Designer Polished Concrete Floors

Hillary Clinton Emails and Other Hillary Clinton Scandals

2016-04-15T14:34:00.001-07:00

Hillary Clinton Emails and Other Hillary Clinton Scandals

2016-04-15T14:33:00.001-07:00

Hip hop news - HIPHOP ART OF POETRY

2012-07-27T08:24:00.001-07:00

Hip hop news - HIPHOP ART OF POETRY

Most Popular Decorative concrete Floors in Toronto

2012-03-12T08:53:00.000-07:00

The residence of the biggest city in Canada, are embracing the Eco-friendly movement towards decorative concrete flooring for their homes and business. Canada's leading Interior Designers, Architects, and clients of new construction and renovation project throughout the greater Toronto area and southern Ontario are specifying some form of decorative concrete flooring. Base on statistics we have reviewed, the top 3 most popular decorative concrete floor finish that you'll find prowling around southern Ontario is polished concrete, concrete staining and clear coated with epoxy concrete floors.

Polished concrete is commonly found in showrooms, galleries big box stores, and the finest homes and condos in the southern Ontario area. Polished concrete offers contemporary appearance, hypoallergenic, with plenty of character, easy to clean, and will last a lifetime.

Stained concrete floor has a natural colour stone like appearance that no tile or granite floor can match in appearance. There are numerous Eco-Stains and dye colours to select when creating a concrete floor of your liking which explains stained concrete flooring popularity.

Last but not least, epoxy coated concrete flooring is an economical and practical way to dress up any existing concrete floor. When a concrete floor is mechanically profiled and clear coat of quality epoxy is applied, it turns concrete floor from a dull, porous finish to a dust free, high gloss "polished like" look for about the same price as cheap vinyl flooring that require constant expensive maintenance. As such, is the reason why epoxy coated concrete floors is another very popular choice in concrete flooring choices.

For those who thought that concrete can't be the floor of choice, think again! Decorative concrete flooring is not just Eco-Friendly, but rather decorative concrete floor is as beautiful as unique and is the floor of the future.
Concrete Art-FX Inc., specializes in decorative concrete floor finishes in the greater Toronto, Mississauga, and southern Ontario region.

Epoxy Floor or Polished Concrete?

2012-02-28T14:09:00.000-08:00

When people notice a shiny concrete surface, they automatically assume it must be polished concrete. However not all glossy concrete floors are actually polished concrete. There are a number of ways to make the concrete floor shine.
1. Coat concrete with polyurethane coatings
2. Clear 100% solid resins epoxy floor coatings
3. Naturally polished concrete floors

Polished concrete is extremely popular floor finish often seen in galleries, showrooms, professional office and luxury homes. It is easy to maintain, scratch resistant, skid resistant and does not require topical re-coating.
The epoxy floor coatings and polyurethane sealers work well to bring out to reveal the texture of the concrete floor slab, and leaves a high gloss topical finish. When 100% epoxy coating is applied properly the appearance of the concrete floor looks as if a thin sheet of glass was installed over the concrete slab, due to thickness the epoxy coating is applied onto the concrete surface. Polyurethane although also provides a high gloss finish, polyurethane sealers are applied at a paper thin coats, and will likely require several applications of polyurethane before a build up is achieved. It is also important to mention to get the best results from clear coating the concrete floor surface, it is imperative that the concrete floor is mechanically profiled with a concrete grinding maching to ensure adhession and to expose the character the of the concrete floor surface.

Polished Concrete Floors for Life

2012-02-22T09:01:00.000-08:00

When you hire a company to diamond grind the concrete floor and polish it, the end result is you are getting a floor finish itended to last a lifetime. Polished concrete is an extremely hard, skid resistant surface that resembles closely to natural stone textures seen in nature.

Suffers of allergies, or when hygiene is a priority, and budget is a concern, then polished concrete is the floor of choice. Polished concrete flooring can be found in all types of high traffic big box stores for it's low cost and durability, to art galleries displaying million dollar art works for it's contemprary look, and natural richness. Polished concrete and decorative concrete floor finishes are growing at a healthy 20% per year in rsidential homes, and by 25% in retail and commercial business settings in Ontario, Canada. and we expect this trend to continue for next 7 to 10 years.

Colorful Metallic Epoxy Coating on Concrete Floors

2012-02-22T08:41:00.000-08:00

About a year and half ago, we started installing a new concrete floor resurfacing system called Metallic Epoxy Flooring, and I simply amazed of the results we have been able to achieve with this decorative floor coatings system. This resurfacing system is not only stunningly beautiful, but is an ideal concrete floor finish to resurface badly worn concrete slabs or to achieve a sophisticated, rich, beautiful floor finish. Metallic epoxy floor system is a 3 to 4 step process that involves mechanical profiling of concrete and then a 2 or 3 applications of premium 100% solid resin epoxy or polyaspartic coatings blended with metallic color pigments.
The final floor finish is highly durable and unique one of a kind floor. Metallic epoxy finish reflects lighting slightly different pending from what angle you view the floor. I highly recommend metallic epoxy flooring for it's visual appeal, chemical resistance, and overall value.

Polished Concrete Maintenance Program

2012-02-22T08:16:00.000-08:00

Although a new polished concrete will last for decades, it does require specific maintenance program to keep polished concrete looking optimum. As regular maintenance a simple microfiber dust mop will keep the floors clean and dust free. As with everything, over time the polished concrete floor requires a little restoration work and the best method is to use a lithium silicate based cleaner and floor buffer. Lithium silicate when used as directed provides a conditioner to the polished concrete and restores the sheen of polished concrete to looking likr newly polished floor. In the Toronto, Ontario area, we use a janitorial company to do our client's concrete floor restoration. The cost is very reasonable and floors look great after.

Popularity of Polished Concrete Flooring in Toronto

2011-01-28T08:08:00.000-08:00

The polished concrete flooring popularity that some would argue started in elite area of Manhatten and New York city's finest Lofts, homes and high end condos is now in Toronto and the GTA, and sweeping by storm.

Concrete floor polishing has been around for many years but with the advant of specialty polishing diamonds and machinery specificly developed for polishing concrete, is partialy responsible for polished concrete gaining massive popularity in both residential and commercial marketplaces and for many good reasons I might add. When a concrete floor is polished, the end result is similar in characteristics as that of a quality polished granite or marble slab, with all of the imperfections, veining, and varies degree of aggregate exposed during the grinding and polishing of a concrete slab. The final product is a polished concrete floor that exhibits unique rich natural texture with character and authenticity as any high end polished marble, or granite slab would have, but polished concrete is composed of recycled earth materials, and will cost fraction compared to any high end floor available on market today.

My experience visiting many job sites and talking with seasoned people in the construction industry that more and more people in the Northern climate regions are opting for radiant heated sub-floors when renovating or when buying a new home for the energy savings, and more importantly, comfort. Decorative concrete floor finishes such as stained concrete or polished concrete is an ideal compliment for both costs, asthetics and does not require additional height to have a decorative concrete floor finish installed, as this sometimes can pose a problem in older homes where basements ceilling height can be an issue.

If you haven't opened your mind to polished concrete maybe its time you should join the growing wave of people praising the benefits of polished concrete in their homes and all types of business establishments.

Polished concrete floors are available in array of translucent colour options to personalize any polished concrete floor to your own decor and taste.

Applications for Polished Concrete Floors

2010-12-07T16:22:00.000-08:00

Most people don't realize that there many variations of polished concrete. Polishing concrete is a multi-step process, customers can choose the level of sheen from satin to high-gloss that meets their maintenance requirements and aesthetic appearance. This versatility makes polished concrete an ideal flooring material for a variety of applications. Survey of polishing contractors shows that their primary customers include:

Large warehouses and warehouse outlets
Retail stores
Hotels and restaurants
Office buildings
Auto showrooms
Condos/Lofts
Private residences

Ease of maintenance is the big key reason many warehouses and retail facilities are opting for polished concrete. Not only are polished concrete floors easy to clean, requiring only occasional damp mopping, they hold up well under heavy forklift and foot traffic. Polished concrete eliminates the need for messy floor waxes or costly epoxy coatings as well as the associated labour, time, and inconvinience to apply these materials. Once more, the glossy surface resists the marks of forklift truck tires and most staining from oil and chemical spills.
The high light reflectivity of polished concrete is another important benefit, especially in office buildings, hotels, restaurants, and other public facilities that want to project a bright, clean, professional image while minimizing their energy costs. "Some customers simply want a look that's unique," according to Concrete Art-FX polishing can give concrete a higher degree of shine, similar to polished marble or granite, than can be achieved with a high-gloss coating and we find that each concrete floor we polish has it's own character traits and look. This makes polished concrete a particularly good alternative for homeowners or businesses that can't afford marble or granite floors or prefer an envirnmentally friendly approach yet want the same brilliant, mirror-like floor finish that you get from a natural stone floors. To replicate the colour of stone, Concrete Art-FX will sometimes apply stain onto concrete floor during the polishing process or polish concrete that has been already integrally coloured. It's also possible to produce a terrazzo like look by grinding through the top few millimeters of the concrete surface to expose the aggregate.
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Polished Concrete Options

2010-12-07T15:30:00.000-08:00

Most people don't realize there there are various degrees of polished concrete with each having its own unique character and look. Since polishing is a multi-step process, customer can choose the level of sheen from satin to high-gloss that meets their maintenance requirements and aesthetic appearance. This versatility makes polished concrete an ideal flooring material for a variety of applications. Polishing contractors say their primary customers include:

Large warehouses and warehouse outlets
Retail stores
Hotels and restaurants
Office buildings
Auto showrooms
Private residences (Homes, condos, lofts, etc)

Ease of maintenance is a major key reason why many warehouses and retail facilities are opting for polished concrete. Polished concrete floors are easy to clean, requiring only occasional damp mopping, or dry buff and they hold up well under heavy forklift and foot traffic. They also eliminate down time for maintenance for such things as messy waxes or costly epoxy coatings as well as the associated labour, time, and expense to apply these products. Once more, the natural glossy surface of polished concrete resists the marks of forklift truck tires and most staining from oil and chemical spills.
The natural high light reflectivity of polished concrete is another huge benefit, especially for office buildings, hotels, restaurants, and other public facilities that want to project a bright, clean, professional image without spending. "Some customers simply want a look that's unique," according to contractor Concrete Art-FX concrete polishing can give floors a higher degree of shine, similar to polished marble or granite, than can be also achieved with a high-gloss coatings but requires more maintenance. This makes polished concrete a particularly good alternative for homeowners or businesses that can't afford marble or granite floors or just prefer to use environmentally friendly flooring yet still enjoy the same brilliant, mirror-like finish you get from natural stone flooring. To replicate the colour of stone, Concrete Art-FX will sometimes apply stain to the concrete during the polishing process or polish concrete that has been integrally coloured. It's also possible to produce a terrazzo like look by grinding through the top few millimeters of the surface of the concrete floor to expose the aggregate. To view examples click here.
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Stamp Concrete Overlay Hairline Crack Repairs

2010-11-17T07:52:00.000-08:00

Why did the new stamped overlay that was recently installed over the old concrete developed spider web hairline cracks in surface?

As a client that paid good hard earned money to have their home's concrete resurfaced, seeing hairline cracks may be disturbing at first, and panic may set in, the mind begins to wonder if the new installation wont last and fall apart. The short answer is it's not as bad as you think.
Unlike many other resurfacing materials, concrete overlay mixes require proper curring time and often the curring takes place in not so ideal conditions that cannot be easily controled during the installation process especially in extreme hot sunny and or hummid days. So why does this happen?, And what can be done?

Typicall these are shrinkage cracks caused by pushing imprinting stamp tools into the concrete after the surface has become a little too hard. Although these hairline cracks do not compromise the strenght of the overlay, this surface hardening, is known as "crusting," usually caused by rapid exposure to sun and wind, overfinishing the concrete mix design, and even the concrete colour (darker colours more readily absorb heat from the sun) causing top surface to cure faster the bottom.
A good analogy is what happens when you cook pudding. When the pudding comes off the stove, it's a viscous liquid, similar to concrete when it comes out of the truck. The pudding then goes into the fridge to cool. If it cools too quickly, the rapid temperature drop causes a skin to form on the surface. The pudding then thickens and hardens from the top down. The same thing occurs when concrete dries too fast from the top down. Remedies for reducing surface crusting include using admixtures to slow the concrete set time, using surface evaporation retarders, avoiding darker colors, and scheduling the concrete pour for the coolest time of the day. Using stamping tools with deep grout lines, such as random stone and large slate patterns, can aggravate the cracking problem.
One way to repair these small cracks is to use a colored cement paste, or color patch. Some color hardener manufacturers offer these patches in their standard color palette for use in filling and repairing these types of cracks and small popouts. Some contractors will sift the sand out of the color hardener they are using on the project and use this to make a color patching material. I recommend wetting color patch materials with a 50:50 blend of concrete bonding polymer and water. Use a wooden tongue depressor or gloved finger to smear the color patch into the cracks. Soften the edges with a damp rag or sponge to blend the patch and color into the slab. Let the repairs cure for 24 hours. If you are located in the GTA area of Ontario, and would like to get a an estimate on resurfacing or repairing your existing concrete, contact the author at http://www.concreteartfx.com/.

Is the best flooring choice, is no flooring?

2010-11-04T09:25:00.000-07:00

Is the best flooring choice, is no flooring?As our green building practices evolve into primary construction standards, each individual component of a new building project falls under scrutiny to its contribution to meeting the new “Green” building standard requirements.

Now a project is viewed not just for the sum of their parts, but rather as an integrated building system where each piece must function and contribute to the overall efficiency of the building project. A case in point is the new choices for flooring. This article takes a glance at how concrete flooring can support and enhance a green building project. In concert with eco-responsible building and design trends, the new belief is “less is more” and with the advances that have been made in the concrete polishing and finishing of natural concrete floors, many architects and builders are choosing to forego the traditional flooring options, and opting for polished concrete, as more beneficial use of native materials.

Builders and architects are helping to drive the 'green" building movement which is becoming synonymous with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, (LEED) certification.
LEED program addresses all major concerns of green building construction including: the use of resource-friendly materials, energy saving design, and providing healthy indoor environmental quality (IEQ). Amazingly, the natural attributes of a finished or polished concrete floor contribute in all those areas and can add up to significant LEED point earnings, as shown in the chart on the chart below. Let’s have a look at this in more detail.

Resource Friendly – (reduce/re-use/recycle)

The obvious, utilizing concrete as your finished floor eliminates the need for floor covering products, (i.e. tile, stone, VCT, carpet, wood, etc.). If you think about it logically, isn't putting a floor over a floor is a bit redundant? The floor is one of those construction areas where going green actually eases the building budget and makes sense. The savings can apply toward other green credit construction, such as landscaping or supplemental electrical sources, etc. Its clear that traditional floor coverings, while being costly, can add a huge carbon footprint, (the sum total environmental effect of a product’s life cycle). Carbon footprint assessments include valuations for: material extraction, manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, disposal and replacement and these costs are paid for initially by your budget, but ultimately by our planet’s air, soil and water quality.

The carbon footprint of concrete is very low because concrete consists of portland cement, stones, and water and is produced locally with natural ingredients which results in a reduction in transportation costs and carbon emissions. As recycling efforts become mainstream, concrete ingredients may not extracted at all but rather recycled through the use of fly ash, a bi-product of coal-burning energy plants. Fly ash is added to the mix, displacing some of the portland cement and resulting in a stronger cure. Using up otherwise useless fly ash also reduces the need for landfills, which of course nobody wants for a neighbor.

Remember: Traditional floor coverings, not only costly, they create a huge carbon footprint.

Reuse

As discussed earlier, carbon footprint also involves maintenance and replacement in a life cycle of a particular material so its important to talk about the ease of maintenance a little further in the article. But for now, let me ask you this, “When was the last time you had to replace a concrete slab?” For most people that answer would be “never” as typically a slab will outlive the building itself and people too. Which brings us to the LEED credit of “Building Reuse”. In a renovation or addition project, the reuse of the concrete slab can be the largest contributing factor towards achieving credit points needed to be certified as a green LEED project.

Energy Savings

Finished concrete saves energy in several ways. In the summer time, a slab in contact with the ground draws the earth’s own natural cooling abilities into the building. In the winter, if a building has been designed to expose the slab to natural sunlight, it will soak up this radiant heat. Then at night the slab will release the heat into the building to provide a more uniformly warmer interior. Both of these are examples of concrete’s inherent thermal mass capability, which save money on heating and cooling costs.

Another aspect of concrete’s energy savings is through lighting. Using reflective (light colored or shiny) concrete allows sunlight to reflect more deeply into the occupied spaces. The polished concrete provides a brighter, more naturally lighted space that reduces the need for electrical lighting and lowers energy costs. It is universally agreed that natural light is almost always preferable to artificial light in the workplace. Studies have shown that natural daylight increases comfort, productivity, and even retail sales. Used outdoors, reflective concrete helps reduce the “heat island effect” by reflecting heat away from the property and keeping the building cooler. There is also a surge in the residential use of finished concrete, especially since natural daylight provides a warming effect.

Reduced Maintenance

The final savings aspect of finished or polished concrete is in reduced maintenance. Would you rather strip and wax VCT, scrub and seal tile and grout, steam clean carpets, or use a microfiber dust mop to scrub your concrete floor? Easy answer and so is the concrete floor maintenance process, especially when we use new lithium-silicate based cleaners that actually help extend the life cycle of a polished or natural concrete floor. Easier maintenance on a floor that will last many times longer then a floor covering sounds great to us.

Healthier Environmental Quality

Indoors is where about 90% of our time is spent. And without a healthy indoor environment, health issues are the documented result. According to the U.S. Green Building Counsel, it is estimated that 17 million Americans suffer from asthma, and 40 million have allergies. This contributes to millions of days absent from work and school. Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) covers airborne contaminants as well as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) chemical fumes, lighting quality, temperature, air speed, and humidity. Here’s the breakdown: particulates, airborne fungal spores, fine dust allergens from dust mites, cats, dogs, and insects and other pets (77%); Gases: CO, CO2, radon, VOCs, tobacco smoking, and other combustion sources (21%); Other: uncomfortable temperature, humidity, lighting, etc. (19%). The totals are more than 100% due to the fact that one building can have several, but not necessarily all, of these problems.

The type of flooring used will have a major impact on all these IEQ factors. However, consider how a natural polished or stained concrete floor helps to resolve many of them. A concrete floor will not require the use of VOC adhesives or sealers, in contrast with carpet, wood, stone, tile, and especially VCT. The densifier chemical that hardens and assists in the staining and polish procedures does not create any off-gassing. The lithium silicate creates a hardening reaction with the calcium hydroxide occurring naturally in concrete.

Concrete floors require reduced maintenance procedures. Meaning reduced chemical use, as compared to the stripping and waxing used to maintain VCT and other surfaces. According to the EPA, 40% of cleaning chemicals can contribute to chemically related work injuries. So any effort to reduce the need for those chemicals is a step in the green direction.

Floor coverings, especially carpet, will harbor dust and mold allergens. Trapped moisture is also a problem, both from spills and cleaning procedures. Carpets are a sink for urine, odors, spills, and other pollutants. In contrast, a densified, polished and stained concrete floor has reduced porosity, greatly decreasing the penetration of moisture and hence, the growth of bacteria. The floor should be polished to a maximum grit level for best results. Additional non-toxic options for grinding, hardening, and protecting concrete are also available.

As far as concrete maintenance goes, lithium based cleaners will continually react with the new calcium hydroxide generated by the concrete due to foot traffic, etc. Microfiber dust-mopping with no chemical additives are all that’s necessary on a routine basis to combat abrasion, and maintain a uniform luster on the surface. Simpler cleaning procedures translate to a healthier building, and healthier occupants.
In our opinion, an additional IEQ issue is safety. According to Nu-Safe Floors, the average cost of a slip-and-fall is $18,500, which translates collectively into billions of dollars per year just in the USA. Slip-and–fall is the second leading cause of accidental death and injury, next to automobiles. It accounts for 57% percent of general liability claims, and 51% of worker’s comp claims. Furthermore, 50% of slip-and-fall accidents are blamed on flooring. How do we combat this? Well, it is important for building owners to know how safe their floors are. Slip tests measure the coefficient-of-friction of a floor. A slip-test device called a tribometer physically senses a floor’s slip resistance. More and more insurance companies are requiring this test. How does finished concrete measure up? Very well! Since concrete is not being waxed, slip and fall issues are reduced. Static and dynamic co-efficient of friction slip-tests have shown finished concrete to exceed both OSHA and ADA testing standards. Good news! This reduces potential liability claims for both owners and tenants.

Fact: Slip-and–fall is the second leading cause of accidental death and injury, next to automobiles

Green Issues Are Important!

Green building legislation has been increasing in recent years, meaning that new and renovated buildings will be legally required to address the green issue. LEED addresses all of the concerns that have been identified previously, using a comprehensive point system to qualify for one of four certification tiers: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, each equaling points on the LEED scale. A “Certified” LEED project equates to 26-32 points, “Silver” is 33-38 points, “Gold” is 31-51 points, and “Platinum” is 52-69 points. A casino in Las Vegas is going for a platinum LEED certification, which means if they qualify, they will get a 50% property tax break granted by the state of Nevada, which will quickly repay all extra expenses related to going green. Add to that the ongoing water/energy savings, increased productivity and property value, and it’s obvious that going green is profitable for the bottom line. Obviously, finished concrete flooring can be a major factor in achieving these goals. In conclusion, the following is a reference guide that shows the different LEED credits that concrete flooring helps to achieve.

Concrete in LEED Credit Guide

Leed Credit Title Strategy Possible Points

SSc7.1 Heat Island Effect Use reflective concrete for a high solar 2

reflectance index. This keeps the area

surrounding the building cooler.

EAc1 Optimize Energy performance Utilize thermal mass of concrete in 11

building performance calculations to

achieve energy cost savings of up to 45.5%

MRc1 Building Reuse Reuse existing concrete for major 2

renovation or addition to help achieve 95%

building material reuse

MRc2 Constr. Waste management Divert waste concrete from demolition 3

Divert 95% From Disposal to recycler

MRc4 Recycled Content Use recycled concrete or fly ash to help 3

achieve a building total of 30% recycled

content

MRc5 Regional Materials Use concrete manufactured within 500 3

miles to help achieve a total of 40%

regional materials

EQc4.1 Low-Emitting Materials Use exposed concrete to eliminate the use 1

of harmful adhesives and sealants

EQc4.2 Low-Emitting Materials Use low VOC stains and sealers on 1

exposed concrete

EQc7 Thermal Comfort Design Utilize thermal mass of concrete to assist 1

in achieving the thermal comfort standard

EQc8.1 Daylight 95% of Space Use reflective concrete inside to increase 2

daylight footcandles

Total LEED points affected by concrete 29

Is Polished Concrete Green?

2010-11-04T07:50:00.001-07:00

Why Polished Concrete

Is the best flooring choice, is no flooring?

Green building practices evolving into primary construction standards, each individual component of a new building project falls under scrutiny to its contribution to meeting the new “Green” building standard requirements.

Now entire projects are now viewed not just for the sum of their parts, but rather as an integrated building system where each piece must contribute to the overall efficiency of the project. A case in point is the new choices for flooring. This article takes a glance at how concrete flooring can support and enhance a green building project. In concert with eco-responsible building and design trends, the new belief is “less is more” and with the advances that have been made in the concrete polishing and finishing of natural concrete floors, many architects and builders are choosing to forego the traditional flooring options, and opting for polished concrete, as more beneficial use of native materials.

Builders and architects are helping to drive the 'green" building movement which is becoming synonymous with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, (LEED) certification.
LEED program addresses all major concerns of green building construction including: the use of resource-friendly materials, energy saving design, and providing healthy indoor environmental quality (IEQ). Amazingly, the natural attributes of a finished or polished concrete floor contribute in all those areas and can add up to significant LEED point earnings, as shown in the chart on the chart below. Let’s have a look at this in more detail.

Resource Friendly – (a.k.a. reduce/re-use/recycle)

This one is pretty obvious. Utilizing concrete as your finished floor eliminates the need for floor covering products, (i.e. tile, stone, VCT, carpet, wood, etc.). If you think about it logically, isn't putting a floor over a floor is a bit redundant? The floor is one of those construction areas where going green actually eases the building budget. Of course, you can apply those savings toward other green credit areas, such as landscaping or supplemental electrical sources. We now understand that traditional floor coverings, besides being costly, adds a huge carbon footprint, (the sum total environmental effect of a product’s life cycle). Carbon footprint assessments include valuations for: material extraction, manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, disposal and replacement and these costs are paid for initially by your budget, but ultimately by our planet’s air, soil and water quality.

The carbon footprint of concrete is very low because concrete consists of portland cement, stones, and water and is produced locally with natural ingredients which results in a reduction in transportation costs and carbon emissions. As recycling efforts become mainstream, sometimes concrete ingredients are not extracted at all.
Another recycling strategy is in the use of fly ash, a bi-product of coal-burning energy plants. Fly ash is added to the mix, displacing some of the portland cement and resulting in a stronger cure. Using up otherwise useless fly ash also reduces the need for landfills, which of course nobody wants for a neighbor.

Remember: Traditional floor coverings, besides costing money, leave a huge carbon footprint.
Reuse

As we mentioned, carbon footprint also involves maintenance and replacement. We will talk about the ease of maintenance a little further in the article. But for now, let me ask you this, “When was the last time you had to replace a concrete slab?” For most people that answer would be “never” as typically a slab will outlive the building itself. Which brings us to the LEED credit of “Building Reuse”. In a renovation or addition project, the reuse of the concrete slab can be the largest contributing factor towards achieving credit points.

Energy Savings

Finished concrete saves energy in several ways. In the summer time, a slab in contact with the ground draws the earth’s own natural cooling abilities into the building. In the winter, if a building has been designed to expose the slab to natural sunlight, it will soak up this radiant heat. Then at night the slab will release the heat into the building to provide a more uniformly warmer interior. Both of these are examples of concrete’s inherent thermal mass capability, which save money on heating and cooling costs.

Another aspect of concrete’s energy savings is through lighting. Using reflective (light colored or shiny) concrete allows sunlight to reflect more deeply into the occupied spaces. The polished concrete provides a brighter, more naturally lighted space that reduces the need for electrical lighting and lowers energy costs. It is universally agreed that natural light is almost always preferable to artificial light in the workplace. Studies have shown that natural daylight increases comfort, productivity, and even retail sales. Used outdoors, reflective concrete helps reduce the “heat island effect” by reflecting heat away from the property and keeping the building cooler. There is also a surge in the residential use of finished concrete, especially since natural daylight provides a warming effect.

Reduced Maintenance

The final savings aspect of finished concrete is in reduced maintenance. Would you rather strip and wax VCT, scrub and seal tile and grout, steam clean carpets, or use a microfiber dust mop to scrub your concrete floor? Easy answer and so is the concrete floor maintenance process, especially when we use new lithium-silicate based cleaners that actually help extend the life cycle of a polished or natural concrete floor. Easier maintenance on a floor that will last many times longer then a floor covering sounds great to us.

Healthier Environmental Quality

Indoors is where about 90% of our time is spent. And without a healthy indoor environment, health issues are the documented result. According to the U.S. Green Building Counsel, it is estimated that 17 million Americans suffer from asthma, and 40 million have allergies. This contributes to millions of days absent from work and school. Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) covers airborne contaminants as well as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) chemical fumes, lighting quality, temperature, air speed, and humidity. Here’s the breakdown: particulates, airborne fungal spores, fine dust allergens from dust mites, cats, dogs, and insects and other pets (77%); Gases: CO, CO2, radon, VOCs, tobacco smoking, and other combustion sources (21%); Other: uncomfortable temperature, humidity, lighting, etc. (19%). The totals are more than 100% due to the fact that one building can have several, but not necessarily all, of these problems.

The type of flooring used will have a major impact on all these IEQ factors. However, consider how a natural polished or stained concrete floor helps to resolve many of them. A concrete floor will not require the use of VOC adhesives or sealers, in contrast with carpet, wood, stone, tile, and especially VCT. The densifier chemical that hardens and assists in the staining and polish procedures does not create any off-gassing. The lithium silicate creates a hardening reaction with the calcium hydroxide occurring naturally in concrete.

Concrete floors require reduced maintenance procedures. Meaning reduced chemical use, as compared to the stripping and waxing used to maintain VCT and other surfaces. According to the EPA, 40% of cleaning chemicals can contribute to chemically related work injuries. So any effort to reduce the need for those chemicals is a step in the green direction.

Floor coverings, especially carpet, will harbor dust and mold allergens. Trapped moisture is also a problem, both from spills and cleaning procedures. Carpets are a sink for urine, odors, spills, and other pollutants. In contrast, a densified, polished and stained concrete floor has reduced porosity, greatly decreasing the penetration of moisture and hence, the growth of bacteria. The floor should be polished to a maximum grit level for best results. Additional non-toxic options for grinding, hardening, and protecting concrete are also available.

As far as concrete maintenance goes, lithium based cleaners will continually react with the new calcium hydroxide generated by the concrete due to foot traffic, etc. Microfiber dust-mopping with no chemical additives are all that’s necessary on a routine basis to combat abrasion, and maintain a uniform luster on the surface. Simpler cleaning procedures translate to a healthier building, and healthier occupants.
In our opinion, an additional IEQ issue is safety. According to Nu-Safe Floors, the average cost of a slip-and-fall is 18,500 dollars, which translates collectively into billions of dollars per year just in the US. Slip-and–fall is the second leading cause of accidental death and injury, next to automobiles. It accounts for 57% percent of general liability claims, and 51% of worker’s comp claims. Furthermore, 50% of slip-and-fall accidents are blamed on flooring. How do we combat this? Well, it is important for building owners to know how safe their floors are. Slip tests measure the coefficient-of-friction of a floor. A slip-test device called a tribometer physically senses a floor’s slip resistance. More and more insurance companies are requiring this test. How does finished concrete measure up? Very well! Since concrete is not being waxed, slip and fall issues are reduced. Static and dynamic co-efficient of friction slip-tests have shown finished concrete to exceed both OSHA and ADA testing standards. Good news! This reduces potential liability claims for both owners and tenants.

Fact: Slip-and–fall is the second leading cause of accidental death and injury, next to automobiles

Green Issues Are Important!

Green building legislation has been increasing in recent years, meaning that new and renovated buildings will be legally required to address the green issue. LEED addresses all of the concerns that have been identified previously, using a comprehensive point system to qualify for one of four certification tiers: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, each equaling points on the LEED scale. A “Certified” LEED project equates to 26-32 points, “Silver” is 33-38 points, “Gold” is 31-51 points, and “Platinum” is 52-69 points. A casino in Las Vegas is going for a platinum LEED certification, which means if they qualify, they will get a 50% property tax break granted by the state of Nevada, which will quickly repay all extra expenses related to going green. Add to that the ongoing water/energy savings, increased productivity and property value, and it’s obvious that going green is profitable for the bottom line. Obviously, finished concrete flooring can be a major factor in achieving these goals. In conclusion, the following is a reference guide that shows the different LEED credits that concrete flooring helps to achieve.

Concrete in LEED Credit Guide

Leed Credit Title Strategy Possible Points

SSc7.1 Heat Island Effect Use reflective concrete for a high solar 2

reflectance index. This keeps the area

surrounding the building cooler.

EAc1 Optimize Energy performance Utilize thermal mass of concrete in 11

building performance calculations to

achieve energy cost savings of up to 45.5%

MRc1 Building Reuse Reuse existing concrete for major 2

renovation or addition to help achieve 95%

building material reuse

MRc2 Constr. Waste management Divert waste concrete from demolition 3

Divert 95% From Disposal to recycler

MRc4 Recycled Content Use recycled concrete or fly ash to help 3

achieve a building total of 30% recycled

content

MRc5 Regional Materials Use concrete manufactured within 500 3

miles to help achieve a total of 40%

regional materials

EQc4.1 Low-Emitting Materials Use exposed concrete to eliminate the use 1

of harmful adhesives and sealants

EQc4.2 Low-Emitting Materials Use low VOC stains and sealers on 1

exposed concrete

EQc7 Thermal Comfort Design Utilize thermal mass of concrete to assist 1

in achieving the thermal comfort standard

EQc8.1 Daylight 95% of Space Use reflective concrete inside to increase 2

daylight footcandles

Total LEED points affected by concrete 29

Leed Credit	Title	Strategy	Possible Points
SSc7.1	Heat Island Effect	Use reflective concrete for a high solar	2
		reflectance index. This keeps the area
		surrounding the building cooler.
EAc1	Optimize Energy performance	Utilize thermal mass of concrete in	11

		building performance calculations to
		achieve energy cost savings of up to 45.5%
MRc1	Building Reuse	Reuse existing concrete for major	2
		renovation or addition to help achieve 95%
		building material reuse
MRc2	Constr. Waste management	Divert waste concrete from demolition	3
	Divert 95% From Disposal	to recycler
MRc4	Recycled Content	Use recycled concrete or fly ash to help	3
		achieve a building total of 30% recycled
		content
MRc5	Regional Materials	Use concrete manufactured within 500	3
		miles to help achieve a total of 40%
		regional materials
EQc4.1	Low-Emitting Materials	Use exposed concrete to eliminate the use	1
		of harmful adhesives and sealants
EQc4.2	Low-Emitting Materials	Use low VOC stains and sealers on	1
		exposed concrete
EQc7	Thermal Comfort Design	Utilize thermal mass of concrete to assist	1
		in achieving the thermal comfort standard
EQc8.1	Daylight 95% of Space	Use reflective concrete inside to increase	2
		daylight footcandles

		Total LEED points affected by concrete	29

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Is the best flooring choice, is no flooring?

Is the best flooring choice, is no flooring?As our green building practices evolve into primary construction standards, each individual component of a new building project falls under scrutiny to its contribution to meeting the new “Green” building standard requirements.

Reuse

Reduced Maintenance

Fact: Slip-and–fall is the second leading cause of accidental death and injury, next to automobiles Green Issues Are Important!

Concrete in LEED Credit Guide

Is Polished Concrete Green?

Is the best flooring choice, is no flooring? Green building practices evolving into primary construction standards, each individual component of a new building project falls under scrutiny to its contribution to meeting the new “Green” building standard requirements.

Reduced Maintenance

Fact: Slip-and–fall is the second leading cause of accidental death and injury, next to automobiles Green Issues Are Important!

Concrete in LEED Credit Guide

Fact: Slip-and–fall is the second leading cause of accidental death and injury, next to automobiles

Green Issues Are Important!

Is the best flooring choice, is no flooring?

Green building practices evolving into primary construction standards, each individual component of a new building project falls under scrutiny to its contribution to meeting the new “Green” building standard requirements.

Fact: Slip-and–fall is the second leading cause of accidental death and injury, next to automobiles

Green Issues Are Important!