Polished concrete specifications

Polished concrete is a concrete floor that has a glossy finish and more or less exposed aggregates on the surface. According to Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, the global polished concrete market was valued at USD 2.2 billion in 2020 and is estimated to grow to USD 3.0 billion by 2025. This is almost the same market share as resin floors. So what is the situation on our domestic construction market? Are polished concrete floors popular in Poland?

Popular industrial floor finishes

For every investor, designer, or general contractor, a resin coating is the most obvious finish for a concrete floor. From simple paint to high-performance multi-layer systems. The same applies to shake-hardened concrete floors. They have been reigning supreme in industrial plants and warehouses for many years. Recently, they have also been found in minimalist single-family homes.

The situation is different with polished concrete. Statistics show that general contractors do not receive regular inquiries about polished concrete floors. Knowledge about polished concrete among investors and property managers is also negligible. How is it possible that such a practical finish has not gained its rightful place in the national catalog of flooring solutions?

Surface roughness or smoothness

Polishing concrete with a planetary machine creates a finish that perfectly reflects light, has a unique appearance, and is highly resistant to abrasion. In addition, it is very economical to maintain throughout the entire life cycle of the floor. It can be designed for a new concrete floor or used in the renovation of virtually any industrial floor. It therefore fits perfectly into the principles of sustainable construction.

The most important condition for the durability of polished concrete is to achieve a low surface roughness of the concrete. As a result, the smoothness of the surface will translate into increased abrasion resistance. In order to properly control the surface smoothing process during concrete polishing, a surface roughness meter is necessary (photo below).

How to polish concrete floors better

The American market shows that polished concrete will also have a significant place in Poland in the range of finishing solutions for concrete floors. It is only a matter of time. Especially in the face of growing environmental requirements and pressure for sustainable construction. It is in the interest of contractors, suppliers, and designers to take advantage of existing studies that organize knowledge about what polished concrete is and how it should be done.

Our company uses the following sources:

• American Society of Concrete Contractors (ascconline.org) – ACI 310.1-20 Specification for Polished Concrete Slab Finishes
• Concrete Sawing and Drilling Association (csda.org) – CSDA -ST-115 Measuring Concrete Micro Surface Structure

Author: Marek Szczerbowski