Polished concrete: real advantages, disadvantages, and uses
Not long ago, you saw a house in a magazine with finishes on the walls or floor that you loved. Or maybe it was on social media, or at a neighbor's house? Well, it doesn't matter where; the fact is that you liked it a lot because it was very modern and had a grayish appearance that could also look great in your own home. And we don't blame you: polished concrete has the ability to provide that mix of continuity, avant-garde, and robustness that attracts anyone. Wait a minute. Did we say polished concrete? Because those houses we see today that resemble the industrial-style apartments we used to see in movies are not clad with this material; they are covered with microcement.
Therefore, because not everything that looks like polished concrete actually is, in this article, we will explain everything about this coating: what it is, its advantages, its disadvantages... Everything you need to distinguish it from microcement and, thus, choose the material you really need if you're thinking of giving your home a New York-style flair and want it to become the set of a Hollywood movie. 3, 2, 1... Let's go!
Polished concrete: what is it?
This material is nothing more than a layer of refined cement to which the desired colorant is added and must be applied and polished with a special machine. Thus, in its 5-10 cm thickness, we find a mixture of aggregates, additives, water, and pigments.
Intended for both exteriors and interiors, it is common to find it in parking lots, warehouses, factories, shops, and offices that need thicker flooring prepared to withstand the traffic of people and vehicles, from cars to trucks.
Polished concrete: an exclusive material for floors
We are dealing with a material that managed to captivate wherever it went. First, its use spread in the industrial or commercial field, and then it was warmly welcomed in the domestic sphere, although for this purpose, microcement is much better due to the possibilities it offers.
In the end, with polished concrete, we have a much heavier coating that can only be used to cover floors, which greatly limits its presence in the domestic sphere since it cannot be used to cover walls, countertops, or stairs.
Finally, we will say that to create spaces that are the envy of the neighbors, more elegant, with higher comfort, and with aesthetic uniformity, all possible surfaces are needed and not limited exclusively to floors.
Advantages of polished concrete
- Polished concrete is made on-site with cement, sand, and water, and it is produced entirely by hand.
- The application is done manually with a trowel, with the mixture prepared directly at the application site. Then, it is spread over the forged concrete mesh.
- This material offers great aesthetic adaptation to any type of environment. Thanks to its neutral base, it blends seamlessly with established decorative styles, taking a very discreet background role.
- Its uniformity enhances the feeling of spaciousness in any space.
- Additionally, polished concrete provides a high degree of waterproofing.
- Cleaning and maintenance are very simple: daily vacuuming or the use of a microfiber dust-catching mop is enough to keep it in perfect condition. When needed, it can be cleaned with water and neutral pH soap to achieve optimal results.
- Its resistance and hardness, due to its heavy-duty nature, ensure a remarkable durability.
- More than considerable durability.
Polished concrete also has its disadvantages...
- It can crack. It does not crack very easily, especially if it is applied in environmental conditions that are not very favorable to it.
- It does not tolerate more abrasive cleaning products, such as solvents, bleach or ammonia, in the case of more aggressive stains.
- It requires the application of protective waxes every x time so that it can withstand stains and humidity with all the guarantees.
- Its efficiency as an acoustic and thermal insulator is not very high.
- Over time, it can lose some of its initial shine.
Where is polished concrete applied?
It is becoming increasingly common to find polished concrete in domestic flooring, as well as in shops or offices. But let’s return to the same question: is it really this material? Keep in mind that there are other coatings, like microcement, that have a similar appearance and are used in spaces like these, which move away from the industrial style. Even so, polished concrete, although limited to floors, can also be found in various areas of the home, such as those mentioned below.
Bathrooms
Polished concrete can be an excellent choice for bathrooms, offering both decorative and functional advantages. Its minimalist style guarantees a uniform color with subtle contrasts, blending smooth finishes with order and simplicity.
If you are considering using this material for bathroom renovations, know that it provides waterproofing, making it suitable for humid environments. Whether for sinks, showers, or bathtubs, it performs well, although protective layers are essential to prevent water absorption on the surfaces.
Kitchens
Polished concrete floors are a versatile option for kitchens, as they pair beautifully with commonly used materials such as glass, metal, or stone. Thanks to its shiny finish, it adapts to any color scheme present in the space.
Additionally, tables, chairs, auxiliary furniture, appliances, ceramic dishes, and kitchen utensils all complement this material seamlessly, helping create kitchens that leave a lasting impression on visitors.
Large spaces
Polished concrete can bring brightness to large spaces such as offices or open-plan workspaces. Its glossy finish reflects light, spreading it throughout the area. However, it is worth noting that it doesn't offer the possibility of playing with contrasts and highlights that make it a focal point of the space.
Its understated nature makes it a good match for any decorative style and office furniture. Despite its neutrality, polished concrete works best with modern or minimalist designs, where its qualities shine.
Parking lots, factories and industrial warehouses
These are the spaces where polished concrete truly shines and, thanks to its characteristics, becomes a great work companion.
This is due to its resistance to heavy traffic, weight, and compression, making it a first-class ally for these types of spaces, which are accustomed to frequent visits not only by people but also by cars and vans weighing well over a ton.
Smartcret ready-to-use microcement: the easy and economical alternative to polished concrete
There is a material that closely resembles polished concrete but offers far greater constructive and decorative advantages. It also represents a completely different way of undertaking renovations—something totally revolutionary. Have you heard of microcement? Perhaps not, but starting now, you’ll be surprised to learn that many people—though we’re not saying you’re one of them—fail to distinguish it from polished concrete. However, when we thoroughly analyze the characteristics of each material, it seems like they come from two completely different worlds.
We’re here to show you that microcement is from another planet, focusing on the benefits it can bring to your home. These compelling reasons will clearly demonstrate that our ready-to-use microcement can offer you far more advantages than polished concrete.
Microcement says "yes" to any surface
Microcement is not an exclusive coating for floors, as polished concrete is. Instead, it demonstrates an extraordinary versatility, adapting to any surface, whether vertical or horizontal, interior or exterior. This feature allows it to expand its properties to all types of surfaces without exception. Here’s a bonus: this versatility lowers costs, as it enables multiple areas to be covered with the same material.
It is easier and faster to apply
Microcement can be applied to any existing material—tiles, ceramics, slabs, cement, plaster, or drywall—without the need to remove the original surfaces. This means that renovations can be carried out much more easily and, above all, faster, as there’s no need for extensive construction work. As a result, you can return to your normal life in no time, which is always appreciated. At the end of the process, the time-quality balance leaves an unbeatable impression.
In contrast, polished concrete requires much more cumbersome handling. The same applies to its workability. In fact, installing polished concrete requires hiring external labor and using specialized machinery.
A much thinner finish that respects the original structure
Microcement is a coating with a maximum thickness of just 3 mm. This allows it to adapt to any surface without impacting the structural load of buildings, as it is very lightweight. Polished concrete, on the other hand, has a thickness of 5 to 10 cm, resulting in a much coarser finish.
No cracking or loss of shine like polished concrete
Faced with everyday challenges like wear, traffic, scratches, or chemical products, microcement proves its mettle. We’d love to say that polished concrete performs similarly, but we can’t. While polished concrete shows excellent resistance to heavy traffic, it is more vulnerable to other “attacks.”
No need for construction work
One of microcement’s greatest advantages is that it doesn’t require external professionals or heavy machinery at any stage of its application process. And since no construction work is necessary, it doesn’t generate any debris, avoiding the hassle that typically comes with renovations.
In contrast, installing a polished concrete floor almost always involves removing the previous flooring. Any project with this material would incur significantly higher costs, considering the transportation of machinery, labor for debris removal, and other related expenses.
DIY Renovations
At Smartcret, we offer ready-to-use microcement. Ready for what? It’s simple: you open it, you apply it. In other words, it allows you to renovate any space you want in just five simple steps, all with your own hands.
Gone are the days of having your home full of strangers for several days. This also means that you can achieve fully customized results, as you are in control of the process from start to finish.
The final difference between polished concrete and microcement
We’re not done yet. There’s one more key reason why microcement is light-years ahead of polished concrete when it comes to new construction projects: you can choose the color of the coating at the end.
This is crucial because, during a renovation, details and aspects often change, and you need to adapt to achieve the desired ambiance.
For this reason, it’s better to select the color at the end, ensuring it best matches your taste and the space. In contrast, polished concrete requires you to make this decision at the beginning, significantly limiting its decorative possibilities.
Now that you’ve learned all the advantages of our microcement over polished concrete, you’ll see they are hardly comparable, even if they share a similar texture and appearance at first glance.