Substrate Technology Inc. researches and develops products made for the ever changing industry that is concrete polishing. We manufacture machinery and
diamond tooling for the purpose of producing a high quality concrete polish with
the most efficient use of time and cost. The products we manufacture and sell
are available from regional dealers throughout the World. If you are in need of products or information as they pertain to concrete polishing, please do not
hesitate to call us; we’d be happy to talk with you.

Concrete polishing is without a doubt the most significant flooring alternative of
the last 30 years. It is a process by which the surface of the concrete is ground
and polished using a penetrating hardener to yield a surface that exhibits reflectivity and increased abrasion resistance. Say What? Basically it shines like crazy, is
permanent and all you have to do is wash it with water to maintain it.

	The Studio - Before	The Studio - After
Photos Courtesy of RESTORATION PLUS - Chugiak AK

The maintenance and aesthetic benefits of polished concrete make it an ideal replacement for conventional flooring options.  The floors that used to be covered in VCT, epoxy and decorative sealed concrete can now be replaced with a flooring finish that not only looks good, but is easier and less costly to maintain; this means the floor will serve the owners needs on the basis of functionality as well as cost less to do business on.  The durability and economical aspects aside, a polished concrete surface can be enhanced using decorative dyes, stains, stencils, scoring, etc. to make each floor a unique expression of the business that uses the floor.

Photo Courtesy of PCOW - Laramie WY

Photo Courtesy of ATM Inc.

Another benefit of polished concrete is its decorative versatility.  Polished concrete can be combined with integral colored concrete and/or decorative dyes to yield an appearance that compliments or establishes any color scheme.  This benefit allows polished concrete to be entertained by architects and designers for use in retail sales areas and anywhere else the aesthetics of the floor finish outweigh its maintenance requirements.

Another benefit of polished concrete is that it is LEED Certified Product (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) What is LEED^®? 

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’ performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.

The final benefit of concrete polishing is the fact that its installation does not create noxious odors or require a minimum cure time before it can be put back into service.  With the advent of dustless grinding systems and odorless, non-toxic chemicals, the polishing process can be completed with minimal interruption to business.  This means the process can be completed while adjacent business operations or construction build-out takes place. 

Overall, concrete polishing is a flooring finish option that more and more businesses are choosing for their most heavily trafficked surface because of its durability and appearance.  This trend coupled with the fact that contractor’s in the industry are relatively few, makes this an easy entry industry that still holds ground floor opportunities.