Concrete Polishing Complete at Hammer & Nails in Chapel Hill

Holding true to one of the many staples of the Hammer & Nails brand, the newest location under construction in Chapel Hill features a polished concrete floor that adds to the masculine, industrial aesthetic present in every location across the country.

Polishing an existing concrete slab is not always feasible or practical and depends on a variety of factors, namely the age and condition of the slab, previously installed floor finishes, cuts or trenches from prior renovations, and the compressive strength of the concrete. When you have the right conditions, though, it can result in a very visually appealing, durable finish. Above is a timelapse video showing what this process looked like in Chapel Hill, transforming a decades-old slab into what future customers will admire each day.

As is to be expected when working with a slab of this age, the finished product did not come without any obstacles. The space was previously occupied by a nail salon with ceramic tile throughout the space, bringing the feasibility of a polished concrete floor into question before demolition even began. Luckily, these concerns were short-lived, but there were still other obstacles to overcome with porous concrete, patches required throughout, and minor concerns about the intensity of the shiny, polished look that could be obtained with the age of the concrete.

After multiple passes, a grout coat and patching, and a few more passes, the finished product came out exactly as we hoped. The contrast of the new trench down the middle of the space for under-slab plumbing and the existing slab combined with the small patches and exposed aggregate throughout culminated in a beautiful floor with a lot of character.

For clients that prefer a more uniform look and feel, there are a few ways to go about that. One step in that direction would be to stain the existing concrete at the end of the process to match the color of the newer, dark gray concrete. This would make the color throughout more uniform without sacrificing the ability to see all of the different cuts, aggregate, and other imperfections. To go even further for a perfectly uniform finish, an epoxy flooring solution could be applied over the top of the slab with a wide variety of colors and finishes. For Hammer & Nails, however, the polished concrete solution performed fits their needs perfectly.

Gontram Architecture and Ten Penny Construction, Inc. are teaming up to complete the project, and construction is scheduled to be completed in late August.