Refined Floorcare

The dazzling display of speckled colour and intricate patterns make Terrazzo a stunning flooring choice. This appealing and versatile material sets aggregates, such as marble, quartz, granite or glass chips, into cement which is then polished to create a super-smooth and strong finish.  Achieve a range of flooring designs from simple to extremely intricate.

The vast array of colours and aggregate sizes available from Covet Polished Concrete Overlay makes it ideal for creating a Terrazo look floor.  The vast array of colours possible with this material means that no two installations are ever the same.

Covet Polished Concrete Overlay
Created with Portland cement, the Covet Polished Concrete Overlay showcases the strength and natural tonal variations of real concrete - no epoxies or resins. The Covet Polished Concrete Overlay is the only 10mm (13mm outdoors) real concrete overlay available.

A colour for everyone
Available in an endless combination of colours and aggregate sizes, there is a unique Covet Polished Concrete look suited to your project.

Be inspired by Refined Floorcare’s project gallery

Concrete provides a modern and loft-style aesthetic and due to its durability is now a favoured flooring option for many residential and commercial spaces. Concrete floors, driveways and even concrete bench tops require care in order to maintain the polished look.

If you are looking for a professional concrete polisher and advice on how to maintain your polished concrete surfaces, Refined Floorcare can assist you. 

Diamond concrete grinding and polishing
Grinding and polishing concrete is a specialist technology that Refined Floorcare can provide. We can transform both new and old concrete surfaces through a process of grinding, mechanical polishing and chemical treatments. Our process improves the strength, durability and looks of your concrete.

Where possible Refined Floorcare uses environmentally-friendly cleaning chemicals in the preparation, grinding and sealing of any polished concrete surfaces. This means you can get back to enjoying your polished concrete floors as soon as we finish the work.

Refined Floorcare is a Husqvarna Hiperfloor® accredited contractor.

Polished concrete finishes

Levels of exposure
Concrete can be ground to surface at different levels of exposure which provide a very different design aesthetic for your space.

Full exposure finish:
is where maximum exposure of the pebble texture known as 'aggregate' is sought. The results of the concrete grinding and polishing are dependent on the quality of the slab of concrete. A full exposure finish is only recommended where the concrete slab has been poured and cured by a professional with this exposure in mind.

Salt and pepper finish:
is where the concrete is ground away to surface a lightly speckled aggregate texture. Unlike a full exposure, a very small amount of stone is exposed. This level of exposure is also referred to as 'light random exposure'. The success of a salt and pepper finish is reliant on the quality of the concrete slab where a smooth burnished surface is preferable.

Cream finish:
refers to concrete that has very little to no stone exposure. To achieve a cream concrete finish the concrete slab must have a highly burnished surface. A cream or 'low exposure finish' is a very durable option and favoured in high traffic areas in residential, commercial and industrial properties.

Polished concrete sealing
There are many options for sealing polished concrete depending on the desired finish which you would like to achieve. Your choice of sealant will depend on a range of factors including the type of stain protection required, the level of traffic expected on the surface and also the sheen of the concrete you wish to achieve.

Polished concrete maintenance
Polished concrete maintenance kits are something we offer as part of your personalised ongoing maintenance program. These kits ensure the sheen of your newly restored concrete withstands the test of time. Refined Floorcare can even provide all of the correct and necessary concrete cleaning products and a maintenance schedule to assist this process.

Sealing stone, tile and concrete surfaces

Sealing is the process of applying a chemical to a porous surface such as natural stone or concrete in order to reduce the porosity of the material to prevent stain penetration and maintain the polished look of the surface. Often people are not aware of the importance of sealing their stone or concrete surfaces. Sealing protects the material by putting a barrier between the surface and any potential contaminants. It also prolongs the life of the surface, as it is subject to less immediate damage caused by everyday accidents.

There is no one sealer that is better than others. Some sealers provide better protection against water-based stains while others provide superior protection from oil-based stains. Refined Floorcare utilises professional-grade sealants and has many years of experience in their application to assist you in choosing the right sealant in order to maintain your beautiful polished surface.

Types of sealants

Impregnating/penetrative sealants
Penetrating sealants form a bond with the stone or concrete beneath the surface  (impregnate the surface) to limit the penetration of both water-based and oil-based contaminants.

Features of impregnating sealers:

• Protect the surface without changing the look of the stone or concrete
• Allows natural stone to breathe
• Usually environmentally-friendly
• Reduce entry of stains into porous tiles and concrete making sealed surfaces easier to clean
• Longer lifespan of sealer protection (up to 10 years)

Topical sealants
Topical sealants provide a film coating that sits on top of the surface. Topical sealers create a high gloss finish. The more coats of a topical sealer applied, the more reflective and glossier the look.

Advantages of topical sealers:

• Relatively cheap
• Provides a high gloss finish
• Provides a barrier between the porous surface and any contaminants
• Prevents corrosion, surface damage and staining

Disadvantages of topical sealers:

• Can change the look of natural stone due to the coating nature of the sealant
• May show scuff marks from footwear or furniture
• Costly to maintain due to the shorter lifespan of sealer protection (around 3-5 years)

Solvent sealants
Solvent sealers are another form of impregnating sealant. However, they form a deeper bond with the surface and use stronger chemicals. Solvent sealers are suitable for low porosity surfaces such as granite, marble and porcelain.

Advantages of solvent sealers:

• Penetrates up to 20mm deep
• Effective repellent of water-based stains

Disadvantages of solvent sealers:

• Powerful chemicals omit strong odours
• Ineffective repellent of oil-based stains
• Difficult to strip
• Potential to damage natural stone during the stripping process

Sealing concrete
Concrete has gained popularity as an alternative to natural stone surfaces. Concrete is a porous material that absorbs liquids and contaminants. Therefore concrete floors, benchtops and driveways should be sealed to prevent staining and retain that newly polished concrete look. We are able to recommend the best concrete sealants and provide a professional concrete-sealing service to ensure that your floors are protected for as long as possible.

Sealing stone
Natural stones such as marble, limestone and granite add sophistication to the home, your office and particularly commercial properties. Natural stones are porous in nature and stone sealing is a great way to protect the unique look of your stone tile floors and granite or marble benchtops from stains, dirt and grit. Professional stone sealants assist you in maintaining the polished look for many years to come.

Refined Floorcare utilises safe, odourless water-based products with the latest in sealing technology. We can also provide our clients with products needed for owner maintenance at a wholesale price.

Natural stone cleaning, polishing and restoration

The natural stone surfaces you have in your home, office or commercial space are an investment that provides many years of service. Proper care and maintenance are crucial to preserving the stone's natural beauty and protecting your investment.

Perhaps you require professional stain removal assistance, maybe you are looking to freshen up a neglected marble benchtop or simply seeking to polish your limestone or granite floor tiles. Whatever your stone cleaning and polishing needs, Refined Floorcare is dedicated to the restoration of natural stone surfaces such as marble, granite, travertine, sandstone, bluestone and limestone.

Knowing the stone type and assessing the surface
Natural stones can be categorised according to their composition as either siliceous stones or calcareous stones. Knowing the difference between these types of stone is imperative to select the correct stone cleaning products. Once confident with the type of stone we are working with, we assess the current condition of the stone. We look for evidence of stains, cracks and also signs of lippage (where the stone surface is uneven from wear). We also examine the stone to see if there is evidence of a topical sealer and any signs that the sealant has worn off. We are then able to develop an appropriate cleaning and polishing procedure for your surface.

Cleaning stone

Once we understand the condition of the stone, we are able to clean the natural stone surface. This may involve applying a poultice (a stain removing paste) to re-absorb stains that have penetrated the stone or it may require us to grind back the stone through a wet or dry process in order to re-establish the evenness of the stone surface.

Stone polishing and stone finishes
We are able to restore your once-polished stone benchtops, floors and tiles. Repolishing or honing dull marble or limestone floors or walls is a great way to restore the intrinsic aesthetics of natural stone material. Three common stone finishes include:

• Polished finish:
  characterised by a smooth finish and glossy look which reflects light and emphasises the colour and markings in the stone.
• Honed finish:
  characterised by a smooth finish and matte look which does not reflect much light and is therefore preferred on floors and other heavy-traffic areas.
• Flamed finish:
  characterised by a rough texture and commonly utilised on granite floors.

If your surface does not match the above three stone finishes, get in touch for professional advice on how to achieve a unique finish.

Natural stone types we restore:

• Marble
• Granite
• Limestone
• Travertine
• Sandstone
• Bluestone

Refined Floorcare has experience in restoring natural stone surfaces in residential, commercial and industrial properties.

Natural stone sealing
Several factors should be considered when deciding whether to seal your stone surface and we can assist you in determining if sealing is appropriate for your marble, granite, limestone, bluestone or travertine features.

The durability of the stone, likelihood of stains and the type of stone finish applied to the surface will all influence the choice to seal natural stone. We will also consider if the sealant will impact the colour or look of the stone, the location of the material (eg. benchtops, floor, foyer or bathroom) and what type of maintenance program the surface is likely to receive. A high level of care is exercised by Refined Floorcare when recommending stone sealants to our clients.

If sealing is right for your project, natural stones such as marble and granite are protected from everyday dirt, grit and spill facilitating its maintenance. We will assist you in choosing the correct stone sealants whether that is a topical stone sealant that provides a film coating on top of the stone material or a more 'breathable' impregnating sealer that penetrates below the surface.

Natural stone cleaning products
Marble, granite and other natural stones are porous materials. Therefore, it is important that cleaning products are specifically formulated for the specific type of natural stone. Importantly, natural stone often features in areas of the home that are highly frequented such as the kitchen or on floors. With this in mind, Refined Floorcare utilises stone cleaning products without nasty chemicals so you can get back to your daily routine without coming into contact with hazardous substances.

Natural stone maintenance
Natural stone servicing kits are something we offer as part of your personalised ongoing maintenance program. These kits help to ensure that newly treated stone surfaces are easily maintained to help keep all areas clean and beautiful. Refined Floorcare can provide all of the correct and necessary stone cleaning products to assist this process.

How to care for polished concrete and natural stone

Servicing kits are something we offer as part of your personalised ongoing maintenance program.

These kits can be provided to smaller-scale properties such as offices or residential properties and can be implemented by either Refined Floorcare or the client.

Our tailored cleaning schedules ensure that newly treated surfaces are easily maintained - keeping all areas clean and beautiful. Refined Floorcare can provide the correct and necessary products and chemicals to assist this process. Specific instructions will accompany your kit - which can be stored conveniently on your fridge as a reminder to keep your stone care or concrete cleaning on track and on schedule.

Hard surface care and maintenance

DIY polished concrete
After investing in the professional polishing of your concrete surfaces it is important to ensure the look lasts for as long as possible. We equip you with the cleaning products and care instructions to assist you in the DIY polishing of your concrete features.

Natural stone care
Ongoing care for your natural stone means your marble, granite and limestone surfaces maintain their unique sheen for longer. We help you determine the appropriate cleaning schedule and develop a servicing kit so you get to enjoy the stone's beauty for longer.