E&C Floor Care & Restoration provides concrete polishing for residential and commercial floors throughout Southwest Florida. Concrete polishing is an increasingly popular alternative to covering concrete because it creates a surface that is both decorative, durable and functional. Concrete can be mechanically polished, densified, and treated with stains or dyes to create a wide range of colors, finishes and aggregate exposure. The resulting floor combines the durability and practicality of concrete with a clean finished appearance.
E&C Floor Care & Restoration has polished hundreds of thousands of square feet of concrete throughout the Fort Myers area and Southwest Florida. We have the equipment and experience to help determine the finish that is appropriate for the floor and how the space will be used.
Mechanically Polished Concrete — MPC
A properly done MPC (Mechanically Polished Concrete) floor gets its appearance from mechanically grinding, grouting, refining and polishing the concrete itself.
The floor does not rely on wax or a topical coating to create the shine. Diamond tooling is used to progressively refine the concrete, and the floor is densified during the polishing process to help produce a harder, more durable surface. The densifier works by reacting within the concrete to help reduce porosity and increase surface hardness.
The final appearance can range from lower-sheen finishes to high-gloss polished concrete, depending on the desired result and polishing sequence.
Planning a new Polished Concrete Floor?
For contractors and owners, we can help evaluate the desired finish, aggregate exposure and project requirements before the concrete is placed. Proper planning of the concrete mix, placement and finishing can make a significant difference in the final polished floor.
For new construction, we can also work with the contractor to help establish guidelines for the concrete mix and floor finishing, so the slab is better suited for mechanical polishing.
Aggregate Exposure and Finish Options
Concrete polishing can produce several different appearances depending on how deeply the floor is ground.
Some floors are polished with very little aggregate exposure, while others are ground deeper to produce a salt-and-pepper or full-aggregate finish. Existing concrete may limit how uniform the exposure can be, while new concrete can often be planned in advance for the desired finished appearance.
On existing concrete, achieving a flatter and more uniform floor may require grinding deeper into the slab, which can expose medium or larger aggregate. This is not necessarily a negative. The deeper portion of the slab is often denser, and when the floor is properly ground and polished, the result can be a stronger, more uniform surface.
Maintenance, Stain Protection and Sealers
One of the most common problems we see with polished concrete is the use of waxes or topical sealers to create shine. These products may look good initially, but as they wear, they can create dull areas, traffic patterns and ongoing maintenance requirements.
A properly polished MPC floor does not need a topical sealer to create its shine. The concrete itself is polished.
Stain-protection products may still be used to help protect the floor from spills and staining. Depending on how heavily the floor is used, these products may need periodic maintenance or reapplication.
Daily maintenance is generally straightforward and may consist of dust mopping, damp mopping or cleaning with an automatic scrubber using a neutral cleaner and pads.
We generally recommend avoiding wax and unnecessary topical coatings on mechanically polished or dyed concrete floors.
If you’re having maintenance problems or your polished concrete is looking dull, give us a call, we can help! Our Maintenance system is the only authorized maintenance allowed in stores such as Walmart and Whole Foods.
Contact us to discuss concrete polishing for your new or existing concrete. E&C Floor Care & Restoration also provides terrazzo restoration and polishing throughout Southwest Florida.
Call Us 239-288-8186