Pumping Concrete: Top Tips

Answering Your Questions About Polished Concrete in the Home

30 November 2017 by Hector Herrera

Polished concrete is quickly becoming a favourite choice for interior home surfaces, including flooring and benchtops, because the material is economical, eco-friendly, and very durable. Concrete is also very versatile, as you can paint and stamp it so that it then resembles a wide variety of other materials. If you're thinking of having polished concrete installed in your home, note a few questions you might have about this material and its installation and use, and this can help you determine if it's the right choice for your home's surfaces.

Is there a special type of concrete used for the home's interior?

The concrete mixture that is used in your home may be different according to its use and application; for example, a flooring surface may need to be denser than a benchtop surface, as the floor will need to withstand more weight from foot traffic, furniture, and the like. The benchtop will need to be more lightweight itself, so that lower cupboards don't crack under it.

Whatever the mixture, polished concrete refers to the finish of the concrete; the material is ground and sanded, as you would do with a wood surface, and then painted, stained or buffed for a high gloss finish. This buffing can be done on any concrete surface, so you don't need to worry about buying a "special" type of concrete for your home's interior surfaces.

Does polished concrete need maintenance?

Concrete is very durable, but it may eventually show cracks or pitting, and these can usually be filled in with a patching mixture. Concrete will also need resealing on occasion, to keep it strong and protected from humidity and other such damage. Depending on your use of the surface, it may also need some fresh buffing in worn areas. Otherwise, concrete is virtually maintenance-free.

How long does polished concrete last?

Concrete can last many years before it begins to show any cracks or other damage, and polished concrete inside a home may last indefinitely without needing to be removed and replaced, as it's not suffering the weight of vehicle traffic and other such damage. Kitchen benchtops may eventually need a fresh layer of concrete more often than floors, because those benchtops suffer more wear and tear and be exposed to higher humidity levels, which may cause the concrete to eventually crack and spall. However, once you have the concrete poured in your home, you may not need to worry about tearing out and replacing those surfaces for many decades, even for as long as you own your home.

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