resin based sealants should be used. Epoxy is a good sealant used to repel harsh chemicals and petroleum based products.

When looking for concrete coating and sealing contractors is Kansas City, Concrete Solutions are an ideal choice. They have more than 10 years of experience in concrete polishing and sealing.

Many people may not know that epoxy is a cost effective and durable flooring option. You have probably seen epoxy floors in your friend’s garage or in hotel lobbies, but did not even realize what you were looking at. To those who’d like to know more about epoxy, read further;

What is Epoxy?

When different types of resins and hardeners are mixed together, the resultant mixture is a thick plastic like material called epoxy. It is possible to create different looks by combining different types of resins.  You can either choose to opt for an epoxy coating or go for epoxy flooring. While the former refers to a thin layer that is applied, the latter refers to a floor where multiple layers of the material are applied. Besides these, you can also choose between different types of materials and polishing to get different types of floorings. Common among these types include self dispersing epoxy flooring, epoxy terrazzo floors, graveled epoxy floors, etc.

Advantages of Epoxy Flooring:

The fact that these are durable and easy to maintain make them a natural choice for hotel lobbies, hospitals, and other places with a lot of traffic. Self leveling epoxy floors are easy to clean and hence used for kitchens and dining area.

They’re easy to apply as well, but it can take time and effort to apply epoxy for the first time as the tiny bumps and holes on the floor will have to be evened out. But subsequent coatings should be easy to work as well as easy on the budget.

When looking for experienced contractors to carry about epoxy flooring in Kansas City, make sure that you speak to Concrete Solutions. They offer viable solutions according to the type of flooring best suited for your conditions.

If you are looking for some durable and easy to maintain flooring options, epoxy should fit the bill easily. They’re not only easy to maintain, but pleasing to the eyes as well. To those who’re yet to be initiated into epoxy, here’s all that you wanted to know;

What is epoxy?

Epoxy is a combination of certain types of resins and hardeners. When mixed together the resultant rigid and plastic like material is known as epoxy. This is then applied to floors as an alternative to other options such as wood, marble, ceramic, etc.

Advantages of using epoxy:

Epoxy floors are sealed tightly to prevent mold and mildew attacks. They’re versatile as well- it is possible to conjure a wide variety of design ideas by using different types of epoxy.

Different types of epoxy flooring:

Generally, epoxy is applied as a coating or as flooring. When applied in depth it constitutes as flooring, and when applied as a thin coating, it is called epoxy coating. But then again these floorings can also be differentiated by the type of material used; common types include- self dispersing epoxy, self leveling, mortar epoxy, etc. Make sure that you speak to the contractor well in advance and seek advice about the type of flooring that’s best suited for your requirement. For instance, self leveling is best suited for kitchens and dining room because they’re easy to clean and maintain, whereas self dispersing floors are suitable for areas with heavy traffic.

Concrete flooring experts at Concrete Solutions, Kansas City can guide you about the right epoxy flooring suited for you.

Besides commercial establishments like hotels and hospitals, people have started considering polished concrete as an affordable option for residential homes as well. There are several reasons why polished concrete is a far better choice than other conventional floor types. Here are three of them;

a)      They’re easy to maintain: Unlike wood or marble, concrete is easy to maintain. With polished concrete flooring you do not have to worry about regular waxing or polishing. Cleaning is easy as well- you just have to swipe and mop it well with some water. With simple concrete floors, dust and dirt may act as abrasives and steal the floor of its sheen. But with advanced polishing equipments like diamond polishing, it is possible to retain the shine even after years of rough use. Unlike other flooring types you do not have to worry about stained grout lines because the entire floor is a single slab of concrete.

b)      Aesthetic appeal: You can recreate a wide variety of designs and patterns by mixing different colors of sands/acids, different levels of polishing, etc.  In fact, you can even recreate the look and feel of conventional flooring options like marble, granite, ceramic tiles, etc. No wonder, commercial establishments make use of polished concrete to etch out their logo or company name on the flooring.

c)      They offer value for money: Laying polished concrete is indeed expensive. But they repay over time. First and foremost, you do not have to worry about spending for floor covering materials like carpets, etc. The shine obtained after polishing the floor makes it difficult for dirt and dust to settle down- but regular cleaning is important to make sure that they do not rob the floor of its sheen.

Concrete Solutions is your trusted partner to undertake commercial and residential concrete flooring projects in Kansas City. They are a family owned and operated company who provide the best quality product and with excellent customer service.

People aren’t usually as enthusiastic about choosing polished concrete as they are about choosing other types of flooring such as ceramic tiles or marble. A common argument against their use is that they’re too difficult to maintain or that they’re very expensive. Some of them find concrete floors to be very cold and hence not suitable for cold climates. While it is true that polished concrete is expensive, it is also true that they repay over time- a perfectly done concrete polishing job can last a lifetime and sometimes even outlive you! Here are some of the other benefits associated with polished concrete:

  • They’re aesthetically pleasing: Polished concrete is the flooring of choice in many commercial spaces like hotels. Factors such as the color of the sand used, the different levels of polishing, the method in which the finisher trowel was operated, the fact that colors were used in the mix or not, etc, can affect the final look and finish of the floor. The options are endless; much like a canvass on which skilled technicians can recreate almost any look and feel! It is also possible to recreate the feel and look of a marble or granite flooring.
  • Low maintenance: Contrary to popular opinion, polished concrete floors do not need special attention. All they need is regular cleaning and an occasional mopping. Unlike other floor types, you need not wax polish the floors or coat them to retain their shine and sheen.

When choosing polished concrete, make sure that you choose a good company to undertake the job. Kansas City based polished concrete contractors have more than a decade of experience in the profession.

Americans have a long standing association with wood- they’d happily spend on wood flooring, but think twice to even spend half as much on other flooring options like concrete.   Contrary to public opinion, concrete floors offer better value for money and are versatile.  Here are some common myths associated with concrete floors and the truth:

  • Concrete floors aren’t right for your climate because they’re cold: This may have been true a few years ago when houses weren’t properly insulated. But today, building codes enforced by the government ensure that that a vapor barrier is mandatorily installed to make prevent moisture from being absorbed.  In fact, a new blend of concrete mixtures makes it possible for people to install concrete even when the temperature is below freezing.
  • Concrete is expensive: True, concrete is a little more expensive when compared to other flooring options like wood, ceramic, etc. But unlike other options, you need not replace the flooring often. All that’s needed is polishing and sealing once in a few years.
  • Concrete floors look dull and boring: However said so, hasn’t probably heard about staining concrete. In fact, decorative concrete is an increasingly seen feature on most upscale homes and hotels. Different acid mixes and overlays can help you achieve a wide variety of designs and layouts. In fact, companies often make use of polished concrete to etch their company’s name or logo on the floor.

When looking for concrete flooring options in Kansas City, make sure that you choose Concrete Solutions. They have more than a decade of experience in the industry and offer a wide variety of concrete solutions.