Why Install Polished Concrete In Retail Environments?

For decades, now, concrete polished concrete has been the flooring of choice when it comes to airports, shopping centres, and office buildings. In the early days it was chosen for its durability rather than its aesthetics, its low maintenance rather than its wow factor. Over the past decade, however, the stunning shimmer of polished concrete flooring is finding its way into high end retail stores. It’s taken a while for polished concrete to evolve from industrial material into luxury flooring, but the transformation is now complete. High gloss, non-slip polished concrete for retail stores reflects indoor lighting, enhances natural light and is a pleasure to walk on. It’s also one of the most affordable, and sustainable flooring options available. ________________________________________ DIAMOND POLISHED CONCRETE FLOORS FOR RETAIL In many retail environments the DirectStone team is able to utilise an existing concrete floor slab that may be hidden under carpet or tiling. First, our team of flooring specialists clean the concrete, removing adhesives and debris. Then we use HTC Superfloor™ machines fitted with diamond tools to grind back the surface concrete, in order to reveal the aggregate beneath the surface. The newly revealed surface is hardened, and then polished. This process is rather like sanding down wood. Using progressively finer diamond studded pads we work to achieve to finish required. Once we’re done, the result is a uniquely patterned, hand-polished floor that will last for decades. We use HEPA filtration to keep dust to a minimum throughout the process. POLISHED CONCRETE OVERLAYS FOR DAMAGED FLOORING In the majority of cases we’re able to polish existing concrete flooring to stunning effect. Occasionally, however, we come across a concrete slab that is too damaged to proceed with polishing. In recent work for Russell & Bromley, we found that the concrete flooring in two of their London stores was contaminated, and therefore unusable. We suggested concrete overlays as a solution. The floor has first to be decontaminated and repaired before applying the architectural overlay which we use to simulate polished concrete. Once the overlay is in place it is polished in exactly the same way as concrete would be, and we’re able to achieve the same range of finishes. 5 BENEFITS OF POLISHED CONCRETE FOR RETAIL ENVIRONMENTS Polished concrete looks great, but it also delivers a range of benefits to the retail sector: 1. Low-Maintenance. Your commercial concrete flooring requires regular sweeping and mopping to stay looking as good as new. That’s it! 2. Sustainability. Using an existing concrete substrate means that nothing new is added in the creation of your flooring. The result is a carbon neutral installation. 3. Durability. There’s a reason why concrete is used in construction. Once installed, your concrete flooring will last for decades. 4. Design Options. DirectStone can customise your floor to suit your store. We offer a range of colours and finishes ranging from high gloss to matte. 5. Versatility. If you need to change the style of your flooring, it’s simple to adapt concrete, or add another flooring option. ________________________________________ ABOUT DIRECTSTONE We are a specialist polished concrete provider. Each DirectStone polished concrete retail floor is hand-finished and bespoke. If you would like a free no obligation quote for a polished concrete floor, simply message us and we’ll respond promptly. We work with residential clients throughout the UK mainly in London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk.

For more information on Why Install Polished Concrete In Retail Environments? talk to DirectStone Ltd