[ljl211]

Hi, we are considering building next year and thinking about polished concrete for the kitchen/meals/living area. Just wondering if its cold? Slippery? Easy to keep clean? Expensive? The house we rent now has black high gloss tiles and they are a nightmare!

[katpaws]

We have had polished concrete put in to our open plan (reno).

No, it is not cold. It can feel cool but we have not had winter with it yet, although we have underfloor heating so we should never really experience a cold floor.

It was not cheap but should last for quite a while. Often people think it there are tiles there.

We avoid spilling water on the floor as it can be slippery but have not had any problems with "slippage" as yet.

Colours like red and orange that get spilt on the floor can seem to cause stains but generally everything comes off. It is easy to clean.

Our floor is white concrete with neutral coloured stones in the mix. It looks a treat. If you look at my "look at my openplan" thread you should be able to see the floor in the pics.

[teamhork]

Love polished concrete flooring, but has to be the 'right' kind of building IMO - warehouse, loft, industrial kind of feel...
It is expensive, so not a cheaper option at all.

that's my two cents anyway

[adl]

My GF has this on her first floor which is mainly open plan, hers was stained as well
It didnt feel cold, and she said it was supposed to have the hot pipes through it but it never happened and its been fine in Sydney winters....it looked fantastic and with 3 kids she said it was a godsend and easier than floorboards...

[Skip to my Lou]

Interesting read.
We are building now, and our slab got laid last week. We are going polished concrete in a lot of rooms, using it as thermal mass to help keep our energy bills down and stabilise the house temperature. We have gone a colour and a nice stone mix. It is expensive, but using it as thermal mass as we are should help pay for itself.
I have a blog, and update it regularly. The slab will be getting polished in the next week or so, as soon as it has I will be posting pics, feel free to check it out.
Good luck making your decision.

[littlesticky]

Slipped on my grandparents polished concrete flooring when I was a kid. It hurts.

[Vickery]

We lived in a house for a few years with polished concrete floors. I would never do it again. It caused me and DH terrible foot, leg and back pain because of the lack of shock absorbency. We could never walk bare foot around the house.

[Tealdash]

I know this is an old thread, but how do you guys that have it, clean it? Just enjo mops?

[katpaws]

I use Sugar Soap or a low Ph (i think that is the right term) product to clean. Just use a mop and broom. Stains i use BiCarb soda.

pic

[Tealdash]

Ahh, okay thanks Katpaws... I have a few scuffs (I think from dragging boxes around) so the sugar soap should help get those off!