Updated 26/02/2024
Floor Preparation: Our Epoxy Renovation Journey
In the world of commercial renovations, some projects stand out more than others due to their complexity and the satisfaction derived from overcoming significant challenges. One such project was the renovation of a 240m² commercial unit, which involved the removal of a 20-year-old delaminating epoxy floor. This task was not for the faint-hearted, given the unexpected hurdles we encountered along the way.
The Challenge
The primary challenge lay in the condition of the existing floor. Over two decades, the epoxy coating had not only delaminated but also concealed numerous old bolts within the concrete. These bolts were remnants of past installations, hidden just below the surface and invisible to the naked eye, making them difficult to locate and address.
Our Approach
Our first step was to remove the old epoxy coating to reveal the bare concrete underneath. This was crucial not only for aesthetic reasons but also to ensure the new coating would adhere properly and last. We employed a scarifier, a robust tool designed for such tough jobs, to chip away the old, stubborn layers of epoxy.
Once the floor was stripped back to its concrete base, we faced another challenge: smoothing and profiling the surface to create an ideal base for the new paint. This required precision and attention to detail, as any imperfections could affect the final outcome. We used a high-powered grinder for this task, meticulously working over the entire area to ensure a smooth, even surface.
Ready for a New Beginning
After days of hard work, the floor was finally ready for its new coat of paint. The transformation from a worn-out, delaminated surface to a clean, smooth base was remarkable. It was a testament to the skill and dedication of our team, who worked tirelessly to ensure the job was done right.
Reflections on the Project
This project was more than just a flooring renovation; it was a learning experience and a demonstration of what can be achieved with teamwork, determination, and the right tools. We faced unexpected challenges, adapted our plans, and ultimately succeeded in transforming an old, tired floor into a pristine surface ready for a new lease on life.
As we look forward to applying the first stroke of paint on Monday, we can’t help but feel a sense of pride in our work. This project has reaffirmed our commitment to excellence and our ability to tackle even the most daunting tasks.
We’re excited to see the final result and to move on to the next challenge, armed with the knowledge and experience gained from this project.
Concrete Polishing for Commercial Venues
Maximize your business’s potential with our state-of-the-art trowel polishing service for concrete floors. Our expert technique not only enhances the durability and longevity of your floors, ensuring long-term savings, but also offers a quick turnaround, minimizing downtime and keeping your operations running smoothly.
Forget about constant upkeep; our polished concrete floors are low maintenance, reducing ongoing costs and hassle for your business. Plus, our eco-friendly approach contributes to LEED points, lowering your environmental impact and promoting sustainability.
But it’s not just about function; our service delivers on style too. With a range of finishes from matte to high-gloss, we tailor the look to match your design preferences, all without the need for costly coatings. This not only saves on materials and labor but also preserves the natural non-slip properties of concrete, making your space safer for everyone.
Investing in polished concrete can also elevate your property’s value, making it a smart choice for the future. When compared to traditional flooring options like tile or carpet, the upfront and long-term costs of trowel polished concrete are impressively competitive.
And customization? That’s our specialty. Choose your desired sheen level, add decorative aggregates or dyes, and personalize your space without breaking the bank. Transform your commercial or industrial environment with our comprehensive concrete polishing service – where efficiency meets elegance.
Transform Your Space with Concrete & Stone Solutions
At Concrete & Stone Solutions, we make concrete floors beautiful and lasting.
We’re really good at smoothing out concrete surfaces, making it both visually stunning and durable.
Imagine surfaces that match your style—whether it’s a sophisticated matte or a modern glossy finish, we’ve got you covered with eco-friendly methods.
But here’s the big deal: we also make your concrete dust-proof. No more constant cleaning; it stays great-looking and hassle-free.
See the changes in our showcase and count on our ongoing support for a space that shows off our skills.
Ready for a concrete upgrade? Get in touch with [Your Business Name]—where we bring expertise and style together.
Stain Removal from Split Slate Wall
One of our most recent jobs at Concrete and Stone Solutions involved a split slate wall, a water leak and one impressively large stain – quite the combination and the ultimate challenge for our natural stone experts!
The customer came to us after a water leak within their home had caused a large stain to spread over the feature split slate wall that surrounded their swimming pool. The house had previously been empty for a while, meaning the leak had gone unnoticed and had been causing damage to the split stone wall for a significant amount of time. Not only did the stain look unsightly, but it could have caused irreversible damage to the wall if left untreated.
Luckily, we were on hand to use our knowledge and expertise to remove the stain and restore this gorgeous wall to its former glory.
The Restoration Process
Every natural stone restoration process begins with understanding the properties of the stone itself in order to determine the best and safest methods to use.
Slate itself is a durable material often used in bathrooms and kitchens because of its water-resistant qualities. Split slate, however, is slightly more porous, meaning that water dries into the surface, leaving a stain behind. As this wall was light in colour, the stain was even more obvious.
With this in mind, we tested a number of products on a small area of the stain to observe which would have the best end result. We decided on a fantastic Italian product that works by extracting the moisture trapped in the stone.
This was no quick fix though. It took several applications of the product and a total of two days to finally see a result. As you can see from the before and after pictures, however, it was definitely worthwhile!
Our customer couldn’t believe the difference our service had made – their slate wall looked as good as new (or even a little better, even if we do say so ourselves!)
Concrete and Stone Solutions Natural Stone Restoration
Here at Concrete and Stone Solutions, we’re experts in all things natural stone. Big jobs to small, stain removal to deep cleaning, re-grouting to sealing, we do it all – and we do it well!
Our skills, extensive experience and superior knowledge allow us to restore your natural stone flooring, walls or surfaces with outstanding results. Visit our Natural Stone Restoration page for more information, and please do not hesitate to get in touch for all your restoration needs – we’d love to help!
Restoring a Limestone Floor
Concrete and Stone Solutions recently had the privilege of restoring a stunning limestone floor. It took us a week (and lots of hard work!) to complete, but we’re thrilled with the final result.
Restoring natural stone of any kind has its challenges, but the outstanding results make it one of our most satisfying jobs. This floor, in particular, needed to be re-grouted.
Before the re-grouting could commence, however, we had to remove the old grout. To do this, we used a mini saw to carefully cut it away – a task that requires extreme levels of precision and focus to avoid cutting into the limestone itself. One wrong move and we could have caused irreparable damage…
Luckily, we’ve done this kind of thing once or twice before! After a couple of days, the old grout was successfully removed, and we could begin the next part of the process: limestone cleaning. This is to ensure that any old, incorrect seals are removed, as is any dirt.
Once the surface was clean, we began the grouting process. For this floor, we used the Kerakoll Fugabella Color Grout decorative resin cement grout (available in 50 colours!). This grout is naturally anti-bacterial and is free from harmful pesticides, making it environmentally friendly and recyclable.
To enable the grout to dry thoroughly, we left it overnight and returned the next day to start on the final stages of the limestone restoration process.
To ensure the floor was completely smooth, ready for a sealant and stone tension was reduced (this makes maintenance far more manageable!), we used our trusty diamond pad and water. This is always our go-to process for limestone grinding and limestone cleaning, as it really does give the best results.
Once the floor was prepared, it was time for the finishing touch – sealing the floor with an impregnating seal. Impregnating sealer works to protect your floor and retain its natural look, unlike topical sealers that can give an artificial sheen. A naturally polished look should always be achieved mechanically rather than with a chemical sealant.
And that’s it! Our customer was thrilled with their freshly restored limestone floor and even went so far as to say that it looked better than when it was laid ten years ago – another Concrete and Stone Solutions success story!
If you have a limestone floor that you’d like restoring, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Stone and Concrete Solutions – Restoring a 15th Century Floor
Stone and Concrete Solutions has restored many floors of all different types and ages, but it’s not often we get called in to restore a 15th-century flagstone floor! The opportunity and promise of a challenge excited us, as we couldn’t wait to get stuck in.
The Inspection
Upon our initial inspection, we noticed that while some of the floor was original, other parts had been replaced. We also found that it did not have a damp-proof membrane – material applied to prevent moisture transmission, usually in the form a polythene sheet laid under stone slabs to prevent them gaining moisture. The floor had been laid on soil, and while the lack of a damp-proof membrane wasn’t surprising (they didn’t exist when the floor was laid!), it did mean that the stone was in need of restoration.
We also found that a varnish had been applied to the floor. This meant that the stone hasn’t been allowed to breathe and that moisture had become trapped. The moisture had begun to show, which in turn had caused the top layer of stone to breakdown.
We knew that the damage would be difficult to reverse, but with years of experience and knowledge behind us, we believed it was possible.
The Restoration
First, we stripped the topical seal and cleaned the stone, allowing us to see the extent of what we were working with. It was a lengthy, manual process involving the use of a chisel and hammer to look for loose bits that could be removed easily without further damaging the stone. We also used our highly-trained ears to tap and listen for hollow areas, allowing us to identify sections with the most issues. We might have looked slightly odd doing it, but it certainly does the trick!
Once this first step was complete, we removed powder-like residue that comes from doing this. Next we had to bevel the edges and then polish the exposed new layer of stone with special hand diamond block. We had to do this as, for a long time, the flooring had been maintained incorrectly (due to our ever-evolving knowledge of flooring and changes in technology). We then removed the damaged sections and cleaned the floor again using special diamond impregnated brush.
Finally, we set about cleaning it up using diamond impregnated brush, restoring it to its former glory while ensuring the floor’s overall appearance stayed true to its 15th-century roots. Customers decided to leave the floor unsealed.
The Finished Product
Our customers were delighted with the final outcome of this unique floor. We knew the floor was important to them, and they were thrilled that we managed to restore it without impacting its original appearance. It’s undoubtedly a floor to be proud of!