If you thought polished concrete floors were too industrial, it’s time for a re-think.

Polished concrete floors have accelerated in popularity in recent years - not only because they’re a great-looking option but because they offer an extensive list of practical advantages. 

Concrete floors in commercial and industrial facilities take a pounding during the year, so the Christmas shutdown is an excellent opportunity to get them back into top condition and ready to handle another busy season of foot traffic and rough treatment.

Even a beginner can lay concrete and/or prepare a concrete substrate for a special finish or floor coating. 

That said, the successful application of concrete does depend on a number of factors including careful mixing, the proper equipment and attention to detail and so both beginners and experienced contractors will appreciate these top five tips on preparing concrete.

It can be tricky to decide whether to go the DIY route for your flooring replacement project or whether to hire a professional contractor.  If you undertake the work yourself, here are some useful tips:

Whether you’re a large commercial builder or a home DIYer, a grout pump is one of the most important machines to have.  

Saving money on a building project is every homeowner’s aim, but it’s every builder’s goal too.

Builders are just as keen to get the best outcome from a construction project as their clients are - so if you’re in the building business and want some tips on how you can maximise your upside, this article is for you.

If you need to tackle a concrete grinding project and are unsure of which size concrete grinding equipment to use, you’ll find this guide useful.  

If you’ve got a concrete floor in your home or commercial property, or are considering putting down a concrete surface, you probably want to know how best to clean it.

If you’re laying a new timber floor, you need to prepare the substrate properly otherwise you run the risk of having to redo the whole project entirely.

The terms ‘concrete grinder’ and ‘concrete polisher’ are used interchangeably but they actually perform different functions.

You could call both concrete grinding and concrete polishing part of a ‘concrete processing’ procedure whereby the existing surface is changed by using machines with multiple abrasives to refine the surface in stages to achieve a desired finish.

Ho, ho, hone.  Honing a concrete floor is much like stripping away layers of wrapping paper around a Christmas gift to reveal the beautiful surprise underneath!

Concrete floors tick all the right boxes in terms of aesthetics, durability, functionality, affordability and convenience but they have one small drawback.   They aren’t self-cleaning!

Polished concrete floors are very ‘in’ and you’ll find this fabulously functional material in a surprisingly wide range of places from shops, offices and warehouses to public spaces and private homes. 

Concrete floors used to be relegated to industrial sites and heavy duty public places, but thanks to the recent ‘industrial revolution’ in decorating trends, this long-lasting and low-maintenance flooring option is now firmly entrenched as one of the most stylish and popular flooring choices.

Replacing an existing floor with new tiles will transform the look of any interior or exterior space. 

But whether your choice is for functional or frivolous tiles, industrial or indulgent ones, one of the most important aspects of any tiling project is the proper preparation of the substrate (the surface to which the tiles will be adhered).