High gloss Geoshine™. Brown Granite and Quartzite with off white base.
Glen Iris couple upgrade to polished concrete
When water damaged their Glen Iris home, Geocrete clients grasped the opportunity to install a magnificent new Geoshine™ polished concrete floor.
After water destroyed the home’s ground level timber floors, the owners set about exploring their options for a replacement floor. With their insurance company’s blessing, they quickly settled on polished concrete for its durability, contemporary style, and ability to withstand flooding. A recommendation from their concreter saw them turn to Paul Warner for his passion, skill and reputation as a world-class polished concrete artisan.
The ruined floor was ripped up and concrete was poured in its place. The vast majority of polished concrete is created in brand new homes before the frames are up, so Paul had a challenge on his hands working around the skirting boards and cabinetry of the finished home. “It was a very tricky job that called for high attention to detail,” he said.
Showcasing an aggregate of granite and quartzite in off-white cement, the floor is a stunning example of the highly glossed Geoshine™ masterpieces that Geocrete is famous for. Complementing the wooden cabinetry and detailing in the home, the earthy brown shades of the granite contrast beautifully with the cream coloured base, while the quartzite has an eye-catching shimmer and sparkle.
Paul said it was one of the first times his clients used off-white cement, which in 2008 was very expensive and uncommon. “It was such an unusual floor, because at that time the vast majority of polished concrete was made of bluestone in a standard grey base. Nowadays, it’s much more common for customers to choose more expensive mixes, and prices have since come down thanks to supply and demand. It’s a real testament to the product that the floor looks as striking and ultra-modern today as it did twelve years ago.”
While polished concrete customers now have a choice of sheen and exposure levels, at that time the only option available to clients was full stone exposure and high gloss – and it’s this option that Paul prefers today. “Options now include random exposure, and matt and satin sheens. I am more than happy to create any floor that my customers desire, but I always recommend a high gloss, full stone exposure, because, for me, it’s what polished concrete is all about.”
Paul, who has spent decades working with concrete and trained under an Italian master of concrete finishing, said full stone exposures remind him of the decorative finishes and terrazzo concrete that he fell in love with in the early days of his career. “I am a perfectionist, and the workmanship required to create a high gloss, full-stone exposure puts me at the pinnacle of my craft.”
Paul said most other polished concreting companies love random exposures and lesser sheens because they hide imperfections in their workmanship and require less time and effort. The Geoshine™ polishing system includes 15 grinding and polishing steps – at least five more steps than its competitors – and an exclusive blend of premium surface densifiers, creating a product that is harder, glossier and more durable than any other floor on the market.
While most polished concrete companies are intent on getting the job done as quickly as possible, Paul is passionate about putting in the hard work and extra effort to create floors of superior quality. “I am so proud of the Geoshine™ polishing system, and I always endeavour to give customers so much more than they ever expect.”
Paul’s clients were thrilled with their new floor, and referred a lot of work to Geocrete through their renovating business. Hundreds of fellow home-owners, renovators, builders and architects have since been impressed by the floor’s beauty, which has been showcased at Geocrete’s award winning stand at the Melbourne Home Show.