Why polished concrete floors are warmer and more comfortable than you think
- Written by Digital 360
If you’re considering a polished concrete floor with the very best Grind and seal finishes, for your new home, you might be concerned that your floor would be cold and uninviting in the chilly winter months. As it turns out, polished concrete floors are a great choice in winter and are warmer than you might think.
A polished concrete floor is a high thermal mass material, absorbing heat where it is exposed to sunlight. This heat is stored in the concrete slab and slowly released back out into your home after the sun goes down, in a way that carpet, floorboards or tiles cannot achieve.
Because the heat release is delayed, your house will be kept warm overnight as the concrete slab slowly releases its stored heat through the floor, only cooling back down in time for the sun to start to warm it again in the morning. These properties also make polished concrete floors a great option in summer, with the effect working in reverse – the coolness of the surrounding earth is retained in the slab and released in the house throughout the day.
This is just one technique that is used in “passive solar building design” - a building trend that helps to minimise the need for heating and cooling systems by using the features of the natural environment to regulate the indoor temperature, and in turn, lower energy bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This is achieved through selection of materials (such as concrete) and also through design considerations such as aspect and access to sunlight and natural breezes.
Still, there are some that would really prefer extra warmth throughout winter – or, it may not be possible in some homes to expose the concrete flooring to sunlight in a manner that heats it effectively. Because concrete is an excellent conductor of heat, underfloor heating is an effective and economical way to keep a polished concrete floor feeling toasty underfoot throughout the colder months. One way to achieve this is to install a hydronic heating system before the concrete is poured. A hydronic heating system uses pipes that move hot water under the floor, transferring heat to the polished surface of the floor. This system can be turned on at the start of winter and turned off after.
As well as being warmer than you think, polished concrete floors also do not need to look “cold”, despite the image that may come to mind. Many polished concrete floor designs now use warm, earthy tones with colourful aggregates (exposed stones and sand visible under the surface), paired with strategically chosen furniture - helping to create a look that evokes a feeling of comfort, far from the cold, industrial look that you might associate with warehouses or commercial spaces. After the concrete floor is poured, dyes and various glosses can be added to further enhance the colour. Many people then choose to add colourful rugs and throws to add a further sense of warmth and comfort.
Making the right design and aesthetic considerations before commencing your build can ensure that your polished concrete floors are warm and comfortable, year-round.
