Category Archives: Concrete Polishing

Polished Concrete Flooring – Cheshire

We were approached by a client wanting Polished Concrete Flooring in Cheshire. They were in the process of extending their family home. They were looking for a polished concrete flooring option. The specifics that needed to be included were for instance minimal maintenance. The client had children; Therefore the floor needed to be stain-resistant. And of course, aesthetically pleasing. And, most importantly cost-effective. After, having spoken with Martin in-depth, our clients were extremely satisfied that a polished concrete flooring option ticked all the boxes. Therefore, making polished concrete the most subtitle flooring option for them.

The Client was needing us to supply, and also lay the concrete as well as polish. The desired finish that was chosen was our Rustic Style Finish in Silver Grey. The concrete was carefully was placed over the underfloor heating system. The most important part of the laying process is that the concrete is laid and power troweled to a high standard, for this type of finish to be achieved.

This polished concrete flooring Cheshire was achieved using the Husqvarna HIPERFLOOR® system. A deep initial grind is not crucial when wanting to achieve this specific type of finish. Therefore, instead, a series of lighter grinding steps are carried out. This, in turn, enhances the characteristics created by the power trowels. The concrete sealer is then applied to aid with the protection of the surface against your typical wear and tear. And, most importantly, one of the client’s objectives, stain resistance.

A stylish, modern and minimalistic polished concrete floor was produced.

The end result exceeded our customer’s expectations!

Location: Warrington, Cheshire.

Setting: Residential, Newly laid floor, Lounge Area.

Colour: Silver Grey.

Finish: Rustic Style Finish.

System used: Husqvarna HIPERFLOOR®.

Please feel free to visit our gallery where our previous projects are shown.

Polished concrete floors are now a feature in homes across the UK. Ideal for contemporary homes, classic interiors can also benefit from the introduction of polished concrete. Many people, however, are unclear about how the polished effect is achieved.

Concrete is mixture of sand, cement, aggregate and water. The reaction between the water and the cement creates the dense, hard substance present in almost every building. Using a specialist grinding and polishing machine concrete can be refined. The process is similar to sanding wood, where finer grit sandpaper is used to develop a smooth finish.

Instead of sandpaper, diamond grit is used to grind and polish the concrete. Diamond grit is a by-product from the jewellery industry, hard enough to refine concrete. Once the grinding stage is complete, a densifying agent is spread across the floor. This reacts with the concrete, making the surface harder. When the floor has been densified, the concrete is strong enough to be polished. This process again uses diamond grit to improve the surface. Each pass uses a finer grit to create a flat, gloss finish.

Once the desired level of shine has been achieved the floor can be sealed. On properly prepared polished concrete, it is the refining of the floor which creates the shine. A sealer is applied to protect the floor against liquids and dirt.

Why Do Some Concrete Floors Look So Different to Others?

The appearance of a polished concrete floor can vary a great deal. The biggest choice is how much grinding is performed. Grinding deeper into the floor will expose the aggregates in the concrete. The deeper the grind, the larger the area of the aggregates exposed will be. With little to no grinding, a rustic finish can be achieved. This is often seen in new builds, extensions and contemporary interiors. Existing concrete floors can be polished, or new floors can be placed specifically for polishing.

How Much Does Polished Concrete Cost?

Once the mechanics of concrete polishing are explained, this is normally the next question. Both polishing and placing concrete is highly dependent on the details of the project. Costs need to be calculated on a case-by-case basis. If you are considering polished concrete in your home or business, you can use the form at the bottom of the page to request a quote. This is a free service and will not place you under any obligation. Alternatively, you can call or email us to discuss your project in greater detail.

While polished concrete floors are becoming more and more popular, polished concrete stairs are less often seen. Properly installed and polished, a concrete staircase can transform the look of a building. Split level spaces can be made to look great by connecting the polished concrete floor to the upper level in a seamless way.

To install a concrete staircase formwork is created to pour the concrete into. Once the concrete has begun to harden, the surfaces are hand trowelled. This continues the surface appearance seen on the floor. After a period of curing time the stairs can be polished at the same time as the floor.

These pictures were taken at a residential property where we installed polished concrete stairs. The form of the steps is mirrored on the reverse of the staircase. Low level lighting was installed on both side walls. This helps to create layers of light which refract off the polished surface of the staircase.

Polished concrete stairs are an impressive architectural feature. They provide a focus for rooms and add to the modern aesthetic concrete creates. They are an investment of time and money, though, and should be added to architectural plans at a very early stage.

A staircase can be built into a wide variety of shapes, including curves and corners. It is suitable for residential or commercial buildings, provided there is enough space to accommodate it. Before it is decided upon, we suggest that any clients ask their architects or designers to provide them with 3d renderings of how the building will look.

A polished concrete staircase can help to transform a building into a modern, dramatic space with immediate visual impact. If you, or your client, are interested in polished concrete stairs as part of your project please contact us for more information.

The Golden Trowel is an annual award handed out by PICS, and Concrete Polishing is delighted to have been awarded one of this year’s top prize winners. The award winning polished concrete floor was installed in Hencote Winery, Shrewsbury.

PICS have been supporting the stamped and decorative concrete industry in the UK since 1992. They are experts in decorative concrete floors, and we are thrilled to receive this accolade from them. Concrete Polishing strives for visual excellence with every floor, trying to exceed the expectations of our clients. It is rewarding to have that recognised and affirmed by experts in concrete technology.

PICS have been supporting the stamped and decorative concrete industry in the UK since 1992. They are experts in decorative concrete floors, and we are thrilled to receive this accolade from them. Concrete Polishing strives for visual excellence with every floor, trying to exceed the expectations of our clients. It is rewarding to have that recognised and affirmed by experts in concrete technology.

Hencote Winery is a fantastic venue which has received rave reviews for its wine, its restaurant and for its accommodation. The restaurant commands exquisite views of the Shropshire hills. We crafted the restaurant floor using integrally coloured cement and a decorative golden aggregate. The design of the restaurant allows natural light to flood into the room, bringing out different colours in the floor at different times of the day. The exposed aggregate and high gloss reflect light, helping brighten the space after sunset. Hencote selected clustered single bulb lighting, directed by opaque shades. The lights are reflected in the floor’s dark surface, creating a starlight effect.

This was a challenging project. With such a large space, and few architectural features, the floor is a major factor in the overall look of the restaurant. Concrete Polishing was excited to be part of this project and it is rewarding to see it appreciated by the PICS and the decorative concrete community.

Since Hencote we have continued to develop as a company, building our knowledge and skills in the field of polished concrete. We aim to build on this success and continue exceed expectations, creating attractive and hardwearing floors across the UK.

Polished Concrete Cost

The first concern for most of our customers is how much it will the cost to polish a concrete floor. The best way for us to help you find the price for your floor is to speak to your directly. You can call our office on 01691 655 755 and we will provide a free quotation. You can also fill in our contact form at the bottom of our home page.

At Concrete Polishing we offer a high standard of polished concrete, using some of the most advanced technology on the market. We can offer a range of concrete floor finishes to fit your building. Each of these finishes can be offered in residential, retail, commercial and industrial properties. Our teams will complete the whole process, including both grinding and polishing. We use advanced Husqvarna Construction Products, which have state of the art functions, not seen elsewhere on the market. These machines are the key to creating attractive and long lasting floors.

The polished concrete cost per m² will depend on the concrete finish you require. We offer Rustic, Variable or Premium finishes. These can range from £30 – £85 per square metre, depending on the size of the floor and the quality of the concrete. The finishes we offer are also known as Husqvarna HiperFloor. Our staff have been certified by Husqvarna Construction Products as official Husqvarna HiperFloor installers. The following video shows an old painted concrete floor we transformed into a polished concrete floor.

We offer concrete polishing throughout the UK. We are based in Shropshire, which gives us easy access to areas such as Cheshire, Mid – North Wales, Merseyside, Midlands, Greater Manchester and Yorkshire.

We take pride in the service we offer, and we believe in using quality products to achieve the best possible results. Our concrete floor finishes include an application of Husqvarna HiperGuard, which protects the floor from stains and spills. It also which simplifies maintenance and cleaning, extending the lifespan of the floor. You can see the before and after pictures of a workshop we transformed in Oswestry, Shropshire.

For more pictures of polished concrete projects then visit our Gallery page.

Our showroom is open Monday to Friday, 9am till 5pm if you wish to find out more or discuss future projects. We advise clients to call ahead and book an appointment to discuss their project, as key members of our team are often away from the office on site visits.