Supermarket floors need to fulfil a lot of specific requirements to keep up with our frenzied trips around the aisles. They must be strong enough to withstand extremely heavy foot-traffic, easy and affordable to install and maintain, safe and practical to use and attractive to the customer.
Increasingly, Australian supermarkets are moving away from the dated look of vinyl composition tiles (VCT) in favour of polished concrete or epoxy flooring. Here’s why:
One of the main reasons a supermarket may choose polished concrete floors is convenience. Your chosen site may already have an existing concrete slab to work with – most new buildings, warehouses and industrial sites do. As long as the surface is concrete, it can be ground back and polished. It’s not only an economical solution, but it also achieves an attractive looking floor and store.
Polished concrete floors are durable and long-lasting
Polished concrete is an extremely strong material. When polishing concrete, the process of grinding down the surface actually makes the material even more durable than untreated concrete. This makes it perfect for use in high-traffic and high-use areas like a supermarket or grocery store. Concrete is extremely difficult to damage, and can easily withstand the wear and tear of constant traffic from shoes and shopping trolleys. Polished concrete is also slip-resistant, meaning it’s a safe option for customers and staff.
The key to achieving a durable and long-lasting concrete floor is high-quality installation. By engaging an expert concrete flooring specialist at the outset of your project, you’ll ensure the installation is done properly and you can be confident that your floors will last. Concrete flooring can last for hundreds of years if properly installed and maintained, meaning you’ll never need to replace your flooring. It makes concrete floors an economical option in the long run.
Polished concrete floors are low-maintenance and easy to clean
One of the greatest advantages of polished concrete flooring is that it’s a low-maintenance option. Unlike VCT, which might require stripping and waxing every second week, there’s no need to wax polished concrete floors (in fact, this can make them look dull).
Unlike some other materials, concrete doesn't require professional cleaning. Supermarket staff are able to clean and maintain concrete floors with a simple combination of dry and wet mopping. For day-to-day cleaning, concrete floors should be dry mopped to remove dust, dirt and debris, and wet mopped with water or a mild neutral-ph cleaner to keep them looking vibrant and glossy. For large areas, most supermarkets will use an auto-scrubber for an easy yet thorough clean.
For food preparation and deli areas, epoxy floors are a good option. Epoxy can achieve a similar look to polished concrete, with the added advantage of being extremely resistant to chemicals and stains, easy to mop clean, resistant to the growth of bacteria, and extremely durable. Because epoxy coatings can be coloured or patterned, surfaces can be designed to match a supermarket’s branding and aesthetic.
Polished concrete floors are an economical option
While it might be an investment upfront, polished concrete flooring is a cost-effective option in the long run. Because of the strength and durability of the material, if installed correctly, polished concrete will never need to be replaced. What’s more, because it’s so easy to maintain, you don't need to hire expensive cleaning or maintenance staff to keep it looking in top condition.
You’ll also find that installing concrete floors will save you money in reduced energy consumption of your building. Because concrete is a thermal mass material, it has the ability to keep buildings cool in summer and warm in winter, making it more energy-efficient and reducing heating and cooling bills.
Polished concrete floors are an attractive option for improving the appearance of a supermarket
With the popularity of high-end supermarket chains and gourmet grocery stores on the rise, it’s now more important than ever for supermarkets to be well-designed and attractive. This doesn't just apply to the layout of the store – a supermarket’s design and decor is equally important in getting consumers through the door. The image of a supermarket not only reflects the business’s brand, but also helps to create a more enjoyable shopping experience for the customer, encouraging longer stays and more purchases.
Fortunately, polished concrete is not only a practical and economical option, it’s also a stylish one. Current design trends have seen polished concrete become more and more popular for designers and architects looking for an upscale look. The striking aesthetic of polished concrete keeps buildings looking modern, sleek and clean. It also provides a minimalistic look that won’t distract consumers from the store’s branding, advertising and product displays.
The level of gloss can be adjusted based on the desired look of the finished product, with a high-gloss finish providing an attractive shine that looks modern, without appearing too industrial or sterile.
A high-gloss finish also enhances light reflectivity. This makes polished concrete a popular choice in supermarkets where there’s little natural light. The highly reflective surface improves lighting in an otherwise dark space, which not only makes the store more inviting to consumers, but also provides a safer working space for employees. Good lighting has also been shown to improve employee morale and productivity.
Polished concrete floors can be installed to tight timeframes and tight budgets
If you’re a supermarket that can only close down for small amount of time, or you’re working on a major project where construction timelines are tight, we can achieve a great result in tight timeframe.
The expert Policrete team has been working with architects, shopfitters and commercial builders for more than 20 years, so they understand the pressures of working on large, complex building sites.
Policrete is committed to providing a professional service and high-quality results with minimal downtime to you and your business. Depending on the complexity of the project, Policrete can complete a 3, 200m2 job in just over two weeks. We can scale our pour and polish service to meet the requirements of any project.
If working to a tight timeline or budget, some supermarket owners will choose Satin Enhance, our grind and seal finish. Not only does it look great, but it can be installed quickly and cost-effectively.
How to get a cost-effective, low-maintenance and long-lasting polished concrete floor for your supermarket
If you’re looking for a practical, yet attractive, material for your supermarket floors, polished concrete and epoxy flooring is a great option. Not only is it extremely hard-wearing and long-lasting, you’ll reduce costs to your business in the long term by reducing your energy and maintenance bills, while also giving your store an upscale look that will attract customers.
