Polished Concrete is a long term solution to the ongoing maintenance problem found with common flooring surfaces. Since the late 1990's polished concrete research and development has accelerated this exciting flooring surface. Based on a survey conducted by the National Terrazzo and Mosaic Association reviewing flooring costs over a 20 year period, polished concrete was the least expensive to maintain, had the longest life, and was over 800% cheaper than VCT flooring INCLUDING installation and annual maintenance. Needless to say, this fact alone has created quite a stir amongst big box retailers to reduce their annual maintenance cost and has returned excellent results to the bottom line. Once completed, polished concrete is durable, dust proof, abrasion resistant, eliminates efflorescence (dusting), stain resistant, and less maintenance. All of these benefits can be applied to newly poured (28 days cured) or old slabs, and best of all it's a long term solution that is very cost efficient.
Ambient Lighting Increases
Did you know that polished concrete increases ambient light reflection by up to 100%? That means greater visibility, fewer overhead lights, a higher safety factor and a shine that can't be beat. Of course, the level of shine and the reflective properties are up to you. Many of our customers have been able to eliminate up to half of the lighting requirements due to the ambient characteristics of polished concrete.
Slip Coefficient
HCD believes that flooring systems should provide a safe walking surface whether they are dry or wet. Safety professionals refer to the Co-efficient of Friction (COF) as the quantitative number that measures the degree of slip resistance a floor exhibits. The COF is usually measured from a resting position and is officially called the Static Co-efficient of Friction (SCOF). Although it can also be measured when the surfaces are in relative motion (Dynamic Co-efficient of Friction), this is relatively difficult.
A surface becomes less slippery as the SCOF number gets higher. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) initially set a guideline of 0.50 SCOF or higher for polished surface and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends a 0.50 SCOF for flat surfaces. In our experience, HCD polished concrete has a slip coefficient exceeding .50, making it a safe flooring system choice.
Lower Maintenance
Time is money and the less time you have to spend maintaining your floors, the lower your overhead costs will be. HCD polished concrete is one way to reduce the costs associated with maintenance and overhead. By flattening and leveling the profile of the concrete surface less maintenance consumables are required to maintain the surface. Its long lifespan, non-porous surface and high slip coefficient make it an excellent choice for any large floor area, high traffic or not.
Energy Star Logo
The Energy Star rating was developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a means of helping consumers choose products that are energy efficient. Energy Star products must meet strict efficiency criteria to get and keep this rating. By choosing Energy Star products, you help reduce consumption of electricity and natural fuel resources as you also reduce pollution.
HCD supports the conservation of electricity and fuel through our polished concrete products. Polished concrete is low maintenance and has retentive thermal properties, meaning your floors are better at keeping your building warm or cool. Polished concrete is also highly reflective and increases ambient light so that your need for lighting can often be reduced.
Polished concrete by HCD can help you save money and reduce your consumption of non-renewable resources. Now that's a floor you can feel good about.
For additional information, visit Energy Star.
