Epoxy Floor or Polished Concrete?

When people notice a shiny concrete surface, they automatically assume it must be polished concrete. However not all glossy concrete floors are actually polished concrete. There are a number of ways to make the concrete floor shine.
1. Coat concrete with polyurethane coatings
2. Clear 100% solid resins epoxy floor coatings
3. Naturally polished concrete floors

Polished concrete is extremely popular floor finish often seen in galleries, showrooms, professional office and luxury homes. It is easy to maintain, scratch resistant, skid resistant and does not require topical re-coating.
The epoxy floor coatings and polyurethane sealers work well to bring out to reveal the texture of the concrete floor slab, and leaves a high gloss topical finish. When 100% epoxy coating is applied properly the appearance of the concrete floor looks as if a thin sheet of glass was installed over the concrete slab, due to thickness the epoxy coating is applied onto the concrete surface. Polyurethane although also provides a high gloss finish, polyurethane sealers are applied at a paper thin coats, and will likely require several applications of polyurethane before a build up is achieved. It is also important to mention to get the best results from clear coating the concrete floor surface, it is imperative that the concrete floor is mechanically profiled with a concrete grinding maching to ensure adhession and to expose the character the of the concrete floor surface.

Polished Concrete Floors for Life

When you hire a company to diamond grind the concrete floor and polish it, the end result is you are getting a floor finish itended to last a lifetime. Polished concrete is an extremely hard, skid resistant surface that resembles closely to  natural stone textures seen in nature.

Suffers of allergies, or when hygiene is a priority, and budget is a concern, then polished concrete is the floor of choice. Polished concrete flooring can be found in all types of high traffic big box stores for it's low cost and durability, to art galleries displaying million dollar art works for it's contemprary look, and natural richness. Polished concrete and decorative concrete floor finishes are growing at a healthy 20% per year in rsidential homes, and by 25% in retail and commercial business settings in Ontario, Canada. and we expect this trend to continue for next 7 to 10 years.

Colorful Metallic Epoxy Coating on Concrete Floors

About a year and half ago, we started installing a new concrete floor resurfacing system called Metallic Epoxy Flooring, and I simply amazed of the results we have been able to achieve with this decorative floor coatings system. This resurfacing system is not only stunningly beautiful, but is an ideal concrete floor finish to resurface badly worn concrete slabs or to achieve a sophisticated, rich, beautiful floor finish. Metallic epoxy floor system is a 3 to 4 step process that involves mechanical profiling of concrete and then a 2 or 3 applications of premium 100% solid resin epoxy or polyaspartic coatings blended with metallic color pigments.
The final floor finish is highly durable and unique one of a kind floor. Metallic epoxy finish reflects lighting slightly different pending from what angle you view the floor. I highly recommend metallic epoxy flooring for it's visual appeal, chemical resistance, and overall value.

Polished Concrete Maintenance Program

Although a new polished concrete will last for decades, it does require specific maintenance program to keep polished concrete looking optimum.  As regular maintenance a simple microfiber dust mop will keep the floors clean and dust free. As with everything, over time the polished concrete floor requires a little restoration work and the best method is to use a lithium silicate based cleaner and floor buffer. Lithium silicate when used as directed provides a conditioner to the polished concrete and restores the sheen of polished concrete to looking likr newly polished floor. In the Toronto, Ontario area, we use a janitorial company to do our client's concrete floor restoration. The cost is very reasonable and floors look great after.