Making the most of concrete and cement finishing will add to the beauty and value of your business as well as protect your surfaces. Painted, colored, stained and personalized concrete floors have risen in popularity, showing up in restaurants, stores, warehouses, hospitals and offices.

The design and color options of concrete finishes are nearly limitless. As cement finishing equipment technology advances, contractors can give new and old floors a high-gloss finish that doesn't need coatings or waxes. In addition to looking great, polished concrete floors are simple to clean and maintain and only require a damp mopping to clean.

1. Use cement finishing to create a clean, nearly maintenance free floor

2. Look for ways to stand out when finishing cement inside or outside your business

3. Make concrete and cement finishing last as long as possible with proper care before and after the work

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Consider the cement finishes available to determine the best for your surface

The possibilities of cement finishing are endless. Contractors use epoxy coatings on interior surfaces; acrylic and sealant coatings and acid staining can go inside or outside; and dry polished concrete is a finish only used on interior surfaces.

I recommend: Artistic Concrete Finishes will tranform old, stained and cracked concrete with a variety of cement finishes including epoxy and acrylic coatings. Learn more about interior cement finishing at ConcreteNetwork.com. Check out the photo gallery to get ideas for your business.

Use a specialized concrete finishing technique to truly stand out

Whether it's painted, microtoppings, stained or textures are applied, you can personalize concrete floors to match your business perfectly. Consider a concrete finish called stamped (imprinted) concrete to create the look of brick, tile, stone, slate, flagstone or even wood. You'll pay between $6 and $8 per square foot for basic stamped concrete. More advanced designs can run upwards of $15 per square foot.

I recommend: Look through A-One Cement's stamped pattern choices. They include cobblestone, slate and tile designs. Design your own customized floor through Perfect Polish's design studio. Enter floor specifications such as the polish method, aggregate options, decorative options, color and sheen level and Perfect Polish will give you a quote on the job.

Stay on top of concrete repair to extend the life of the cement finish

If the concrete you want to finish is falling apart, it's going to be more difficult, time consuming and expensive to get the cement finish you're trying to achieve.

I recommend: Goldenseal will add antifreeze in to the mixture when polishing cement that will have to withstand below freezing temperatures. You should add this if you're finishing an outdoor area or a freezer floor in your warehouse. Learn how to repair concrete through Aubuchon Hardware.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Talk to the contractor who did the concrete finishing job for specific care instructions. Usually it requires soap and water, with a non-abrasive brush, to clean.

In building, remodeling and home design, concrete and cement finishing can bring surprising pizazz and energy to the overall look, both inside and outside. Cement finishing has come a long way over the years and evolved into a design element all its own.

Driveways, patios, garages and carports can all be made more interesting by the type of cement finish you choose. Nowadays, builders incorporate specialty cement finishes into residential interiors. Homeowners often find the modern, contemporary look of concrete finishing techniques such as polishing cement to be both beautiful and beneficial in ease of maintenance.

Think about concrete concepts in design:

1. Stick with basic, traditional concrete finishing for smooth cement finishes in foundations, basements and garages. Smooth cement finishing also works well for kitchen countertops. Projects such as remodeling warehouses for residential occupancy work well with these countertop concrete finishes.

2. Stamp and pattern designs in concrete finishing make beautiful accents on patios and driveways.

3. Some glossy cement finishing techniques (such as polishing cement) give such an elegant look to the finished area that it’s hard to tell the material is simple concrete.

Action Steps
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Locate a concrete contractor in your area with a concrete reputation

Look for concrete and cement finishing contractors with experience in various modern methods of cement finishes so you have design variety for all kinds of jobs.

I recommend: ConcreteNetwork.com posts many types of concrete and cement finishing jobs, including concrete repair. Click on the type of concrete you want or the area that needs concrete finishing, such as driveway, patio or foundation. ConcreteIdeas has a list of concrete contractors in the U.S. and Canada.

Go glamorous with cement finishing and add creative accents

Concrete finishing nowadays includes projects finished in colors and all kinds of design patterns to bring exciting character to inside floors or outside areas.

I recommend: A-One Cement Finishing Co., Inc. in Rhode Island has a great array of stamp and design patterns on their website. View examples and get ideas to offer your customers. Perfect Polish uses a dry polish process to create a beautiful and eco-friendly finish.

Ask concrete questions about polishing cement to polish off the finished look for customers

Polishing cement is a technique done with heavy-duty polishing machines, but doesn't use waxes. It gives a finish that makes floors easy to clean, requiring only damp mopping.

I recommend: Concrete Reflections Inc. has a posting for most-often asked questions, explaining in detail the polishing cement technique. Get questions answered about the polished concrete look that is rapidly growing in popularity.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Concrete countertops made from colored concrete add interest to kitchens in most any style home.
• •  Engraving concrete is another concrete finishing technique that can add an elegant touch to any area.
• •  Aesthetic appeal increases with the beauty of specialized concrete finishing, both inside and out. Driveways and walkways stamped, engraved and patterned add great curb appeal.
• •  Basic flat work application done well also looks great and is budget friendly.

Pricing and costs of concrete and cement finishing will vary depending on the quality of the job, finish and condition of the surface. Concrete finish is no longer a finish meant solely for the walkway outside your business. You can put finishing cement on interior floors or countertops, or make patios, driveways and pool decks outside. There are many techniques used today including stained concrete, colored concrete, engraving, stamping and resurfacing.

Concrete finishing adds beauty to residential spaces, an upscale look in shops and other commercial buildings, provides reduced maintenance in institutions like hospitals and warehouses and is an eco-friendly option for green buildings. It's important to note that easier, faster and cheaper methods of cement finishing pop up all the time. The diamonds and densifiers used in some methods end up with a product that falls apart rather quickly. Thus, it pays to do your homework and find a reputable contractor with a high-quality product and keep in mind the following:

1. Know that you can do concrete finishing anywhere, but may take longer on older surfaces.

2. Take bids on cement coating jobs before signing on the dotted line.

3. Prepare to make an investment in cement finishing for a result that lasts a long time.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Take surface condition into account when estimating the cost of cement finishing

Reputable companies can do a concrete finishing technique on any floor, regardless of the condition. However, it will cost you more. Residential lofts run about $5 to $10 per square foot. New warehouse floors will cost about $2.50 per square foot and old warehouse floors with cracks, paint and pitting will run approximately $3.50 to $4.50 per square foot.

I recommend: Perfect Polish developed the Natural Wonder Floor System, which is a durable cement finish that comes in several options to meet your company's budget. Check out the color swatches and choose a concrete finishing technique at A-One Cement. It also offers stamps and patterns in your finished concrete for added beauty, but keep in mind that these extras may increase the over pricing and cost of your cement finishing job.

Get written estimates for concrete and cement finishing jobs

Meet with several contractors who specialize in cement finishes. Take into account the thoroughness and timeliness of the bids when making your decision. Make sure you verify the procedure the contractors will use, as well as the start date and end date of the project. Check the contractor out with the Better Business Bureau, check references and make sure the business you choose has insurance. Sign a contract, which includes a payment schedule.

I recommend: ConcreteNetwork.com offers all the cement finishes you can think of as well as sound advice for hiring a contractor and a guide to help you find a local contractor. Following its guidance when hiring a contractor could affect the bottom-line when comes to the overall cost of your project. Look at Goldenseal Unit Costs from Turtle Creek Software to determine pricing and costs for common concrete finishing jobs.

Choose a quality concrete and cement finishing job, which will turn out cheaper over the long term

Polishing cement floors in your business can be done inexpensively and quickly with light-weight, high-speed equipment. It'll look gorgeous and shiny when it's done, but it will fade with foot traffic within six months. Paying more at first will end up costing you less over time. Remember, just because a company knows how to finish concrete, doesn't mean it's the best one to do the job.

I recommend: Since getting the best job at a good price sometimes means paying more, look at companies with a reputation of doing it correctly the first time. When finishing concrete, consider Concrete Reflections to get it done right. Use the database on ConcreteIdeas.com to find a reputable concrete finishing company in your area.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Finishing cement isn't a temporary finish that will need to be polished. It's permanently polished and will retain its shine, if done properly.

Most building and remodeling projects begin with cement work. You can use concrete in some form to supply a foundation for a building. Builders and designers use concrete more and more for finishing structures, from floors to walls to counter tops.

You can find a contractor to provide a floor or counter top that will be the finished product, not just the sub structure. Polished concrete provides a durable, sanitary surface that will rival traditional floor and counter coverings. Knowing the terminology of cement finishing will save you time, increase the options for your project and help you deal with contractors and designers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Diamond finishing

Diamond finishing involves using a diamond grit tool to polish concrete. Workers use this to refurbish highways, floors and other concrete surfaces.

I recommend: For an introduction to the process of diamond grinding, check out the Federal Highway Administration. Situp Products shows pictures of grinders on a much smaller scale and explains how they work.

Contraction

A concern about using concrete is its tendency to crack. You will see such terms as settlement, cracking or contraction. Be able to talk with your contractor knowledgeably about what steps you need to take to avoid flaws in your finished concrete product.

I recommend: Prepare yourself by visiting the website for the Portland Cement Association, where you can find the terminology and the steps your contractor can take to address cracking problems.

Densifier

Concrete finishing contractors want their work to last a long time. One way is to add a hardener or densifier that will make the finished concrete surface more resistant to wear. You can add a densifier before the concrete sets, or you can use hardening products on older concrete installations.

I recommend: For a complete explanation of hardeners and densifiers, as well as the difference between the two, see Concrete Decor Magazine.

Fly ash

Fly ash is a byproduct of burning coal in power generation plants. Some manufacturers substitute fly ash for Portland cement in concrete mixing. Some advantages of using fly ash include the need for less water in the mix and the lighter weight of the finished product.

I recommend: ToolBase Services explains how fly ash works in concrete and explains its use and advantages.

Glass-fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC)

Adding glass fiber to the concrete mixture makes the product somewhat lighter and more resistant to chemicals than ordinary concrete. You can use GFRC in such things as counter tops and fireplace surrounds that need strength from thinner and lighter panels.

I recommend: ConcreteNetwork.com provides a brief explanation of GFRC and its uses.

Sealer

Sealers for finishing concrete or cement installations prevent moisture from entering the structure. You can apply sealers to cured concrete in finished structures like garage or basement floors, or you can apply them when you pour the concrete, offering the advantage of preventing the concrete from curing too fast and cracking as a result. Sealers are important where freezing and thawing may result in premature failure due to the expansion and contraction of the freeze-thaw cycle.

I recommend: All-Things-Concrete.com deals with the advantages of using sealers in fresh concrete to prevent moisture problems and to protect colors and finishes from stains and chemical spills.