Polished Concrete

Polished concrete is the ‘green’ product for high traffic flooring.  It is beautiful and durable.  Because there are no coatings needed, such as epoxies, urethanes, or waxes, it contains no Volatile Organic Compounds, making it an environmentally friendly surface.  It requires only occasional damp mopping to keep it looking great, which means significantly less maintenance costs when compared to the materials and labor involved in maintaining other floor options, such as VCT, carpet or tile.  The process of polishing concrete creates a highly dense surface which actually resists scuff marks, stains, and even tire marks.  You can expect your polished concrete surface to need refinishing only about once ever 5-10 years with minimal downtime for your business.  Many schools, hospitals, aircraft hangars, shopping malls, and convention centers are among the many facilities making polished concrete their #1 choice for flooring.

Depending on the character of the décor, a floor can be polished to a soft sheen or a deep mirror shine, and the color choices are almost endless.  The highly reflective sheen creates an ambience that gives unique character to a space, and often requires less overhead lighting because of its reflective qualities - creating a clean, comfortable and professional image.  It is important to note that coloring and polishing do not cover imperfections, but rather enhance the natural-looking and stone-like appearance of the concrete, often creating a rustic feel that is actually one of the most appealing characteristics of polished concrete.  The appearance of imperfections can be somewhat reduced, if desired, but not completely hidden.  Stains and dyes work much like translucent wood stains, and will not cover irregularities in the surface.  Our artistic and experienced field designers can, however, find ways to camouflage, or blend in, any problem areas.

The polishing process itself can be compared to sanding wood.  Temple Design uses the finest state-of-the-art heavy-duty polishing machines that can be equipped with progressively finer grit diamond abrasives to achieve the depth of shine desired for each project.  The current condition of the concrete and the final shine required will determine how many steps are involved in the process, and therefore, the cost.

Most acid stains are a mixture of water, hydrochloric acid, and acid-soluble metallic salts.  They work by penetrating the surface and reacting chemically with the alkaline properties in the concrete.  The acid in the stain lightly etches the surface, allowing the metallic salts to penetrate more easily.

Once the stain reacts, it becomes a permanent part of the concrete and won’t fade, chip off, or peel away.  Like stains for wood, acid-based stains are translucent and the color they produce will vary depending on the color and condition of the substrate they are applied to.  The result is a mottled, variegated finish that mimics the look and feel of natural stone or marble.  Different application techniques can be used depending on the desired final result.

Just as no two pieces of stone are exactly alike, each concrete slab accepts the stain in varying degrees of intensity, creating stunning multi-hued color variations and an irregular surface pattern that looks like aged stone.  Even on the same slab, you may see different color patterns, due to the unique climate conditions and ratio of the poured mix, as well as the application method used.

It’s this unique quality that makes acid stain so desirable and creates variations that bring character and distinction to each project.  True acid stains are found in a limited array of subtle earth tones, such as tans, browns, terra cottas, and soft blue-greens.

For a broader color selection, water-based penetrating stains and solvent-based dyes are available for an almost endless color palette, which is only limited by the imagination and creativity of our staff and each individual customer.  Together – our team and our client can create a result that won’t be found anywhere else.

Any of these coloring products can be used in conjunction with polishing or the use of topical sealers.

Engraving/Custom Logos

If a tile design is desired, blocks of any size or pattern can be cut into the slab.  With ceramic tile, it can often be difficult to find the perfect combination of the right color, your favorite style, and an available size that is proportionately appropriate to the room dimensions.  With concrete etching, you can actually choose the dimensions of the ‘tile’ to fit your project.  We can also cut random designs, borders along the walls, or give the look of an area rug in a foyer, or as a focal point in a room.  

With engraving, it is possible to completely personalize any decorative concrete project.  Whether you are having your company logo placed strategically at your place of business, or having a favorite design installed in your home, Temple Design has the skill, software programs, and engraving tools to make it a reality.  No other flooring option offers the design possibilities of decorative concrete.  You can choose one of our ready-to-engrave designs, or have our experienced CAD design staff create a custom logo or design that is completely unique and cannot be found anywhere else.

Concrete engraving can be used with any other service, whether it’s machine polishing or a topical film sealer.  The cut can also be left as-is or filled with grout in a wide variety of colors.

The cost of engraving depends on the complexity of the design, and whether at least partial existing images are available, or if some drafting time is required.  At Temple Design, we are committed to using any means possible to simplify this process to save you time and money.

Surface Preparation/Pressure Washing/Overlays

Surface preparation is one of the most important components of any decorative concrete project, or before application of urethanes or epoxies.  This is a vital step in the process to ensure proper adhesion and durability.

Depending on the condition of the slab, it can also be the most time consuming step.  Temple Design LLC has the equipment and compounds necessary to prepare your surface as quickly and thoroughly as possible, and minimize flaws or stains that might detract from the unique beauty of your floor. 

In some cases, there are too many stains, spalling, or multiple slabs that were poured at different times, such as during building expansion, and the best preparation could be a skim coat or overlay.  Since different pours take stains and dyes in different ways, an overlay gives the appearance of a single slab poured.