Polished concrete floors were installed recently in a appliance store in Akron, PA using concrete dyes, water based epoxy and polyurethane topcoats.
Polished concrete flooring is increasingly becoming the most preferred floor covering for grocery stores, retail showrooms, factories, warehouses, churches, schools, and big box retails stores. Concrete polishing is a great alternate to VCT or Ceramic tiles due to concrete’s durability and low maintenance costs. It is being specified by Architects and Designers since Concrete is considered green and it contributes to LEED points. It has numerous other benefits. The polished concrete floor combines function and practicality with a contemporary appearance. It is a perfect medium to create a brand image of the retail showroom. Each polished concrete floor is unique while it can be tailored to fit the ambiance. These floors can be colored using Pellucid Dyes, (UV resistant, solvent based dyes). Every concrete surface is different in its density and surface texture and this creates its uniqueness. With the proper use of topcoats the flooring surface can have matte, satin or gloss finish.
Recently L.H. Brubaker Appliances & Water Conditioning store opened a new location at 340 Strasburg Pike, Lancaster, PA. Since 1932, L.H. Brubaker Appliances has been serving the Tri-State area in the sales and service of appliances. When the store owners weighed all the options before deciding on Duraamen polished flooring systems, they evaluated not only the installation time but also the initial and long-term costs of the various floor coverings. After thorough analysis of costs and benefits they decided to go with concrete flooring. The polished concrete flooring at this store was installed by Balmer Brothers Construction based in Akron, PA. The floor area was approximately 6000 square feet. The flooring surface had carpet glue. It was removed mechanically before the application of dyes and protective topcoats.
The installation steps were as follows –
- Shot-blast and grind the floor to remove the glue from the concrete surface
- Apply Deso Dye, Concrete Dye over the entire area. The color was applied in two to three layers at various dilution levels to create natural variegated appearance.
- Apply one coat of water based epoxy primer, Perdure E32.
- Apply two coats of water based aliphatic polyurethane, Perdure U46 allowing at least 6-8 hours between the coats.
Maintenance
Polished concrete is easier to clean and maintain than many other flooring options. Please follow the link for general maintenance guidelines – http://www.duraamen.com/technical-FAQ/concrete-flooring-maintenance/. For specific questions regarding your particular space, please ask your contractor.
