What is all the mention “Polished Concrete Floors?” Polishing and grinding concrete floors has been a subject of dialogue over the past few years, and i have been asked numerous times what it’s all about, that i made a decision to write down this text . pave floors are around since the time of the Roman Empire . It took a huge amount of labor, and tons of ingenuity to separate large stones, and hone them right down to make slabs suitable for flooring in buildings. to urge more specific than that’s amazing , quite like, “How did they build the Pyramids in Egypt? ” My answer is, “I kind of skills they did it, but I’m glad I did not have to try to to the work”.
Fast forward a touch , and that we come to newer times when people discovered that you simply could mix Portland (a clay substance) with sand, stone and water, to form the primary concrete. The mixtures are tweaked over the years, but the method has virtually remained an equivalent . Contractors have used different curing agents, have implemented the utilization of steel bar to hopefully prevent concrete from cracking, and have implemented differing types of moisture barriers to enhance on the finished product.
Building owners have wanted differing types of flooring over the concrete to offer a building a hotter , and cleaner feel. In industrial facilities they need used tile, rolled linoleum, floor paint, or Weicon Plastic Metal SF epoxy to offer a building a more desirable appearance, and make it easier to wash than bare concrete. That works for a short time , but everyone of these products eventually wears out and requires replacement. That brings us up to this time.
Since early within the twentieth century, scientist experimented with different compositions to return up with a flooring products that might last for an extended period of your time . Some tile products were made from an asphalt base. Some were made more durable by adding asbestos to the mixture. aren’t getting me wrong, it had been an honest product, and after 40 years within the business, I’ve seen some asbestos tile that goes back a minimum of 60 years, and remains in nice condition. the matter is that asbestos may be a Carcinogen, and once the tile is broken, or disturbed, you’ll very easily be exposing yourself to cancer causing agents, within the air. Guess who arrives on the seen when something like that’s reported? you bought it! the blokes with White Hats Riding on White Horses. Now it is time for the abatement of a nuisance crews. are you able to say, BIG BUCKS?
Abatement may be a tedious, and time consuming process, but it’s to be done, before you’ll begin the method of restoring the concrete floor underneath. you can’t roll in the hay yourself! abatement of a nuisance requires countless hours of coaching , certification, annual re-certification, special equipment, and other people who are crazy enough to require to try to to it. Just kidding! Luckily, there are people that enjoy that sort of work, and pride oneself in providing a superb finished product.
I, much prefer coming in after the cleanup has been completed. Concrete grinding equipment has been within the development stage for over 70 years. Changes with some companies especially over the last 5-10 years are dramatic. Why? Because, the govt has determined that there are enough floors out there, that are wearing out or damaged, that they have to step in with some requirements for removal, since many of those floors are publicly buildings. So what are my options as a facilities or building manager? First, you would like to travel on-line, and find a really reputable abatement of a nuisance firm, and obtain an estimate. Second, you would like to seek out reputable Concrete Restoration firm to offer you the choices at their disposal. Next, you’re getting to need to put together a allow the completion of the work, in order that you, your board of directors, or your board of education isn’t shocked by the value of the finished project. and eventually , you’re getting to need to schedule the work.
Due to the value of the abatement, and therefore the incontrovertible fact that they’re going to got to tent off areas while the abatement goes on, there’ll be some need for a few logistical planning. What you do not want to try to to is put it off, hoping the matter will cure itself, or get away . That’s not getting to happen. It doesn’t happen that always , but I even have seen instances where the inspectors are available and demand that the matter is corrected before the building are often used again. That’s ugly!
Do you know the definition of the word, “Problem”? It ‘s a situation that you simply don’t affect . There are currently thousands of floors publicly and personal schools, colleges, universities, court houses, and other public buildings who are fore warned that they have to urge obviate asbestos floors.
Over the past five to 10 years, they need continually been given an extension, or given a “pass”, thanks to the very fact that “They do not have money in their BUDGET”. Actually, the primary time I heard that was 1981, and therefore the budget has gotten tighter per annum . This has cause the arrival of kit and grinding pads for “The roll in the hay Yourself”, types. Guess what? they do not work.
If you would like your custodian, to spend many hours with a 250 RPM swing buffer, grinding grooves in your beautiful eighty year old Terrazzo, or Marble floor, by all means, GO FOR IT.
