Concrete Designs

When a new building is built, there are a number of considerations to kept in mind:  1) The project must be planned with a set budget.  2) The building should incorporate as many green building materials and techniques as possible.  3) The finished project should be as durable and as long-lasting as possible without the need for time-consuming maintenance.  Many commercial buildings designers turn to concrete for their choice of flooring for these and many other reasons.

Polished concrete for your building is an option that is well worth some exploration.  Many of the floors that you walk on while shopping or conducting business are actually polished concrete, rather than tile or other flooring options; it is simply made to look like the more expensive floor systems.  Grocery stores, hospitals and professional office buildings use polished concrete since it is durable, economical and easy to care for. Another advantage in the commercial setting is the ability to quickly and easily change its appearance without having to tear up an entire floor to do so, meaning far less disruption to business. Natural Wonder Floors by Perfect Polish can be added while the building is in use and fully occupied, meaning less cost through disruptions and time lost from work.

Using polished concrete flooring in your new building project simply makes sense.  The materials will cost less, it looks great for far longer than other flooring systems, and it will qualify as a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) choice as well.

For more information contact Perfect Polish at (877) 91-SHINE.

Maryland Polished Concrete has actually been implementing green concrete flooring processes for over a decade. At the same time, this innovative concrete flooring company is saving their commercial customers some green. What about Maryland Polished Concrete’s residential flooring customers, you ask? Yeah, those customers have friends that are green with envy over their shiny, new decorative concrete floors. So much green to go around… So little time.

Industrial and commercial floors need to be vast, durable and affordable. Concrete as flooring can achieve all of these goals, while leaving less impact on the environment. Homeowners want the high-end look of glossy floors without the price tag, while also being a friend to nature. You truly can have it all these days with stylish and affordable polished concrete (sometimes also referred to as polished cement), while supporting a sustainable building material.

Maryland Polished Concrete offers this green flooring technology to commercial and retail business, industrial facilities, general contractors and property management companies in the Baltimore, Washington D.C. and Harford County areas. Besides installing and polishing, this eco-responsible flooring company offers their expertise when it comes to decorative concrete applications. These techniques include:

• Acid Stains
• Concrete Dyes
• Overlays

If the polish has worn off of your concrete flooring or it has other signs of wear and tear, like pitting, dents or even spalled sections, it is time to consider either replacing the whole floor and starting over or redoing the flooring that is already in place.  If you do decide to restore your concrete flooring, you can choose to restore it to its original condition, or you can opt to make it look new with a different color, finish or design for far less time and expense than it would cost to lay a new floor.

The Natural Wonder flooring system by Perfect Polish can be put into place and used immediately. Even in commercial applications there is no need to shut down and clear out, as the floor can be put into place while people are still present. The cleaning process, which does not use any toxic or hazardous chemicals, can even be applied  in food manufacturing facilities or hospitals that are fully occupied. These floors meet OSHA standards for health and safety in the workplace.

For more information on The Natural Wonder by Perfect Polish

Add Some Shine with Polished Concrete

Are you building or designing a showroom for cars, household appliances, clothing, or other products?  You will need a floor to show off what you are selling.  Polished concrete can be the best type of floor for your kind of space, because its intense, glowing shine makes your products gleam even more brightly.  Polishing concrete can be much less expensive than putting in a new floor, because it is likely that your building lies on a concrete slab anyway, so that is one less element you will need to install during your construction.  Polishing concrete is done rather quickly and efficiently with no hazardous chemicals or materials, so if you are simply re-doing your floor, you can continue to use your space while the floor is being put in.

Americas leading concrete polishing company

You may be asking, “What is polished concrete, and how is it done?”  Polished concrete is either the concrete base of your house or building, or a thin layer of concrete installed over the base of your room grinded and shined until it is flat and smooth.  Whether the concrete has been in place for years or is newly installed, it can be smoothed and evened with a concrete grinder to produce a pleasing finish.  Concrete grinders can be electric or propane  powered; the type that is used is based on the size of the room and outlet accessibility.  Grinders are equipped with vacuums to get rid of the concrete dust that is produced by grinding, so it lessens the hassle of cleaning up those tiny dust particles.  After the concrete is ground, you have the option of adding a stain or color for aesthetic effects, which is then polished and can be sealed and hardened.

There are countless benefits to choosing polished concrete flooring.  First of all, it is incredibly durable.  Unlike weaker materials, polished concrete is not likely to scratch or dent with age and wear, and its shine lasts for a very long time.  Polished concrete is also environmentally sustainable because it makes use of products that are already there, eliminating the use of excess materials and the energy used up in the manufacturing and installation other kind of floors.  Concrete is very easy to care for, requiring only the occasional mop-up with soapy water.  It reduces dust and allergens, isn’t slippery, and improves the effect of natural light.  Most of all, polished concrete is beautiful to look at and will greatly improve the appearance of your show room.

Perfect Polish has been providing concrete polishing services with glowing reviews for over seven years.  They pride themselves on being efficient, knowledgeable about your needs, cost-effective, and highly experienced.  They have installed floors in spaces that range from warehouses, to hospitals, to households -“getting our work done with minimal or no inconvenience to the business in the building.  Perfect Polish will make your renovation or building process a lot simpler and more enjoyable with a wonderful finished product after it is over.  If you choose polished concrete as your new floor and allow us to do your installation, you will doubtlessly be pleased with the results.”

There are many new uses of concrete that have come to the fore lately.  Some of these uses simply copy methods that used to be very costly, painstaking and had to use a lot of concrete, manpower and time to get the job done.

These days there are many concrete treatments available that add color, shine, texture and more to floors, walls, counter tops, pool and patio décor and many other places in and around homes and other structures.

One technique that is used a great deal is polished concrete.  The appearance of the concrete is a great sheen once it is finished, and the concrete itself can be created in many colors.  There are many benefits to using polished concrete including:

•Hardeners are put in the mix so that the durability and longevity factor is actually cured with the concrete;
•The finish resists shoe scuffs and stains;
•Easy to clean – only needs mopping and stays shiny;
•Because of polished concrete’s reflective nature, if you choose a light color, less electric lighting in the area is needed;
•Polished concrete outlasts almost any other normal surface, such as carpeting or vinyl.

Another exciting quality about polished concrete is that it is extremely versatile.  It is often used in schools, libraries and other public buildings because of the qualities listed above.  Many stores are beginning to refinish their older floors and give them an updated look.  Not only will polished concrete do that, it is also considered a “green” product – which is environmentally friendly.  Since the environment is such an important issue, to have a product that will stand the test of time, clean easily, look beautiful and be good for the environment, this is a win-win situation for all involved.

There are many different types of decorative concrete, and polished concrete is one of the most versatile and beautiful.  If you are thinking of remodeling, redecorating or renovating – or building something new – try looking into polished concrete as a great way to create flooring that will not only be durable and easy to take care of, but will also enhance any area of your home.  To be straightforward, polished concrete can be simply stunning.

For years, many hotels and convention centers were immersed in thick, overly bright too glitzy patterned carpeting reminiscent of Las Vegas. During the past decade, especially most recently, things have begun to change to a more subtle, minimalist, yet elegant, trend.

This is where many of the new types and styles of flooring come into play. There are numerous types of decorative concrete available both for commercial projects such as hotels, restaurants and office buildings, and they are also available for homes.

One of the most stunning floor treatments is the use of polished concrete. Not only is it beautiful, it is also durable and enhances and envelopes an atmosphere by creating a seamless connection between floor and décor.

One example of polished concrete being used commercially is at the remodeled Hotel San Jose in Austin, TX. The Hotel San Jose is a landmark in Austin. It was bought and remodeled by an ex-attorney turned hotelier, who wanted the look to represent Austin and at the same time be minimalist. She was trying to create a calm atmosphere for guests to soak in by combining unique metals and metal work, vintage furniture and bright splashes of color, exquisitely framed by the polished concrete floors. The custom hand-made furniture created out of reclaimed Texas pine creates a spectacular impact against the polished concrete floors. As a result, each room looks unique, personal and welcoming.

There are increasing numbers and types of venues using decorative concrete flooring – especially polished concrete – to create an ambience and finished look to their décor. The art of creating a specific look with polished concrete is growing. It has become affordable and versatile. With different types of colors, patterns and even wall décor, polished concrete is fast becoming a decorative touch that is in demand.

When you walk into a restaurant one of the first things you see is the floor.  You may not notice it at first because of the decorations, booths and tables, and lighting, but eventually you will notice how the flooring in a nice restaurant enhances everything else and helps to create the atmosphere and ambience.

There are some older restaurants that you might dine at where the food is incredible, but the atmosphere isn’t as warm and inviting as it could be.  Sometimes, you only need look at the floor to see why.
It may be older, dull, needing an upgrade or just plain needing another look.

This is where the trend in decorative concrete comes in.  It can be a huge expense to tear out flooring and put in new flooring.  If you have ever seen a restaurant just after the frame has gone up, you usually see steel beams, maybe some wood as part of the frame, and cement where the floor will go.  There are a lot of ways that the cement can be used becoming a stunning and artistic part of the décor.

Stained concrete, for instance, can take the bare concrete you have and change the look and color of it to blend with your design.  There are numerous types of treatments that can change the texture and color, make the concrete look new, make the concrete look hand carved or overlaid.  There are ways to stencil the concrete and processes that will also make the concrete look like various types of rock.

The great thing about these treatments is that they can be sealed, they wear and clean well – especially important in a restaurant – and, as we’ve discussed, they will enhance any décor.

If you own a restaurant or manage one and are considering remodeling or upgrading, don’t forget the floors.  Just as a woman buying a gown would purchase matching shoes and purse to enhance the outfit, if you are re-decorating anything from a restaurant to a room, the flooring is like the shoes – the ensemble is not complete without attention to those details.