Why Choose Diamond Polished Concrete Floors?
The combination of diamonds and concrete sounds improbable, but this odd partnership produces finely polished flooring defined by its durability, sparkle, and unique beauty. You’ll encounter polished concrete floors in homes, restaurant dining areas, showrooms, offices, and high-end retail. Whatever the environment requires that little bit extra, diamond polished concrete flooring delivers it in terms of both practicality and style.
How Are Diamond Polished Concrete Floors Created?
Think of the difference in appearance between freshly cut timber, and sanded wood. Diamond polishing achieves a similar transformation but with concrete. DirectStone employs a team of flooring specialists to create this high gloss, low maintenance flooring finish. Here are the four steps that are completed for each of our diamond polished concrete floors:
Step One: Site Visit.
Many of our diamond polishing projects involve the use of existing concrete floors. Our flooring experts check the condition of your concrete and advise on whether to use diamond polishing or, alternative solutions such as microcement or concrete overlays to achieve the best results.
Step Two: Grinding Back the Surface Paste.
The concrete surface is cleaned, and any residues from previous flooring removed. Once prepared, the concrete surface ground back using HTC Superfloor™ machines fitted with diamond tools. We use HEPA filtered extraction whilst grinding, which means we can guarantee a virtually dust-free environment throughout the polishing process.
Step Three: Densifiers & Sealers.
Before beginning the final stage of the polishing process, DirectStone applies a densifier to the surface. This strengthens the exposed concrete and ensures durability. Concrete is a porous flooring material, and applying a sealant improves its stain resistance.
Step Four: Diamond Polishing.
At least three grinding steps are required to complete the polished concrete floor process. Each step utilises a progressively finer grit level to achieve the finish required:
- 3,000 Grit Level. This produces a high gloss finish. It’s also highly reflective, so you can see your reflection clearly in the shine.
- 800 Grit Level. A reflective sheen that picks up and refract natural or artificial light. Not a high-gloss finish, rather light-enhancing matte sheen.
- 400 Grit Level. A satin polish that glows rather than shines. The low lustre of this finish looks natural, rather than highly polished.
Concrete Polishing Produces Unique Floors
It’s not only the grade of polish which determines the look of your polished concrete flooring. We can also determine the patterning of the floor by grinding back the surface paste of the concrete. This process exposes the aggregate which has been used to make the concrete. The resulting appearance will always be unique, and naturally stunning.
A Sustainable Flooring Solution
Diamond polished concrete flooring is a resilient solution that won’t cost the earth. In many cases the DirectStone team are using existing concrete flooring to create a polished surface. The result is a durable concrete floor, which can last decades. Nothing is added in the process, so the carbon footprint is neutral. Maintenance of concrete flooring involves soap and water – no wax, or chemicals are required to keep the sheen pristine.
Concrete Flooring for Any Environment
Polished concrete floors not only look good, they’re also a great investment. No matter the volume of your daily footfall, concrete can easily be maintained and will last for decades. It can be coloured and adapted to blend in with your brand, or home environment, and needs only regular sweeping and mopping to keep its ‘just polished’ lustre.
The DirectStone team works with retail outlets, building developers, car showrooms, and educational establishments to polish floors that will receive a daily battering. We also create lustrous residential interiors. Bathrooms, kitchens, dining rooms and open plan areas are the spaces we work with most regularly to produce contemporary, light enhancing floors for everyday life.
Working With DirectStone
DirectStone is a family-run business located at Wrest Park in Bedfordshire. Our flooring specialists are experienced creators of diamond polished concrete floors, and each floor is hand finished. We work with residential and commercial clients throughout the UK mainly in London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.
If you are interested in diamond polished concrete floors for your home, new development or business, call us direct on 01525 20863920. We offer free no obligation quotes, no matter the job size.
