Is Sealing Polished Concrete Floors Essential?
Polished concrete floors are a joy to behold. The high gloss sheen invites you to glide across it, whilst its light refracting qualities intensify the natural light. Naturally, clients want to preserve this moment of perfection for as long as possible, which is why sealing polished concrete floors is essential to their long-term maintenance.
Sealing Polished Concrete Protects Against Staining
Concrete is a porous material, which means that it’s susceptible to staining. Without sealing, concrete will certainly stain. With sealer, the surface is protected against staining. DirectStone floor specialists always err on the side of caution, however; if you drop orange juice, coffee, or red wine on your polished concrete floor, it should be wiped up quickly.
Sealers Enhance the Strength of Concrete
Concrete lasts for decades but maintaining the pristine condition of polished concrete requires a little help. Sealing concrete floors stops incremental damage, even if your floor is subject to a heavy footfall.
Minimise the Risk of Scuffs by Sealing Concrete
If you run a restaurant, manage a busy office building, or own a car showroom, you need flooring that is impervious to scuffs. Sealing polished concrete helps to provide just that. One of the reasons that it has achieved such dominance as the commercial flooring of choice is its ability to look great, whilst offering extraordinary resistance to daily wear and tear.
What Are Concrete Sealers?
There are 3 main types of polished concrete sealer:
- Penetrating Sealer. This kind of sealer penetrates into the pores of the concrete and creates a chemical barrier which makes it impermeable to moisture.
- Integral Sealer. As is suggested by the name, this sealer is integrated into the concrete mix itself, so the process of sealing occurs immediately the pour is complete.
- Topical Sealer. Laid on the top of the concrete, topical sealers do not penetrate into the concrete’s pores. Instead, a molecular bond is made with the surface of the concrete, rendering it impermeable.
Do Polished Concrete Sealers Need Refreshing?
Your sealer will wear over time and if it isn’t replaced you will lose the benefits it provides. The lifespan of a sealer depends on the daily wear and tear it receives. Kitchens, restaurants or hospital environments should expect to refresh their sealer every 2-3 years, whilst in offices, atriums and reception areas it would be less frequent.
Working With DirectStone
We are an established family business, based in Bedfordshire, and motivated by a passion for beautiful polished concrete flooring. DirectStone flooring specialists install, repair and restore commercial polished concrete flooring. If you require a free no obligation quote for a polished concrete floor, simply message us and we’ll respond promptly.
We work with a range of commercial sectors throughout the UK mainly in London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk.
If you would like to talk to us about sealing polished concrete floors or refreshing worn sealing, call DirectStone today on 01525 20863920
