Top Reasons to Choose Concrete Floors

August 31, 2011 By

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IMS DFW excels at concrete polishing and restoration, as shown here.

Concrete has taken off as the flooring material of choice in the past decade. In the past, simple concrete slabs were quickly overlain with carpet, tile or wood in order to create a beautiful and easy to maintain floor. Now, many are ripping up those excess layers and exposing the concrete slab below. There are many advantages to getting back to basics by having a concrete floor installed in your home or commercial space.

  1. Strength and durability. Concrete is one of the most durable building materials, making its use widespread in both residential and commercial spaces. Made of pulverized limestone mixed with water, when cement dries it is as hard as a rock. Decorative concrete floors for interior use are sealed with a special epoxy resin, making the cement floors waterproof. This keeps them from absorbing liquids and becoming discolored or stained.
  2. Economical price. Concrete is popular not just for its strength and durability, but also for its affordable price tag. Compared to other types of flooring, such as wood and tile, cement is far less expensive and much more practical. Wood floors scratch, and tile floors chip, and both these choices are more expensive to buy and install than cement. Since cement floors do not have to be regularly maintained or replaced, they are especially economical in the long run.
  3. Flexible design concepts. Cement floors can look simple or elegant, depending on the way in which it is applied. Stain can be applied to concrete floors then sealed. Decorative overlays can be created in designs ranging from natural stone and tile to faux wood. Concrete floors can bring depth to a room when polished to a high shine.
  4. Easy to maintain. Since cement floors are less prone to chipping and scratching, they require less maintenance. They can be cleaned with a dry mop using a weak solution of water and mild soap. When cement floors begin to dull, IMS Texas, a professional cement restoration specialist, can be called into to use a special polisher on the floors.
  5. Eco-friendly choice. Cement floors have been gaining in popularity as an eco-friendly flooring choice for homes and offices. Cement has a light carbon foot print, since it does not necessitate toxic chemicals or processes to produce. It is also durable, so it does not have to be replaced as often. Finally, its cooling properties make it a good choice for homes in warmer climates as it naturally keeps the home cooler, keeping energy cots down.
  6. Serviceable by concrete floor specialists. A concrete floor restoration and maintenance specialist, such as IMS Texas, is trained in the art of keeping concrete floors looking their best. Concrete restoration specialists can restore concrete floors that have begun to dull, or have chipped or cracked due to structural settling. The use of special concrete floor polishers can bring out an incredible shine in concrete floors, making them look brand new.
IMS DFW has been polishing and restoring concrete floors, using the same advanced technology effective techniques employed by its natural stone division. The result is a stunning concrete floor. Call (214) 351-9390 today.
Filed Under: Concrete Polishing and Repair Tagged With: , , ,

Keeping Your Concrete Floors Looking Their Best

August 22, 2011 By

ims dallas concrete floor polishing

This IMS Dallas concrete floor polishing job restored the floor to a beautiful shine.

Have you had the experience lately of walking into a room and being impressed with the elegance and beauty of its concrete floors? Owners will tell you, they love concrete floors because they look good pretty much all of the time. It’s true, keeping your concrete floors looking their best doesn’t require a lot of work. These floors are known for their durability and low maintenance, which is part of the reason why they have become so popular today. Knowing what to do, and not to do to your concrete floors, makes maintaining them easier. It only takes a little bit of effort to keep concrete floors looking their absolute best.

  1. Dry and damp mop. Sweeping once a day should be followed by a dry round of dry mopping at least once a week. A dry mop uses static electricity to pick up lingering dust and hair that brooms miss. When damp mopping, only use a mild soap, preferably one recommended by the manufacturer.
  2. Only scrub concrete floors with a soft brush. If there is a tough, hard-to-remove stain on your concrete floors, you should scrub them only with a soft, non-metallic brush. Stiff bristle, metallic brushes or abrasive cleaners can damage the top layer of epoxy if it has it, causing the floor to have a dull finish as well as making it susceptible to water damage.
  3. Keep it clean. Whenever spills do occur, you should always clean them up immediately. The longer a substance stays on concrete, the longer it has to permeate though, causing possible damage such as staining. While the top layer will protect the floors to a certain degree, liquids that are acidic or darkly tinted may have lasting effects.
  4. Be gentle. While concrete floors are tough, you should still be as gentle with them as possible. Avoid dragging heavy furniture across your concrete floors, and be careful not to drop heavy objects. Clean them with a mild cleanser, and keep any abrasive or acidic substances away from them. Treating your concrete floors with care will keep your maintenance low.

Know a good concrete restoration and maintenance specialist. IMS Dallas has been restoring and polishing concrete floors back to a remarkable shine all around the Dallas and Fort Worth area. Having your concrete floors regularly polished by a will keep them looking shiny and new. IMS can also provide invaluable service in the case of flooding. It is important to address any issues that arise with your concrete floors as soon as possible to prevent the damage from becoming worse.

Contact IMS Dallas for your concrete polishing and restoration. Call (214) 351-9390.
Filed Under: Concrete Polishing and Repair Tagged With: , ,

Concrete Flooring Advantages

August 15, 2011 By

concrete polishing ims inc

The gloss and shine of this IMS polished concrete contrasts with the dull concrete surrounding the work area

Concrete has taken off as the flooring material of choice in the past decade. In the past, simple concrete slabs were quickly overlain with carpet, tile or wood in order to create a beautiful and easy to maintain floor. Now, many are ripping up those excess layers and exposing the concrete slab below. There are many advantages to getting back to basics by having a concrete floor installed in your home or commercial space.

  1. Strength and durability. Concrete is one of the most durable building materials, making its use widespread in both residential and commercial spaces. Made of pulverized limestone mixed with water, when cement dries it is as hard as a rock. Decorative concrete floors for interior use are sealed with a special epoxy resin, making the cement floors waterproof. This keeps them from absorbing liquids and becoming discolored or stained.
  2. Economical price. Concrete is popular not just for its strength and durability, but also for its affordable price tag. Compared to other types of flooring, such as wood and tile, cement is far less expensive and much more practical. Wood floors scratch, and tile floors chip, and both these choices are more expensive to buy and install than cement. Since cement floors do not have to be regularly maintained or replaced, they are especially economical in the long run.
  3. Flexible design concepts. Cement floors can look simple or elegant, depending on the way in which it is applied. Stain can be applied to concrete floors then sealed. Decorative overlays can be created in designs ranging from natural stone and tile to faux wood. Concrete floors can bring depth to a room when polished to a high shine.
  4. Easy to maintain. Since cement floors are less prone to chipping and scratching, they require less maintenance. They can be cleaned with a dry mop using a weak solution of water and mild soap. When cement floors begin to dull, IMS Texas, a professional cement restoration specialist, can be called into to use a special polisher on the floors.
  5. Eco-friendly choice. Cement floors have been gaining in popularity as an eco-friendly flooring choice for homes and offices. Cement has a light carbon foot print, since it does not necessitate toxic chemicals or processes to produce. It is also durable, so it does not have to be replaced as often. Finally, its cooling properties make it a good choice for homes in warmer climates as it naturally keeps the home cooler, keeping energy cots down.
  6. Serviceable by concrete floor specialists. A concrete floor restoration and maintenance specialist, such as IMS Texas, is trained in the art of keeping concrete floors looking their best. Concrete restoration specialists can restore concrete floors that have begun to dull, or have chipped or cracked due to structural settling. The use of special concrete floor polishers can bring out an incredible shine in concrete floors, making them look brand new.
Concrete and concrete polishing are specialties of IMS DFW. Call (214) 351-9390.
Filed Under: Concrete Polishing and Repair Tagged With: ,

Types of Damage to Concrete Floors

July 28, 2011 By

concrete floor cleaning ims dallas

Keeping your concrete floor looking its best is IMS Inc.'s specialty

While concrete floors are known for their strength and durability, they can become damaged, both from natural disasters as well as simple human error. When damage occurs to your concrete floors, a concrete restoration specialist can be called in to assess and correct the damage. By acting quickly, damage can be minimized and further damage can be avoided. Knowing what can damage concrete floors can help you to prevent it from occurring as well as how to handle damage if it does occur.

  1. Cracks from a settling foundation. As buildings age they begin to settle. This is due in part to fluctuations between hot and cold, that swell and shrink buildings each year, and simply from gravity itself. Over time this can lead to cracks in your cement floors. This kind of damage can range from mild to severe, depending on how strong the settling effects of the building are. The depth of the cracks will determine how it is best filled and fixed. A concrete restoration specialist will be able to make cracks disappear so your concrete floors are smooth once more.
  2. Chipping and scratching from impacts. While concrete floors are resilient, they can become scratched or chipped. Small chips and cracks can become larger due to weathering effects, especially if the concrete floor is outside. It is important to repair small chips and cracks as soon as they occur. Small cracks let water and other liquids soak into the concrete, which can cause discoloration as well as further weathering, leading to larger cracks over time.
  3. Wearing off of epoxy layer over time. Interior concrete floors have a top layer of epoxy added to make them shiny as well as waterproof. This epoxy layer can become scratched more easily than the concrete can. Once scratched, it can allow water and other liquids to seep in and stain the concrete below. If you notice places where the epoxy has become scratched in your own concrete floors, having a concrete restoration specialist fix the problem will prevent further, and more expensive, damage from occurring.
  4. Damage from acidic cleaning products. Concrete breaks down when it comes into contact with acid based cleaning products. These are products such as mold removers and tile cleaners. Acid based products can break down or remove the outer epoxy layer of the concrete floor and break down the concrete below it. If this happens, IMS Inc. can use its natural stone floor restoration techniques to safely and naturally restore your concrete floor’s surface.
  5. Water damage. While concrete can withstand the pressures of water, over time water can begin to break down concrete floors as well as discolor and stain them. Outdoor concrete floors that are exposed to the elements are more prone to water damage but interior floors can also be damaged by water. This is typically minimized by the waterproof epoxy layer that interior floors are coated with, but if this layer becomes damaged, water will be able to seep in. Flooding, from both natural and man made sources, can cause severe damage to concrete floors and when this occurs, it is important to call a concrete restoration specialist.
IMS Dallas uses the same advanced technology and natural methods to restore and polish concrete floors as it does on its renowned natural stone floor projects. Call (214) 351-9390 for more information.
Filed Under: Concrete Polishing and Repair