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POLISHED CONCRETE ENHANCES THE NATURAL LIGHT IN YOUR HOME
There are many benefits to installing polished concrete flooring in your home; it’s strong, durable, hypoallergenic, easy to maintain and stunning to look at. One of the benefits that isn’t much discussed though, is that a polished concrete floor is also a reflective floor. This quality is now attracting increased attention now that UK homes are becoming more energy aware.
WHY DOES POLISHED CONCRETE REFLECT LIGHT?
The light colouration of concrete gives it an integral reflectance of 40% making it an excellent choice if you’re looking for a polished concrete reflective floor in your kitchen or living area. Once the concrete is polished, the reflective value is enhanced, with the greatest reflectance being gained from high-gloss finishes.
POLISHED CONCRETE LEVELS OF REFLECTIVITY
Levels of reflectivity measure the percentage of usable and visible light that’s reflected from a surface, such as a floor, when illuminated by natural or artificial light. Research carried out to discover the levels of reflectivity in polished concrete, provides detailed reflectivity percentages for every polished concrete flooring finish.
Testing demonstrates that a satin, semi-matte finish provides 10% – 39% reflectivity, whilst high-gloss, platinum finish creates a reflective floor with 70% – 100% levels of reflectivity.
A REFLECTIVE FLOOR LOWERS ENERGY CONSUMPTION
Polished concrete flooring makes the most of the light that streams through your windows. The reflective levels improve environmental contrast which makes the space seem lighter and brighter. Consequently there’s less need for artificial lighting during daylight hours, even when the sun’s not much in evidence.
On sunny days the benefits of a polished concrete reflective floor multiply further. Concrete has a dense thermal mass which means that it can store the sun’s heat so that the benefit can be felt even after the heating source disappears. This quality also makes polished concrete flooring a perfect partner for underfloor heating.
POLISHED CONCRETE FLOORING ENHANCES WELLBEING
Maximising natural light in the home is a growing trend amongst interior designers, and with good reason. It provides Vitamin D, aids productivity, and helps to avoid low moods. Our clients are always delighted with the ‘feel’ of a kitchen or open-plan space where a polished concrete floor has been installed. The reflectivity ‘lifts’ the room, clarifies it, and makes it somewhere you enjoy working or relaxing in.
WANT A REFLECTIVE FLOOR IN YOUR HOME?
DirectStone creates high-gloss polished concrete flooring in homes, gardens and even garages! Our floors are polished using HTC Superfloor™ grinding machines and diamond tools that polish the concrete slab to the finish you want. They’re hand-finished, and look stunning in kitchens, hallways or living areas. A virtually dust-free environment is maintained throughout the polishing process, thanks to our use of HEPA filtered extraction.
WORKING WITH DIRECTSTONE LTD
Our business is family-run, and we’re located at Wrest Park in the heart of the Bedfordshire countryside. DirectStone’s flooring specialists have been creating shimmering concrete floors in homes for nearly 2 decades now. We work with residential and commercial clients throughout the UK mainly in London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk.
For more information on POLISHED CONCRETE REFLECTIVE FLOOR talk to DirectStone Ltd