Common Problems with Polished Concrete Floors (And How to Fix Them)
A polished concrete floor can be a beautiful addition to a home or business. However, if the floor is not poured and treated correctly, some problems can arise.
Problem 1: Imprints, Waves, & Stains In The Floor
Imprints: When the concrete floor is being poured and polished, debris may get mixed into the slab. This will often leave imprints or need to be cut out. If they need to be cut out, the slab may need to be patched and may have spots that do not match the rest of the floor. To avoid having to cut out these imprints, make sure that all stray debris are removed before mixing the slab.
Waves: It is important to make sure the floor is flat. The flatness of the floor is measured within 48 hours of the time the concrete floor is finished. Waves may not be visible at first, but they can become apparent after the concrete floor is polished.
Stains: the concrete has a stain from oil, rust, or something else before it is polished, the stain may still be present in the finished concrete floor. It is important to take steps prior to polishing the concrete to protect the floor from stains.
Polished concrete floors are sometimes treated with a topical sealer. If the floor gets a stain, the sealer needs to be removed from joint to joint. This can make the removal of a small stain a much larger project. Using a penetrating sealer provides the same or greater stain protection and makes it easier to deal with stains without needing to remove the sealer from a large area.
Sometimes a joint filler is used with a higher shore hardness than necessary. This allows for very little movement of the concrete slab. Shrinking or settling can cause the joint filler to separate. This can be avoided by using a joint filler with a lower shore hardness.
Problem 2: Inconsistent Coloring
The perimeter of a concrete floor is hand-troweled, while the rest of the floor is power-troweled. These different troweling methods make the concrete surface less dense at the edges. Differences in color can be evident after the concrete floor is polished.
Having Problems With Your Polished Concrete Floor? Elite Concrete Systems Can Help!
At Elite Concrete Systems, we have seen these problems with polished concrete floors. Our customers have trusted us to repair these common issues and to take steps to prevent them when we polish new concrete floors. If you are having a problem with your polished concrete floor or would like to have your concrete floor polished to improve its appearance, contact us today for an estimate.