Is concrete flooring a sustainable option?  

In considering the environmental and financial benefits of concrete in flooring applications, the concept arises that using concrete as the final floor covering, rather than something to be covered, is a sustainable option.  

The problem with concrete  

Concrete is one of the most used building materials because of its durability, affordability and versatility. However, it is also known for being a carbon-intensive material.  

Currently, concrete also feels like an abundant resource because it contains raw materials, such as aggregate from sand and gravel, as well as water. While these are renewable resources, overusing them could still negatively impact the environment.  

The cement manufacturing industry is already exploring how to reduce emissions, but in the meantime, there is a lot of concrete in existing infrastructure. How best to use it needs to be considered.  

Celebrating concrete 

Concrete is a popular material choice in flooring because the strength of the floor is an important part of the building’s overall structural integrity. Most subfloors – the surface on which floor coverings are applied – are therefore made from concrete.  While it’s not the most sustainable material to manufacture, when looking at its entire lifecycle, concrete flooring can help contractors deliver cost-effective and sustainable infrastructure. 

This is because concrete has a long lifespan, requires minimal maintenance, and has reflective and thermal insulating properties that can improve energy efficiency. 

A sustainable finish 

It is suggested that the built environment should replace some of its core floor-covering materials with more environmentally friendly options While these may drastically reduce carbon emissions and be more circular, they are often costly, and in some instances, impractical.  

A sustainable material can only be specified if it is durable enough for the application. It will otherwise need replacing, resulting in material waste. 

Image credit: Superb Flooring Systems

To polish or not 

The most sustainable option is to make use of what is already on the floor. Polished concrete is a popular flooring choice, particularly in large open spaces where the reflective surface can reduce energy usage.  

However, in most existing buildings, contractors laid the original subfloor with the intention of covering it. Therefore, when polishing the floor, it may not look as aesthetically pleasing as desired. It may be that the aggregate is unevenly spread, or the space required multiple batches of concrete that differ in colour, aggregate size and consistent appearance. 

To determine whether to polish an existing substrate, contractors must: 

• Review the condition of the concrete. 
• Look for any signs of cracks, contaminants, or uneven sections to address.  
• If there are any issues, discuss them with the client.  

Hand grinding a small sample of floor to reveal the aggregate can give a good indication of the possible finished result, before continuing to grind and polish the entire floor. 

Fit for the future 

As the industry builds new infrastructure, contractors can look at how to lay concrete foundations with the polished finish in mind. This includes: 

• Pouring the concrete so that there is a fine layer of even aggregate near the surface. 
• Grinding and polishing the floor after it has cured, but before other structures are built to achieve the best surface profile across the entire space. 

While it may not seem like the most sustainable material when compared with natural materials, concrete’s durability and strength mean that the construction industry will continue to use it to build safe and long-lasting structures. However, if the built environment stops looking at concrete as something to cover, and starts celebrating its existing beauty, concrete could be the most sustainable flooring option of all. 

Issue: How to renovate existing buildings with concrete floors sustainably. 

Solution: Polish existing concrete floors instead of applying other floor coverings. 

Full thanks and acknowledgement go to www.floortrendsmag.com for the information in this article.