Now concrete floor polishing has come up with some new ideas in the market and you can easily avail yourself of these colorful concrete floor polishing systems. Apart from that, for your kitchen area, if you install tiles, marble or stone flooring then you may have to spend some additional expense for maintenance purposes. Also stone flooring can be easily affected by food ingredients making it difficult to wash the floor with normal detergent.
When you install a polished concrete floor in your kitchen area, you can easily maintain and wash the floor with plain water and any detergent solution. It can easily save your installation cost and maintenance cost. Concrete is so much more cost-effective and durable than normal tiles or other kinds of costly stone finish, because of the variety of building material it can be mixed with, and the variety of color options which can be opted for and because concrete can be polished, it can give a very shiny and glassy look to your floors.
What Is Concrete?
Concrete is a material, which is a mix of coarse material bonded together with liquid cement, which is then hardened over time. Most of the concretes used are lime-based such as Portland cement concrete or concrete made of hydraulic cement such as cement and sand.
Why Do You Use Concrete Flooring In Your Kitchen?
Concrete has traditionally had a very strong and rough look and it was not generally used in home flooring but it was regularly used in outdoor situations. However, interior design experts will agree to it now because of its capacity to be designed in many ways. Concrete has many virtues as being cost effective, reducing allergens, being durable and easy to maintain. Concrete is an excellent choice in kitchen flooring due to reasons like:
• In your kitchen area, food particles and huge amount of left over things can spill onto the floor and you need to clean these with some cleaning solutions. Some of the detergent ingredients include lemon, vinegar and other chemicals can create an acidic reaction on the floor, and you might even have to remove the scratches completely. So when you use the concrete floor polishing, you will get an instant shining look, and you can clean the surface with plain water throughout the day.
• Apart from that, the installation process of the concrete floor is the same as the construction methods, and you need to spend very little for the installation.
• A concrete floor is totally bacteria resistant and it is easy to clean and remove any bacteria and fungus. Along with that, you do not need to spend any recurring maintenance cost on a polished concrete floor, and a polished floor can be easily repaired, if need be, at low cost.
Downside Of Using Concrete For Kitchen Flooring:
• Because concrete is a very hard material, if you drop anything onto it, it is likely to break or be easily damaged.
• Due to its hardness, concrete can be very uncomfortable to stand on for longer hours.
• Concrete does not retain heat for long so it can be extremely cold in winter or places where the climate is cold most of the time.
• If concrete is not sealed properly from top and bottom, moisture and dampness can seep inside the concrete floor.
• Concrete contains cement, which requires a considerable amount of energy and carbon dioxide to manufacture.
Top Benefits Of Using A Polished Concrete Floor In Your Kitchen!
Polished concrete for kitchen floor looks great and offers a lot of benefits compared to other flooring options. For a long time, concrete was used for only industrial flooring; however, in recent years polished concrete is used in homes as well. This type of flooring is used in the kitchen for stylish effect and practical benefits that it offers.
Here Are Some Of The Advantages That You Can Get By Installing Polished Concrete Flooring:
• These floors are sustainable
People who prefer to build homes that are environment friendly homes can avoid using new material which makes this flooring a sustainable choice. At the time when concrete is sealed, sanded down or polished it looks great in traditional living room or kitchen. When this is combined with good furniture and oriental rugs it provides an even more amazing look to the whole setup.
• These floors offer health advantages
The dirt and dust accumulated in a house can lead to allergies and it can be problematic for the ones that are already suffering with respiratory issues. Having carpets with fibers and tiles with groves can lead to germs, mildew and bacteria. However, this is not the case with polished concrete flooring used in the kitchen. This is because it does not leave any space for mites and bacteria that can be caught within the tiles. Hence, when you want to have allergy free kitchen environment you can consider this kind of flooring.
• These floors are simple to maintain
The majority of flooring options require rigorous cleaning. In case you have carpet flooring it needs to be vacuumed. Marble flooring needs special cleansers and special attention. Floor board are required to be waxed every often. However, when you have polished concrete flooring, you need not worry about the stains because the flooring is resistant to stains and scuffs. For cleaning purposes you will only need to mop. Hence, this will save hours and cost on cleaning and labor.
• These floors are eco-friendly
This flooring is produced from natural and renewable components. You will not require hampering forest in order to have amazing floors. Also, concrete is energy-efficient after installed. One of the good things about this flooring is that during summers, these floors take in moisture through the ground and maintain it cool. On the other hand, in winters, it becomes dry and offers sun’s warmth.
• These floors are highly durable
Treated and polished concrete flooring is considered to be highly durable. Hence, it is for this reason it is the favorite choice for kitchen at homes and commercial setup. This flooring option absorbs moisture and does not because rot issues and so are best choice n a kitchen setup. Tiles and vinyl floors absorb moisture which can require costly replacements which are not the case with this kind of flooring.
• These floors are highly versatile
Polished concrete is one of the better flooring material choices for interiors and outdoors. For this kind of flooring silicone based sealers are utilized for avoiding the wet look. This kind of flooring also looks great with walls of stone veneer. This is one of the best choices for the dining area. It actually highlights the rustic appeal. Combining wet concrete with plank wood grain imprints offers an amazing look. This flooring can be a cost-effective choice when compared to salvaged wood floors.
• These floors make your room bright
These polished concrete floors reflect lights and this is what makes the house brighter. Hence, you can lessen down the amount you will have to spend on the electricity bills. Apart from reduced bills, bright lighting can enhance the beauty of the house and flooring.
In spite of having a lot of advantages the disadvantages must also be kept in mind to take a wise decision when doing a concrete polishing on the floors.