You might be weighing up the different types of floors out there, trying to decide which one to pick. What will be durable, safe, and also stylish for a commercial space? If you’ve never heard of grind and seal concrete floors before, keep reading to discover some of the benefits of this convenient type of flooring.
What is a concrete grind and seal floor?
Grind and seal describes the steps taken to restore your subfloor and create an attractive shiny surface. First, the grinding back of the concrete using a machine removes any surface defects or glue from previous flooring installations. Then an epoxy sealant is applied to the floor to provide shine.
You can choose what degree of shine you want from matte, semi-gloss, and high gloss sealants. Perhaps you’ve also heard of a grind and shine technique. This is another name for the same grind and seal method. So-called, because at the end, you have shiny concrete.
What is the difference between grind and seal and polished concrete?
Polished concrete is a similar yet distinct process where grinders are used to polish the floors to a high gloss finish. The main difference is that the shine comes from grinding in polished concrete. Whereas, with grind and seal, the shine comes from an epoxy sealant. Polished concrete is also more laborious and time-consuming to install and often more expensive.
To ensure you’re choosing the right floor treatment for your commercial property, get the full run-down on the difference between grind and seal and polished concrete.
What are the benefits of a grind and seal concrete floor?
There are lots of advantages to choosing a grind and seal concrete floor. Here are some of the most common ones:
Durability
Concrete is a very durable material, so as flooring, it is long-lasting with minimal maintenance required. Depending on the amount of foot traffic in the area, grind and seal concrete floors will last for at least five years before requiring a reseal.
Cost-effectiveness
A grind and seal concrete floor is much more cost-effective than many other types of flooring, including polished concrete. Considering that the concrete grind and seal process is long-lasting, quicker to install, and requires less labour, it is a more affordable alternative to polished concrete.
Quick installation
Because a grind and seal concrete floor does not require labourers to polish the concrete until it shines, quite a few steps can be skipped when the concrete grind and seal process is compared to that of polished concrete. This makes it a much quicker kind of flooring to install.
Watertight
Grind and seal concrete is an especially watertight flooring, which is great for spaces like bathrooms and kitchens. Due to the similar look to polished concrete, restaurants often opt for polished concrete in open areas, with grind and seal concrete in the bathrooms. This ensures a seal that wards off the water and can be a cost-saving measure.
Ease of maintenance
A grind and seal concrete floor is relatively low maintenance, but there are some things you can do to enable it to last longer. Vacuum regularly, clean up any spills quickly, use only pH-neutral cleaners and smooth mops, and use guards to pad underneath furniture feet. These are pretty basic steps you can take so that your floors stay looking fantastic.
Style
Grind and seal concrete has a highly stylised and elegant look that makes it suit many different environments. From residential to commercial, the concrete grind and seal method is appropriate for giving a polished look to floors while keeping maximum durability in mind.
Slip resistance
Because the concrete grind and seal method may involve high levels of shine being achieved via an epoxy sealant, you might think the floor will be slippery. Nothing could be further from the truth. A grind and seal concrete floor is slip resistant, making it safer for everyone who walks on it.
Get all the low-down on grind and seal concrete from Floorcon
At Floorcon, we are specialists in commercial flooring and are well-equipped to advise you, making sure you make the right choice for your space. Take advantage of our concrete grind and seal service to make the most of the benefits of this installation method, or contact us today if you have any questions.
