Do your basement floors get wet during the winter? Moisture can damage common basement flooring materials such as tile and carpet. It forces you to incur costs every year on flooring restoration. What if there was a material resilient enough to handle the unfavourable season? Polished concrete is one of the best flooring materials for a basement that's prone to wetness or flooding. After laying the concrete flooring, it is polished to achieve a beautiful finish. Below are some properties of polished concrete that make it an ideal material for your basement.

1. Resistant to moisture

During the polishing process, concrete floors are mechanically ground, honed and sealed. This grind and seal process gives the floor a reflective and protective surface. The floor is further sealed by curing two separate slabs and applying waterproofing materials between them. This process makes the material waterproof and long-lasting. Therefore, since you can't do much about the moisture situation, you don't have to worry about the water damage on your floors. 

2. Resistant to mould and mildew

Wet floors create a suitable breeding ground for mould and mildew. Besides leaving unsightly marks on tiles and carpets, mould affects your basement's air quality and makes the space unsuitable for living. Thus, even after winter has passed, you cannot safely use the space without getting rid of it first. Polished concrete is hypoallergenic, meaning it does not allow mould, mildew, dust mites, allergens or bacteria to grow on the surface. 

Therefore, even after minor episodes of flooding, you can dry your floors and not worry about allergens and pollutants. However, besides installing polished concrete floors, apply mould-resistant paint to the basement walls to protect the entire space from mould.

3. Low maintenance requirements

Some flooring materials are high-maintenance, especially when used in a wet basement. For example, most tiling materials deteriorate when continually exposed to moisture. The moisture breaks down the caulk and infiltrates the tile, causing the adhesive to break down. As a result, the tiles start to shift. You have to regularly re-caulk and re-tile your basement to maintain visual appeal.

Concrete flooring is perfect for wet basements due to its low maintenance requirements. Polished concrete is resistant to moisture damage, staining, and mould growth. Therefore, all you need to do is regularly mop your floors to dry them. For mechanically polished concrete, you only need to reseal the floors once every ten years!

Polished concrete is a suitable material for a wet basement. The material is visually appealing, and you can choose colour stains to suit your preference. Talk to a contractor to learn more about concrete polishing services.

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