Nova Scotia Beach House Transformed With Black Concrete Floors

It’s not everyday we get to work on a home with such beautiful views. Situated on the coast just outside of Yarmouth , NS this home was originally constructed in 2004. When the owners had it built they were in search of a polished concrete floor. However at that time they were unable to find someone in the Maritimes that was able to carry out such work. They instead opted to seal the concrete with a view to eventually having it polished.

We were delighted to be able to provide this finish for them. This floor is done in a Class A or ‘‘Cream” aggregate exposure. Black Dye was applied during the process and the floor was finished to a 1500 Grit polish.

Concrete Floors What Do They Cost?

This is perhaps the question I get asked the most. It is of course one of the most important questions that can be asked when making a new purchase. So let me walk you through the basics of what you can expect for per square foot price when it comes to concrete floors. I’ll explain a few things that will keep the cost down and a few that might make it go up.

A Polished Concrete Floor

Polished Concrete - $4-7 / Sq.ft

Most polished floors are going in the 5-6 dollar range. Beside the more obvious factors when comes to price like the shine level of the finish or how much aggregate is exposed, here are a few things that can raise or lower the price:

• Damaged concrete can raise the price as appropriate repairs must be made.

• Partitions. This is one that can go either way. more partitions means more labor, however fewer can mean a faster process resulting in a lowered per foot cost.

• Location. If you are outside of the major cities in the maritimes this could ad to the cost as it results in additional travel time and cost

• Volume. The more area we have to polish the better the price. The reason being that for example an 800 square foot floor can take s long to polish as a much larger floor because of the lack of room for equipment.

Grind and Seal Floor

Grind and Seal - $2-4 / Sq.ft

A lower cost alternative to polished concrete a grind and seal can give a sleek and modern concrete look at a fraction of the cost. The reason for this being that the labor is much less to produce a grind and sealed floor. As for factors that effect the price the same variables apply as with a polished concrete floor.

A Flake Epoxy Floor

Epoxy Floors - $4-9 / Sq.ft

Quickly becoming a popular choice for homeowners and business owners alike there are many different types of epoxy floors ranging from solid colour to flake to metallic epoxies. Here are some factors that effect the price:

• Type of epoxy. “You get what you pay for.” We have all heard it many times but this is somewhere it really applies. For example if you have an area that is exposed to sunlight you will need a UV stable top coat, otherwise the coating can yellow over time.

• Damage to concrete. As with the previously mentioned finishes if there is damage it must be repaired.

• Custom flakes. If you desire a mix of vinyl flakes that is a custom order this will increase the price.

• Custom metallic colours and patterns.

• Volume

If you would like an exact price on what it would cost to do your floor follow the link above to get a quote.

(Video) Residential Concrete Floor In Bouctouche , New Brunswick

Have a look at this video tour of a polished concrete floor we recently completed just outside Moncton.

This concrete floor was ground to medium aggregate exposure then polish to 800 grit. For more information please go to www.deltacrete.com

Polished Concrete - Design Options

A lot of people when they think of polished concrete they picture a grey slab that is shiny. But is that all that polished concrete can be? Absolutely not! There are many different design options to customize polished concrete. Let us have a look at them.

First off let's look at aggregate exposure. If you aren't familiar with what aggregate is, it is rock that is generally used in concrete as a filler. It can provide a beautiful decorative accent to polished floors. There are three main types of exposure "Class A'' or "Cream Finish" This means that little to no aggregate is showing. "Class B" or "Salt & Pepper" this means that there is medium sized pieces of aggregate exposed giving a nice granite like look. "Class C" or "Full Aggregate Exposure" this means that the floor has been ground down to the point where large pieces of aggregate are exposed in an even manner. 

Source: American Society Of Concrete Contractors (ASCC)

Dye/Colouring. Another way to customize is by dying the concrete the colour of your choice. This can include dying the floor one single colour, or dying it in a pattern or even adding a logo in colour. 

Chart Of Amerpolish Dye. Other colours available upon request.

Architectural Joint Cuts. Joint cuts can be added as a decorative options. For Example they can be cut to separate different dye colours or to add a tile like look.  

Example of an Architectural Joint Cut. At Outdoors store in Dieppe , New Brunswick.

So whether you are located in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or PEI give us a call at 506-962-2522 to get a quote on a customized polished concrete slab. Or you can click "Get A Quote" at the top right hand corner of your screen. 

Author : Wes Hoover

Sources: ASCC, Ameripolish

Polished Concrete - Is it Slippery?

Here is a question we get asked a lot. After all it’s shiny and smooth, it should be slippery right? But what do the facts say? What are the minimum standards, does it meet them?

First let us consider the standards. Flooring slip resistance is measured by Coefficient of Friction. We will be looking at the DCOF or Dynamic Coefficient of Friction, this is the measurement of friction when one is already in motion. This is generally the standard looked at by architects and designers when specifying floors. The standard for this measurement is 0.42 for commercial areas.

So how does Polished Concrete score? An independent study done by the Tile Council Of North America shows that not only does it meet the threshold it well exceeds it. This study averaged numbers between 0.49 and 0.58. With some numbers reaching as high as 0.61. Another study commissioned by the Concrete Polishing Association Of American done at Clemson University showed similar results across all different aggregate exposure and gloss levels.  In fact most all DCOF test done on polished concrete exceed 0.50, this is well above what is considered to be a high traction floor,

So in conclusion not only is polished concrete a more cost effective flooring it also counts towards preventing slip and falls.

If you are interested in installing Polished Concrete anywhere in the Maritimes give us a call today for a free quote. 506-962-2522

Author: Wes Hoover Sources: Tile Council Of North America Inc., CPAA/ASCC

Is Polished Concrete Suitable For My Home?

More and more in the maritimes we are seeing a demand for decorative concrete floors in residential applications. Although this flooring has traditionally been more popular in a commercial or industrial setting it is an excellent choice for a residential application. Here are some reasons why:

Durability:

One of the reasons that Polished concrete has become a popular choice for places like factories, warehouses and big box stores is the durability. After all it is concrete! In a residential setting this durability is increased ten fold as it takes a lot less of  a beating. Making it a great way to go if you have kids or large dogs or anything else that could damage hardwood, tile or carpet.

Low Maintenance:

Polished concrete is also a favorable choice because of the low maintenance. Most of the time it only requires to be swept or it can be mopped with just plain water or a light PH neutral cleaner.

Friendly To The Environment:

Compared to any other flooring choice polished concrete is environmentally friendly for several reasons. To begin with on installation you eliminate the need for flooring to be produced; no trees need to be cut down, no stone needs to be provided by a quarry, no need for textiles and all of the harmful chemicals along the way. The process consists of refining the concrete to a point where it has a shine and as little as one chemical is needed, being a lithium silicate densifier to strengthen the floor.  Optional is a  sealer to protect the floor  from staining. It also is better to the environment because it outlasts traditional flooring.

Modern Look:

Polished concrete lends itself to a modern minimalistic look. There are many options to colour the concrete, cut tile patterns in it and different aggregate if starting from scratch.

Costs:

In many cases polished concrete be less costly than other flooring saving you on your build or renovation. It also carries a much much lower maintenance cost in the long term.

Give us a call today for more information. We are based in Moncton, New Brunswick but we service Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Quotes are provided at no cost to you.

Concrete Repair - DeltaCrete

Let's face it although concrete is one of the most durable building materials it is not immune to damage. What do you do when it is damaged? What if something goes wrong while it is being installed? 

We have the answers. There are many examples of concrete damage. Let us first talk about the most common in our region, salt damage. Although it may look like the end of the world, it is not. It can be fixed either by patching or by grinding down past the damage as pictured on the right. This floor went from being on it's last legs to a beautiful polished concrete floor. 

Pictured below is a floor that went wrong while being poured. Conventional thinking would say it would have to be replaced but that would be wrong. We successfully ground it smooth and the contractor was able to lay their flooring as planed.

Give us a call today so we can get your concrete fixed and good as new! 506-851-9001

Durable - Sustainable - Cost Effective

Polished concrete floor are trending throughout the world in the commercial sector. This is for good reason. No matter the type of business there is a concrete solution for you. 

Why is it better?

• Save on daily maintenance. 
• No more stripping and waxing.
• Environmentally friendly.
• Opens the door for in house cleaning.
• Huge cost saving long term.
•  Aesthetically Pleasing.
• More durable than traditional VCT flooring
• more options for customization.
• Any area with an existing concrete slab can be polished.
• Protects your slab from Stains.
• Slip and fall resistant, polished concrete is one of the safest solutions for you and your customers. 

Why DeltaCrete?

• Local Company

• Exclusive Providers of the superior Husqvarna HIPERFLOOR® System in Atlantic Canada.

• We offer 3 levels of finish to fits your needs depending on what type of business you operate.

• We can retrofit any type of floor that has a concrete slab under it. 

• Free quotes

• Unlike other companies we have our own cleaning division that can provide proper maintenance for your new polished concrete and take care of all your other janitorial needs.

 

So what are you waiting for? Contact us today for a free no obligation quote and let us wow you and every customer that walks through the doors of your business!