Concrete flooring offers a robust and durable solution for high visibility and high traffic commercial spaces such as retail shops, restaurants, offices, warehouses and industrial facilities. Concrete floors can withstand the higher demands of people and machinery with the use of high-performance finishes and sealers.
Architects and interior designers have now begun incorporating metallic epoxy flooring into their specifications; however, high gloss polished concrete floors remain a popular choice for interior spaces.
Designers often consider concrete floors for benefits such as customisability that allows them to use a variety of decorative effects; easy cleaning and maintenance; extreme durability; ability to meet slip resistance requirements; and visual appeal that creates a great first impression.
Another practical benefit of using concrete flooring is that the existing concrete slab can be used once the old flooring is removed, allowing designers to consider a range of cost-effective options that have a smaller installation time.
So how do you decide if renovating the existing concrete floor is a viable option for your commercial space?
Some key considerations to assist with this decision include the purpose and use of the space; budget to update the floors and regularly maintain; safety compliance requirements to be met; and aesthetics.
Here are some of the more popular options for renovating interior and exterior concrete floors:
Interior Floors
When renovating interior concrete floors, you could consider these two surface finishes that are trending today – polished concrete and epoxy floors, particularly metallic epoxy.
Polished concrete
A popular floor finish, polished concrete is used by interior designers, architects and homeowners for its aesthetic appeal and unique style. In terms of appearance, polished floors look elegant and leave a great first impression – they are clean, professional and modern. It’s easy to style a polished concrete floor with soft furnishings to create the right look for the space. You also have a choice of finish options and gloss levels to suit the ambience.
Considered an eco-friendly option, polished concrete floors naturally reflect light, especially artificial lighting. This makes them an ideal choice for darker spaces with minimal natural light, thereby, reducing the use of electricity for lighting. An existing concrete slab can be updated to a polished concrete floor, eliminating costs and resources for producing a new floor. Additionally, concrete is considered a thermal mass as it holds and releases heat effectively, making the space more efficient to heat and cool.
As an indoor option, polished concrete flooring is extremely durable and robust, minimising risk of damage or abrasions on the surface. A polished concrete floor requires very little maintenance, is easy to keep clean and will not need replacing. If slip hazards are a concern, there are ways to modify a polished concrete floor to improve the slip resistance level and meet any specifications.
However, not all existing concrete slabs can be updated to a polished concrete floor. This is subject to the severity of any damage found; some problems such as cracks, delamination and dusting can be fixed, while structural damage is a different matter altogether.
Epoxy floors
Epoxy floors are designed to protect or enhance the concrete floor by preventing deterioration caused by oils, chemicals, water, and grime. This makes them a great flooring surface for manufacturing plants, storage facilities, warehouses and commercial kitchens. Epoxy flooring is a versatile two-part system that offers resistance to mould, bacteria, germs, chemicals, water and heat, making them easy to clean and maintain. This is a very durable flooring option that can withstand heavy impact or use of machinery such as forklifts, and is difficult to chip, crack or scratch the surface. However, an epoxy floor is subject to wear, requiring a recoat every couple of years to maintain the strong level of protection.
Epoxy floors can also be a creative option for renovating, as you can add a variety of colours to the coat, coloured flakes can be sprinkled over the surface or metallic pigment can be added to create a truly bespoke finish.
Exterior Floors
Exterior concrete floors are constantly exposed to heavy traffic and a harsh environment; however, it is possible to bring back colour and life to these surfaces through the use of an increasingly popular finish – Stylepave.
Stylepave
A flexible and cost-effective solution for renovating exterior concrete surfaces, CCS Stylepave Resurfacing can transform any existing concrete into a designer floor. Available in a range of colours, textures and customisable patterns, Stylepave is the perfect material to rejuvenate old or grey concrete to complement the existing décor and environment. This versatile finish is extremely hardwearing and low maintenance, making it suitable for both pedestrian and vehicle use across a range of commercial and residential applications. Being UV resistant, Stylepave will maintain the vibrant colour of your exterior floors and can be customised to suit necessary slip resistant ratings.
So if you are considering renovating an existing concrete floor, you have a range of finishes available to match the desired look and feel. Polished concrete and metallic or flake epoxy floors are ideal for interior environments, while exterior floors can be finished with Stylepave.
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