High gloss Geoshine™. Surface polish, basalt with standard grey base. Grand Designs Winning House.
Environmentally responsive home a grand design
Polished concrete may not be traditionally associated with croft houses, but it’s a splendid fit in this intriguing Australian interpretation of the architectural style.
Just as traditional Scottish croft houses are shaped to shield from wild weather, so is Inverloch’s Croft House designed to withstand an exposed coastal position, with its extra-terrestrial form slung low against prevailing winds.
Featured on Grand Designs and rewarded for its eco-cred by the Australian Institute of Architects, the house uses passive design principals to create a beautiful and comfortable living environment. This includes drawing on the huge concrete slab’s thermal mass, both inside and outside the home, to provide free cooling and heating and prevent the extremes in weather.
The interior of the house takes full advantage of its magnificent location, capturing sweeping coastal vistas. Minimalistic and earthy, it makes a strong statement with its use of natural materials, including warm Victorian Ash ceilings, rammed sand feature walls, and a stunning Geoshine™ polished concrete floor.
Geocrete’s Paul Warner, who is well known for his exceptional work in the region, surface polished the burnished floor to a lustrous high gloss sheen. “The floor has an industrial feel and loads of character, thanks to the natural marbled look characteristic of burnished concrete,” he said.
According to Paul, surface polishing has been a favoured commercial flooring choice for years, but it’s also becoming increasing popular in residential settings, thanks to its unique aesthetic appeal, durability and ease of maintenance. “It’s important to start with a perfectly finished concrete slab, which can only be achieved by an experienced concreter,” he said. “The concrete is then densified and surface polished to the desired sheen.”
Owner Kathryn MacDonald said the floor exceeded her “wildest expectations”, and she was struck by Paul’s skills, passion and integrity.
“Paul is a highly skilled professional with a wealth of knowledge and passion for polished concrete,” she said. “It is rare to encounter such a high performance standard which encompasses not only detailed expertise – the result was excellent – but also Paul’s integrity. This was demonstrated by his willingness to take the time to explain what can and cannot be achieved in the finished product. His advice about how to care for the polished concrete was also extremely helpful.”
Get in touch with Paul if you’re interested in installing a meticulously finished polished concrete floor in your own home or business.
