Maintenance Myths For Polished Concrete Floors

This is the first part of a three-part article looking at polished concrete flooring.

How low-maintenance can floors go? Not as low as end users might think. There’s a myth that polished concrete is a no-maintenance floor choice for big-box stores, warehouses, college cafeterias, smaller retailers and other facilities. But, this myth just doesn’t hold true. Unfortunately, facility managers and building service contractors often think they are on easy street when they see a polished concrete floor spread out in front of them.

Floor care chemical manufacturers say it’s up to jan/san distributors to set the record straight and educate their customers that polished concrete floors are low-maintenance, instead of no-maintenance.

If one looks at a flooring spectrum in regards to maintenance, vinyl composition tile (VCT) will be at the top as the most labor intensive; polished concrete can be found at the lowest end, about the same as marble, but harder to damage. Despite the ease of care, there are still some necessary maintenance steps that have to be done to keep the flooring looking its best and to prolong its life.

“If protected, polished concrete provides cost savings, higher resistance to foot traffic, high light reflection, lower maintenance and a longer lifespan than other substrates,” says Carlyse Fuhrer, associate product manager of floor care, Sealed Air Diversey Care, Charlotte, North Carolina.