Polished Concrete: A Beautiful, Hypoallergenic Flooring Alternative to Carpet

When it comes to home improvement projects, it usually goes down to one final battle: polished concrete or a brand new carpet. While both concrete and carpet are visually appealing flooring options, you have to choose which one is the best. Before making a final decision, make sure that you are investing in the right flooring material.

While carpets are widely used in both homes and commercial buildings, polished concrete has been making a great comeback. There are many great reasons to choose polished concrete over carpets.

Here is a quick comparison table outlining the advantages of polished concrete over carpets:

Here are some of the most common places polished concrete can be used:

• Private residences
• Offices
• Hotels and restaurants
• Retail stores
• Warehouses
• Auto showrooms

Let us explore the benefits of polished concrete:

• Cost-Effective – Polished concrete does not require any additional floor covering materials.
• Longer Life-Cycle Savings – Unlike other types of flooring options, polished floors are durable and does not require costly maintenance.
• Easy-to-Clean – Regular sweeping and mopping effectively remove dust, dirt, and allergens.
• Lower Maintenance Cost – No need to use specialized equipment and expensive cleaning agents to keep its surface clean and glossy.
• More Resistant to High Foot Traffic – Its durable surface is perfect for places with high foot traffic, such as commercial and retail spaces.
• Longer Service Life – Polished floors are made with durable materials, designed to last for decades. When used in warehouses, polished concrete defies oil stains, forklift truck tire marks, and chemical spills.
• Moisture Resistant – Polished concrete can effectively resist moisture problems by allowing the floor to breathe.
• High Light Reflectivity – Polished floors give offices, hotels and restaurants, and other commercial facilities a clean, glossy, and professional look. Additionally, it helps save money on energy bills by reducing requirements for artificial lighting.

The Appeal of Polished Concrete Over Carpets

Many homeowners stripped old carpets not because they are planning to replace it with a brand new carpet. They want to switch to another flooring option, the polished concrete.

Polished concrete is a hot and popular flooring material used in various architectural and home design today. This chic and sophisticated flooring option is simply a prime flooring surface that is perfect for any modern homes, both in form and function. Polished concrete also offers numerous advantages that carpet cannot match, as the comparison table suggested.

• • Hypoallergenic Option A polished concrete floor is an excellent choice for people with respiratory allergies. Unlike carpet, its surface is smooth and does not harbour dust mites and other allergens that trigger respiratory symptoms, including:
    • Common cold or nasal congestion
    • Hay fever or asthma
    • Coughing
    • Chest tightness
    • Chronic shortness of breath

    First, a square foot of carpeting can harbour tens of millions of dust mites, which cannot be easily removed by regular vacuuming. To reduce the risk of allergy attacks, health experts recommend removing the carpet where possible.

    In addition to dust mites, synthetic carpets can also pollute the indoor air by emitting volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The adhesives and padding used during installation are significant sources of VOCs. Stained polished concrete floors use non-toxic pigments that do not contain any harmful VOCs.

    Lastly, carpet can be a haven for mould, especially when it is damp. Exposure to toxic mould can pose health issues ranging from headaches to severe respiratory and immune system problems. Concrete floors resist moisture problem, thus resisting the growth of mould and mildew.

    What gives concrete floor the edge over carpet is that it is a hypoallergenic flooring alternative to carpet. You do not only have a beautiful floor, but it also gives you relief from harmful household allergens.

• • Visually Appealing When choosing the best flooring option, make sure that it complements with your interior design of the space. Will it go well with the paint colour, furnishings, and decors? Does it satisfy your personal style (rustic, classic, contemporary, or sleek)?The clean, straightforward appeal of polished concrete works nicely with any architectural and aesthetic projects because it is versatile and customizable. You can stain, stamp, polish, or design concrete floors to complement your home, commercial, or living space. There are various colours and styles, textures (cut pile, loop, and cut-loop), fibre types, and densities to choose from. This gives concrete floors the edge over carpets when it comes to visual appealingness.

• Resource Conservation Correctly installed and sealed concrete floors last a lifetime and eliminate the need for replacement. Since carpets can become old and dirty over time, it needs replacement, which requires resources and even adds to waste disposal problems. Installing a concrete floor with a neutral colour palette can accommodate and complement any interior enhancement in the future.Additionally, polished concrete floors use sustainable materials. Limestone, the most abundant mineral on the planet, is the primary raw material for concrete flooring. Waste byproducts (slag cement, fly ash, and silica fume) from power plants, steel mills, and other manufacturing facilities are often used as partial cement requirements, further minimizing the consumption of raw materials. Lastly, concrete floors are highly damage-resistant, and rarely require replacement if given proper care and maintenance.

Related article: Five Tips to Maintain Polished Concrete Floors

A Life-Long Solution

There are numerous reasons why you should choose a polished concrete floor over wall-to-wall carpet in homes and commercial establishments. Once polished and sealed, you do not need to take much effort to maintain its smoothness and glossiness. With proper cleaning and maintenance, a polished concrete floor can last a lifetime. You simply cannot go wrong with concrete.

Installation of concrete floor requires significant expertise and specialized equipment to achieve your desired finish and shine. Concrete Epoxy 101 is a professional contractor that offers top-of-the-line concrete polishing services for Richmond Hill residential and commercial establishment owners. With our passion for providing our clients with exceptional services, our team of hard working floor specialists only uses state-of-the-art technology to ensure outstanding finish products. Call us now at (416) 838-5188 to request a free quote.