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September 26, 2016 By Ed

Concrete Polishing, Decorative Coatings and Maintenance

In commercial settings, it is common to think of the flooring material we use as something that does not make that much of a difference. The decision often comes down to what is easiest and what is cheapest. That approach may work some of the time, but it often can create a myriad of problems along the way. It is better to think about the type of flooring you want to use in order to find the best product that is both affordable and easy to use, plus one that looks good, provides a variety of safety features, and is something that is flexible enough to work in just about any commercial setting. When a business takes this approach, they would be wise to consider if a concrete floor is the best solution.

Concrete PolishingConcrete floors used to be reserved for storage areas and industrial settings, where the flooring material did not make that much of a difference. Leaving rough concrete could work in a few settings and many people now assume that is what they will get when they turn to concrete flooring. A little investigation into the product will soon let them know that concrete flooring is no longer a product with only a few applications. It can actually be used in place of other types of flooring such as tiles, wood, and carpeting. Because of its durability and low cost of installation, it may be the perfect flooring choice for many different businesses.

Start with Polished Concrete Floors

While most people may think of concrete as a rough surface that while strong, is not very appealing to walk on, polished concrete is actually a much different product. The polished concrete has a much smoother finish and is actually something that is enjoyable to walk and work on.

Concrete polishing is a process that slowly grinds away at the rough surface of the concrete. By using progressively finer grinding pads, the final result is a floor that is as smooth as any tile that is laid on the floor. The polishing can cover any blemishes in the concrete, and produces a product that is visually appealing to all that see it.

Polished concrete floors offer many advantages that not everyone is aware of. The different products that are used can create a high quality product.

  • Grinding and sealing – The process of grinding the concrete and sealing the concrete helps to protect it. Concrete is a porous substance, but when a sealant has been applied, that problem is resolved. The grinding can also be combined with other materials to correct any cracks or problems within the concrete.
  • Moisture Mitigation – Moisture is one of the concerns that people have with concrete. They are familiar with the feeling of wet concrete floors and walls, but they may not realize that the product can be treated in such a way that moisture is not able to get into the floor.
  • Self-leveling – In a large commercial setting, it is very possible that the concrete floor is not completely level. It can have hills and valleys, but if a layer of self-leveling concrete is added, this problem will go away and the result is a finished product that is level.

All of these things can be accomplished during the concrete polishing process.

Turn to Decorative Concrete

The biggest problem that is brought up about polished concrete floor is the fact that they are made out of concrete. To most, concrete is a gray, bland material that does not add any beauty to the location where it is used. Most people try to find ways to cover up concrete because of its appearance. That is not a good reason to discount the use of concrete flooring. There are plenty of decorative concrete flooring options that can be found.

  • Concrete Overlays – This is a great way to cover a floor that has been damaged or discolored over time. Concrete overlays are a product that is put over the top of an existing concrete floor. An overlay is the perfect way to cover up any imperfections in the concrete. Overlays are not only able to cover up the damage, but they can improve the look. Overlays can come in a variety of different colors that completely change the way the concrete flooring looks. It is also possible to create patterns in the concrete with overlays.
  • Concrete Coloring – If the color of concrete is the reason a business does not want to look at this type of flooring material, it may be because they do not realize the possibilities that come with coloring concrete. There are two ways that color can be added to concrete. The first method is known as a non-reactive stain. With this process, the stain is applied to the concrete and bonds to the concrete in a mechanical way. It sticks to the concrete by going into the pores and surface of the concrete. This type of stain is available in a wide range of colors, but may not last as long as a business wants. The second method is a reactive process. When this type of stain is applied, it uses a chemical reaction to bond it to the concrete. That allows this to become more permanent and less prone to damage over time. The range of colors for this process is limited.

While being able to create a different color for the concrete is a great way to improve its appearance, it is not the only part of decorative concrete flooring to consider. It is actually possible to create a variety of patterns in the concrete. The patters can create a look of a wood floor, tiles, and stones or just about anything else. With the right combination of colors and materials, it is possible to replicate a wide variety of other flooring materials in the concrete. The result is a high quality, durable, and great looking floor for a fraction of the cost.

Maintenance of Polished Concrete

Concrete floors are very durable and can last a long time while maintaining their appearance. Like any other type of flooring, the better the concrete flooring is maintained, the longer it will last, and the better it will look.

Maintenance starts by sealing the Concrete Polishing. Concrete sealers are applied directly to the flooring when all other work is finished. Some of the products that are used include concrete densifiers, waterproofers, stain guards, waxes, and sealers. A professional can help a business determine what they will need to protect their flooring.

The maintenance of the polished concrete floor requires some specific equipment. Buffers and different materials need to be applied on a regular basis to make sure the floor is always protected. The frequency of reapplying the waxes and sealers will depend on how the floor is being used, how much traffic the floor receives, and the environment that the floor is in. It is difficult to determine exactly how often basic maintenance should be performed. It could be a weekly basis or it could be something that has to be done every few years. It also depends on the quality of the materials that are used to protect the concrete flooring. The better they are, the less maintenance will be required. Just like the polishing process, buffing the concrete floor requires using progressively finer grits of grinding pads until the finish that is desired is reached.

Where Can Polished Concrete Floors Be Used

The more a person learns about polished concrete flooring, the more appealing it will become. That may lead people to wonder where the best applications for the concrete floors may be. The answer is simple. Concrete floors can be used anywhere a business needs a floor. From industrial settings, to office buildings, to creating a floor that is almost like artwork, concrete flooring has a place. It is a type of flooring that can not only be less expensive to install, but it can be less expensive to maintain.

Polished concrete flooring can be a material that fits all of the needs of a business. It is a flooring product that is easy to install, has the ability to be aesthetically pleasing, and can fit the budget most businesses have for flooring.

The key to getting a Concrete Polishing that will work for a business is to turn to a professional that has the experience, equipment, and knowledge of how the product works. They need to be able to handle the different sized projects that come with commercial settings, and they need to be able to create a finished product that everyone is happy with.

Filed Under: concrete floors

September 1, 2016 By Smith and Company Flooring

The Benefits of Acid Stained Floor for Decorative Flooring

There are many types of flooring you can use for your home or in commercial buildings like hotels. The type of flooring you choose will depend on personal preferences and taste as well as cost. Acid stained floors have become very popular due to its many advantages.

Acid Stain Floors: Advantages of Using in Home or Business

Acid Stain ConcreteThey are extremely durable

Acid stain floors last a very long time. They do not warp, rot, swell or get mold and mildew like wooden floors, and they also do not wear out. They are inflammable and resistant to ultraviolet light. This basically means no one can damage this type floor. The most exciting point of this floor is that you never have to replace or remove it and it hardly requires any refinishing.

They are cost effective and require low maintenance.

Acid stain flooring isn’t as costly to install as alternatives, especially when you already have a concrete slab. To maintain stained concrete floors, you only need to sweep, vacuum or mop with a duster. Cleaning, re-polishing or buffing is done periodically depending on the amount of foot traffic. This is completed to maintain the initial appearance of the floor indefinitely.

They are decorative, elegant and beautiful.

This flooring has an elegance and beauty that surpasses all flooring types. Concrete has a high receptivity to acid stains and dyes, and also can produce almost exact replicas of the most expensive building materials on earth. For example, marble, granite, flagstone and many others. Its installation is also less labor intensive. An acid stain floor can bring out a unique style and texture to a home making it to stand out. Decorative floor coatings can be made to compliment or contrast with the room decor to bring out an aura of designer style.

Stained concrete is the best solution for many property owners in the construction of homes and commercial buildings.

Filed Under: concrete floors Tagged With: Acid Stain Concrete, Concrete Countertops, concrete flooring, Concrete Stamping, Epoxy, Polished Concrete, Portland Garage Floor

August 12, 2016 By Smith and Company Flooring

Why Many People Choose Epoxy Garage Floor Coatings

Portland Garage FloorWhen it comes to your garage you want to make every installation last as long as possible. Whether you are talking garage door or garage floor, you don’t want to be spending money every few years on new installations.

One of the best choices that you can make is to install epoxy garage floor coatings. Epoxy floors are some of the toughest in the market. Once you have one installed, you can be sure that it will last for many years to come.

Epoxy garage floor coatings also have the ability to transform your garage flooring from dull concrete to a finish that brightens the space up with color and style.

You may be wondering why you want a better looking garage. For one, the garage is not just a space where people park their cars any more. With real estate becoming more and more expensive, more property owners are using their garages as a multi-functional room.

Many homeowners have transformed their garages into home offices. If you choose to go this way, you will definitely need to brighten it up first and one way to do this is with garage epoxy floors.

The other great thing about having your garage floor coated in epoxies is the fact that it is a hardy and durable floor. You know how sometimes a wrench drops and the flooring cracks from the impact? With epoxy floor coatings, you don’t have to worry because it is a highly durable floor finish. It doesn’t chip, corrode or abrade.

It is also perfect to cover up minor flaws in the floor such as small cracks. In fact, it prevents small fissures from turning into bigger cracks. You will also be happy to know that having an epoxy floor in your garage means that there is less dust.

As you can see, there is no reason why you should spend money on alternative garage flooring options when epoxy garage floor coatings have so much more to offer. As for cost, these floors are affordable, and since they last a long time, they are worth every penny.

Filed Under: Garage Flooring Tagged With: best concrete acid stain, Concrete Floor, concrete floor resurfacing, concrete flooring, Portland Garage Floor

June 23, 2016 By Ed

Food and Beverage Industry Cleaning Portland Oregon

If you own or manage a restaurant, cafeteria, bakery or food processing business in Oregon, you need to watch this video.

Portable soda blasting is an amazing way to clean your commercial kitchen. Get rid of grease, food, oils, butter that gets everywhere over time.

Soda blasting can be used for a deep clean of your walls and floors too.

Epoxy Flooring for Commercial Kitchens

We specialize in commercial painting and epoxy coatings in the food and beverage industry. The best floor system is an epoxy system that will withstand the heat from ovens and cold from refrigeration. Plus it will withstand the extreme heat and pressure from hot water cleaning.

If you’re just getting ready to design and build a new commercial kitchen, consider installing our cove base system around all perimeter walls. We can apply epoxy right up to the top edge of cove molding. This creates flooring that is totally seamless. This avoids any chance of water, grease or bacteria to build up where walls meet floors.

Commercial Kitchen In Use

Local Areas We Serve in Portland Oregon

Portland, Beaverton, Lake Oswego, Marylhurst, Gladstone, Tualatin, Clackamas, West Linn

97201 97202 97204 97205 97206 97207 97208 97209 97210 97211 97212 97213
97214 97215 97218 97219 97221 97222 97223 97225 97227 97228 97232 97238
97239 97240 97242 97251 97253 97254 97255 97256 97258 97259 97268 97269
97271 97272 97280 97281 97282 97283 97286 97290 97291 97292 97293 97294
97296 97298 97299

Filed Under: Case Study

May 23, 2016 By Ed

Paint & Rust Removal with Mobile Sandblaster Oregon

Portland Garage Floor

Mobile sandblaster services or media blasting involves a specialized process to quickly take care of:

  1. removing sealers from concrete,
  2. old paint from brick and wood and
  3. rust from metal and steel.

Developed in 1980 to restore the Statue of Liberty, this dustless blasting technique created a safe and environmentally friendly solution to restore the exterior copper of the statue without causing damage or contaminating the Hudson River during the process.

How Mobile Sandblaster Removes Rust, Paint and Coatings

The media blaster process includes a portable high pressure system with hose and nozzle that utilizes various abrasives. Abrasives include baking soda, dry ice and glass beads. We also have the IBIX unique environmentally-safe almandite garnet grain available for specialty removal solutions that simple abrasives cannot solve.

The high pressure system removes rust, paint and sealers without damage to the surface underneath.

Mobile Media Blasting Surface Restoration

  • Concrete and Masonry – Ideal for removing old sealers and paint from stamped concrete and pavers, brick and cement floors.
  • Marine Restoration – Restores metal and steel surfaces on ships and boats of all kinds by removing rust and chipping paint. After, our team can also paint surfaces with anti corrosion coatings.
  • Fire Damaged Wood – Our technique also restores wood damaged by fire. Media blaster services removes the charred surfaces exposing the wood below.
  • Mold Remediation – We can quickly and effectively remove mold from wood, concrete and metal surfaces.
  • Removing Paint from Brick – The high pressure from blasting removes paint and sealers from brick. We then recommend sealing the surface for long term protection.
  • Removing Rust From Metal and Steel – There are unlimited options for restoring metal and steel. Water and fuel tanks, interiors and exteriors of ships, industrial pipes and valves, fencing, machinery and restoring antiques are a few options.

Local Mobile Blasting Services in Oregon  

We provide a full range of restoration, recoating and painting services from Portland to Salem Oregon.

Our painting professionals restore ll types of surfaces including building facades, water tanks, boats and pipes. We also strip, recoat and paint floors and walls using paint, epoxy, urethanes, polyaspartics, water and solvent-based sealers depending on your requirement.

Filed Under: Painting Tagged With: best concrete acid stain, Concrete Floor, concrete floor resurfacing, concrete flooring, Portland Garage Floor

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Our expert team provides floor polishing and specialty coating solutions for residential, industrial and commercial projects throughout Middle Portland, Lake Oswego, Beaverton, West Linn, Tualatin, Wilsonville, McMinnville, Tigard, Newberg, Dundee, Four Corners, Salem, Keizer, Sherwood and Yamhill.

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Smith and Company Flooring
570 SE Davis St
McMinnville, Oregon 97128

Tel: (971) 803-3430

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