Category Archives: Residential

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.

Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken ceramic wear. The craftsman would fix the broken pot or cup by filling the cracks with sap resin and gold powder. Inspired by Kintsugi, we recently created a gold crack concrete repair on a polished concrete floor. This has had the effect turning a flaw into a unique feature.

Gold Crack Concrete Repair

The philosophy behind kintsugi (golden joinery) is to accept damage as part of the history of an object, instead of treating it as a problem to be hidden. The same approach can be taken to polished concrete. This floor developed cracks over time. Instead of trying to match the colour of the floor the owner chose to have them filled with gold. However close to the floor colour a repair is, it will always remain visible to some degree.

Concrete is made from natural materials, including sand, aggregate and water, so its makeup changes over time as the water is released. Methods such as mesh, fibres and control joints can be used to reduce the chance of cracks forming, but it remains a risk. Normally we would use a filler to conceal the cracks as much as possible. The kintsugi style repairs are an option for customers who want to opt for a more dramatic statement. It works especially well in uncluttered spaces where the floor contributes significantly to the room’s appearance.

A gold crack concrete repair will look striking on any floor. Here we have installed the repairs on a floor with a rustic finish, so they introduced a sharp contrast to the rest of the room. On a variable or fully exposed concrete floor the effect would be quite different. We are enthusiastic about concrete. It is exciting to find new techniques we can use to develop both new and existing floors.

While cracked concrete may be seen as a problem, it is a part of the floor. Whether you wish to conceal cracks or whether you see them as a part of the story of your floor, Concrete Polishing can help.

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.

Concrete Floor Installation

A properly placed and finished concrete floor installation makes polishing stages quicker and more effective. Concrete floor installation takes experience and careful planning. It is also important to decide on the right design mix. And the combination of products. A floor we installed in Stoke in July 2019 shows how these factors can combine to make a beautiful floor. Which will be ready to polish after curing.

Additional Materials used 

To minimize the chance of cracking fibres were placed in the mix design. Using a cellulose-based fibre, UltraFiber 500 which does not pose the risk of balling and fuzzing the way in which polypropylene fibres can. It also absorbers in colour. So the floor can be integrally coloured or dyed. This occasion, we used a Silver Grey colour surface hardener. This was applied after the concrete has been placed. This product also helps to harden the surface. Which is, therefore, able to take the pressure of the polishing stages.

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The floor was being placed on one of the hottest days of the year, so extra care had to be taken. Concrete laid in very hot conditions will often hydrate too quickly, which can lead to cracks forming as water bleeds out and the concrete shrinks too rapidly. Spraying water on the slab can offset this issue, but that in turn weakens the surface of the concrete. To help achieve the floor the client was looking for we applied a finishing agent, DAY1, instead of water. This extends the concrete’s workability time, helps protect it from drying too quickly and also adds further strength to the concrete.

Techniques Used

As the images below demonstrate, a power trowel can be used to create a smooth, sealed slab. This is the ideal surface to create a rustic or industrial style floor from. Power floating helps to keep the aggregates to the lower part of the slab, reducing the chance of exposing them during polishing.

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The addition of the fibres, surface colour and finishing aid allowed us to achieve a fantastic finish on what proved to be the hottest day on record. What really brought the floor together was the skill and experience of our team. Placing decorative concrete is a complex process involving a high degree of care and judgment. The high quality of the floor is visible from the images on this page and is testament to our staff’s commitment to quality polished concrete floors.

This is just the first part of a longer process. Once the initial curing period is over, the floor will be polished to raise the gloss level and then sealed to protect the concrete against liquids and contaminants. This has been a great project to work on and has provided us with a fantastic start on what will become an another amazing polished concrete floor.