The Challenge

Create and install a decorative, polished concrete floor solution for a the modern pan-Asian restaurant, Broken Rice in Denver, Colorado. The floor solution had to be able to raise the floor as the substrate was ½” low.

The Outcome

A low-maintenance, durable, polished concrete floor was delivered that aslo raised the substrate the rquired 1/2″. The floor has a repeatable design as this is the first of many restaurants.

Overview

Broken Rice is a modern restaurant that offers a variety of Vietnamese, Thai and Chinese dishes in an upscale, fast-casual setting. Broken Rice is run by a California-based company, and this is the first location in the country.

While the restaurant is small, attention has been paid to the details, including a focus on technology. USB ports and charging stations at every seat, free wi-fi and a high-tech POS system that keeps track of food and drink delivery. The contemporary, pan-Asian décor includes a decorative concrete floor.

The substrate of the newly established restaurant was ½” too low. To remedy this the contractor (Mike Ferraro) used Duraamen’s Param 5500 polishable self-leveling concrete overlay. Param 5500 can be integrally colored with our Colorfast powders and accepts concrete dyes and stains.

Thanks to Param 5500 the floor was completed on time and budget as the substrate was raised, and the polished concrete floor was finished in one step.

Benefits:

Polished Concrete Floors are extremely popular worldwide. Many property managers and business owners are requesting polished concrete floors for their facilities, or replacing their existing floor coverings like VCT, Ceramic Tiles, Linoleum, etc., with polished concrete. If polished concrete flooring cannot be immediately installed because the concrete substrate is blemished, or damaged from the removal of a former floor covering, Param 5500 polishable, self-leveling concrete is an economical and proven solution.

Polishable concrete overlays (polished concrete floors) contribute to LEED points, which makes them appealing for architects and green builders.

Interior designers have many options with Param 5500 polished concrete flooring as it may be integrally colored with Colorfast and/or topically colored with Deso Dye concrete dyes. Polished concrete may also be seeded with different types of aggregate including colored glass to further enhance its brilliant appearance. Param 5500 may be decorated using intricate stamps, stencils, and coloring. Other effects may be achieved using a colored aggregate or enhanced with decorative saw cuts and borders.

No matter the floor’s planned design or appearance, one of the greatest benefits of choosing a polishable concrete overlay is that it eliminates the need for replacing the existing concrete and pouring new cement which saves time and money!

Cost:

$12–$14 sq. ft. ( ½” thick coverage) depending on your geographic location and the thickness of the overlay. Thickness is determined by the condition of existing substrate. Is the substrate new, old, level, good condition, deteriorated, plywood or gypsum?

The cost of this flooring system (all products needed to complete the project) is even less if you’re willing to do-it-yourself: $4.50 – $5.00 sq. ft.

The cost is comparable to other types of flooring including:

• Hardwood
• Ceramic or Porcelain Tile
• Commercial Carpet
• Marble

The Success:

Mike Ferraro Construction installed a beautiful maintenance-free polished concrete floor for the Broken Rice restaurant in Denver. Being the first of a chain of restaurants, you can be sure this is the first of many polished concrete floors to come.

It’s no surprise that polishable concrete overlays are trending. building managers, and commercial properties are discovering the durability, versatility, and beauty of polished concrete floors over carpet, wood, tile or laminate.