The Pro's and Con's.

As with all flooring materials Polished Concrete has a variety of benefits that have made it an extremely popular flooring choice for the Residential, Commercial & Industrial Industries.

There are also some drawbacks to using it in certain areas, but many of them are easy to overcome, and in the end, the positives of polished concrete flooring far outweigh the negatives. It is important to understand the demands of the environment where the flooring will be located as well as the pros and the cons before making a final flooring decision.

Pros

• High Durability.
  Polished concrete flooring is extremely strong and resilient and is able to withstand the pressure from very heavy foot traffic and equipment. It is very difficult to damage and is nearly impossible to chip or scratch.

• Life-Span.
  A properly installed, sealed and maintained polished concrete floor can be expected to last up to 20+ Years or more in even the harshest Residential, Commercial or Industrial environments. Its life-span will also far exceed that of other floor coverings, such as carpet, vinyl and wood laminates. That means in the long run you can save money because you’ll never need to remove and replace worn or damaged flooring.

• Easy to Maintain.
  Polished concrete flooring is relatively easy to maintain. A quick dust mop or broom daily to prevent dirt accumulation. You should also use a damp mop weekly to remove smudging, scuffs, and water marks, and restore gloss using a ph-neutral cleaner. Depending on your polished concrete floor finish, you may have additional maintenance requirements.

• Cost-Effective.
  Depending on the level of complexity, polished concrete floors can cost as little as $70m2 or as much as $180m2. Most installations are quite cost-effective, especially if you have an existing concrete slab that’s all ready for polishing or application of a decorative coating. The price savings doesn’t always come at installation, but over its lifetime because the only reason you’ll have to replace it is if you get tired of the look, especially if you factor in maintenance costs.

• Many Design Options.
  Today, there is an endless variety of colour and texture effects, Aggregate options & blends and can simulate the look of dozens of different pricier materials.

• Slip-Resistant.
  Any concrete surface can be slippery especially in damp/wet environments or areas prone to spills, but, it can also be sealed with a non-slip coating to add texture and prevent falls and injuries.

Cons

• Hard
  The strength and durability of this material can also be a drawback as the surface is very hard, so it won’t cushion or “give” under feet, making it uncomfortable to stand on for long periods of time. To overcome this, you can add anti-fatigue mats to areas where employees face hours on their feet on a day-to-day basis.

• Cold
  Another drawback of concrete floors is that they do not tend to retain heat very well. That means that in the winter the surface of the floor is going to feel chilled, but no more so than ceramic tile or natural stone flooring. To overcome this, you can embed radiant heating cables in concrete floors to reduce heat loss. Best of all, you’ll usually pay lower utility costs than with a forced-air system, because concrete floor radiant heating consumes less energy to achieve the same level of comfort.

• Moisture
  If concrete flooring is not properly finished and sealed, it will be very susceptible to penetration by moisture. If liquid does manage to make its way into the pores of a concrete floor, it can sit there and lead to the growth of mold or mildew. If you have a trusted professional installing your polished concrete flooring, you shouldn’t have to worry about this.

• Loud
  Polished concrete floors can be loud like ceramic tile, natural stone flooring, and some hardwood or bamboo floors. To reduce the noise, you can furnish the space with rugs, acoustic wall panels and other elements that absorb or block sound.

• Cracking  

  Polished Concrete Floors will crack in areas that are undesirable & in most concrete finishes the cracks will be filled at the “Grouting” stage. Industrial / Burnished / No Exposure – Surface Polish have CRACKS that appear which are unpleasant on the eye, these cracks are created from the cream top layer of the concrete slab. All care is taken to achieve this look however we take no responsibility in filling these cracks as the slab will expand/contract & the cracks will open/close. (Burnished slabs).

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

These Terms & Conditions are a legally binding agreement between the contractor (Riverside Concrete Cutting PTY LTD) and a person (The Client as stated on the original quotation) who wants to use the services of the said contractor.

By accepting this quote electronically, making a bank deposit, electronic transfer or allow the contractor access to begin works, you agree to adhere to all terms, conditions and payment agreement as declared below.

PAYMENT AGREEMENT

1.Residential / Commercial / Private Requirements

1a. We Require a 10% Booking Fee / Deposit on acceptance of Quote to secure your date of commencement.

A further 40% progress payment is required once Rough-Out Stage is Completed.

1b. Balance (including any variations) to be paid as cleared funds, within five (5) business days upon completion of Works.

1c. Final Buff to be completed once all funds have been cleared & at handover stage of build.

NOTE: If your company has certain payment days, please communicate this information before commencing works. If we need to chase payments for any reason, and no communication has been given, works will cease until payment received.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

2. Keep on reading..

3.OWNER

The client warrants that he or she is either the owner of the stated address on the quotation or is entering this agreement both on the customers behalf and is the duly authorised agent of the owner.

4. ACCESS

4a. New Builds – Rough-Out of slab to begin 4-7 days after Concrete Slab has been poured for all finishes of Polished Concrete.

4b. New Builds It is always recommended that for fulfilling a polished concrete floor is after external walls AND before new kitchens, gyprock / plaster, skirting boards, tiles and paint being installed or applied. If our recommendations are not followed, any damage will be at the client or builders’ cost.

Renovations The polishing process needs to occur after the demolition if applicable and before any new installations of kitchens, bathrooms, tiles, paint etc. Skirting boards should be removed at the start of works and replaced after completion by client.

4c. The client will remove or pull back any grassed edges, mulch, plants or decorative rocks that maybe overlapping the concrete to make easy access for the grinding.

4d. The client is responsible for the quoted area and access to the building, to be unobstructed before the start date. A safe, minimum 2-metre-wide clear access to the job site is required, and all materials and machinery must be out of the way.

Any loss in time will be charged accordingly and stated on the final invoice.

4e. The client agrees to grant access to the contractor, its employees and subcontractors an irrevocable license to enter the property and remove the works following clause 12 below.

5. UTILITIES

 The client agrees to allow the contractor access to water, and electricity as required to complete the necessary works.

6. DAMAGE

6a. All furnishings in the areas of polishing or honing must be cleared from the work area before work commencing, the contractor will not be held liable for damage to these items. (See Clause 4b).

New builds (See clause 4a) If our recommendations are not followed, any damage will be at the cost of the client or builder.

Renovations When items cannot be removed, e.g., fitted kitchen cabinets, shower cubicles and baths, toilets, fitted wardrobes etc, the contractor will take great care in our work. For your property to protect them, however, due to the size and power of the machinery and equipment we use, the contractor cannot be held responsible for minor damage to these items such as scrapes, scuffs, cracks, marks etc.

 6b. It is strongly recommended that the client or builder is to use Ram Board or similar matching quality brand to protect the concrete (most importantly polished/ burnished concrete) surface from other trades by the continuance of the building takes place after the contractor has left.

Please Note-Red mud and dirt will stay on your concrete even after it has been sealed.

6c. The client agrees and acknowledges that the contractor will not be held liable for any damage made to the new concrete service by any trades or occupants. If cleaning or repair is needed due to not following the After-care procedures, it will be charged accordingly.

6d. The contractor will not be held liable for damage to its works caused by storms, floods, animals, other trades, misuse of chemicals or simply not following the After care, which states that you should only use pH neutral cleaning agents designed for polished concrete.

 If you can't find the after-care procedures feel free to ask. 

7 Variations

7a. The client agrees to be held financially accountable for any unforeseen financial changes to the quotation that may arise throughout the work such as but not limited to, variations/ inconsistencies in concrete placement and finish.

Such things as undulation's, screed lines, boot prints, steel grids, and machine lines all play a huge part in your finished products desired exposure.

Take extra care when hiring a concrete contractor to pour your concrete slab. To achieve your desired finish, choose a reputable concreter with experience in polished concrete. If you would like further advice, please do not hesitate to ask.

If you don't have already, please ask per our professional “Pour Guide “that you may refer to a pass on to your concrete installer.

If your slab has not been poured to the nationwide regulations, more products and hours of labour maybe necessary to produce a product that you, the customer are happy with, which may incur additional charges. The contractor will not be held financially accountable for shoddy quality when pouring the concrete slab.

7b. The start day and duration of works may change due to unforeseen weather conditions or delays in previous jobs.

REMOVAL OF COATINGS

7c. Removal of coatings such as polyurethanes/ epoxies, paints and so forth on top of a floor to become polished or honed concrete may result in changes in desired stone exposure. All variations will be conveyed before and during the processes. The contractor will do their best to maintain the clients desired stone exposure. However, it cannot be guaranteed as variations of machine removal may change this.

7d. Due to concrete condition after removing covering such as Covercrete, wet stencil, epoxies, paints etc, additional charges may be added to the final invoice to cover the cost of additional products used for the rectification of the unforeseen cracks.

This will be communicated if any variations are found.

REMOVAL OF TILES

 7e. If the client is removing tiles to have the concrete underneath polished, you will be asked to sign a waiver, agreeing that you have been made aware of the likelihood of “ghosting “and that we will not be held financially accountable if you decide not to proceed. “Ghosting” is a grid like shadow left behind in the concrete, caused by differences in curing and moisture exposure, between the covered portions of the concrete and the gaps caused by the tile. These differences can be exasperated over time due to dirty water being pushed down into the concrete from washing the floor or substances being spilt.

8.CONSUMER GUARANTEES

8a. Where the client acquires or holds himself or herself out as acquiring the works for business as defined in the Consumer Guarantees Act or any amendments to that, then the Guarantees Act shall not apply.

8b. The parties agree and acknowledge that the client had not made known to the contractor, any particular purpose for which the works is required or any specific result that the client desires to achieve in respect of the practices.

9. APPEARANCE

9a. The finish is always dependent on the quality and condition of the concrete provided. The contractor cannot be held liable for any unforeseen discolouration in some honed/ polished concrete areas from age, wear and tear, stains from other trades, or batch when the concrete was poured.

9b. Some variations in the finish, texture, shading or scoring depth can occur and are part of the installation’s individuality. These variations do not alter the contractors or clients’ obligations under this agreement.

 9c. The “Crack repair “will reduce the appearance of the cracks, however, they will not be eliminated and may appear in the future due to the nature of concrete and its ability to expand and retract due to movement or moisture.

9d. A hone and seal finish does not include any grouting. and the finished product may have small holes and inconsistencies. This is the design of the finished product A penetrative or topical sealer is not waterproofing membrane and will not stop the absorption of moisture in or on your honed concrete slab

10 WARRANTY

10a. Subject to clause 8, the contractor warrants at all concrete sealers, epoxies, polyurethanes etc, will be used and installed correctly by the manufacturer's instructions and acceptable quality as defined by the Australian Consumer Law.

The contractor also warrants that they will carry out the works with all professional and reasonable care and skill.

10b. Repaired cracks reappearing cannot be covered under any warranty as the concrete slabs movement or foundation is uncontrollable. The contractor shall have no liability regarding such cracking or variations, so long as the contractor has complied with clause 10.

10c.The client shall be entitled to a 2-year warranty on all overlay’s products installed by the contractor for product failure of faulty quality.

This covers excessive delamination, discolouration, flaking or chipping, anything cumulatively more considerable than the size of an A4 piece of paper, is considered excessive, anything smaller would be at the discretion of the contractor. This is only in place for customers who adhere to the after-care instructions given. The contractor will not be held responsible for due lack of care. mistreatment to new floor coverings, or environmental factors.

10d. No warranty can be given for sealing over non-porous tiles. The contractor will not be held accountable for the sealer not adhering to the tiles causing them to peel or discolour.

EXTENDED WARRANTY

10e. An extended warranty is available to the client if the surface is resealed, buffed and maintained by the contractor at the customer’s expense.

11 COLOUR MATCHING

11a.There is no guarantee concerning the colour matching of previously installed works whether such work was by the contractor or any other entity.

11b. There is no guarantee that an exact match for a chosen colour will be the same from the printed colour swatch. Please use these as a guide only.

 The contractor cannot be held accountable for slight colour variations from batch supplied by the manufacturer.

12 RETENTIONS OF TITLE

12a.Property in the works does not pass on to the client until full payment has cleared per this payment agreement.

12b. Services, construction materials and products produced by the contractor will remain the contractor’s property until full payment has been received.

If the full payment is not received by the due date, the contractor will have the right to enter the worksite/property and reclaim any materials used for, used during, or as a result of construction by the contractor to recover the cost of construction to the value of the amount owing to the contractor.

13 DEBT RECOVERY

If any payment is not made when due, the client shall pay all costs incurred by the contractor to collect or attempt to collect, the debt arising from breaching this agreement. The term “all costs” includes, but not limited to, all debt collectors fees, legal fees on a solicitor, court filing charges and any other expenses of whatever nature incurred by the contractor in collecting or attempting to receive all or part of the debt.

14 TERMINATIONS

Should the client or the contractor wish to terminate this agreement, they must give seven days written notice, stating the grounds on which termination is sought. It is at the contractor’s sole discretion to accept or reject the cessation. In the event of a client’s termination, it will be at the discretion of the contractor whether sufficient time was provided to terminate or change the start date. If not, the client will be obligated to pay all costs, including forfeiting the deposit to cover losses, including but not limited to wages and material. Notwithstanding anything in this agreement, if the client becomes insolvent the contractor may terminate this agreement immediately.

15 MARKETING

The client grants the contractor, and any persons authorised, permission to film or photograph the building and works without the restraint and allow its use for any promotional purposes without any recall, whether legal or monetary.

16.QUOTE EXPIRATION

The project quotation outlined in the proposal is valid for thirty (30) days from the date. The contractor reserves the right to review and adjust the quote if the client does not approve the proposal within thirty (30) days due to further degradation, or the price increase from suppliers or subcontractors.

Any questions please feel free to give us a call.

Riverside Concrete Cutting Polished Concrete After Care