Stronger hospitality floor by polishing and impregnating concrete

Concrete floors are popular in the hospitality industry because of their rugged, industrial look. But without proper treatment, they are vulnerable to wear and stains. Kuster Betonpolish has adapted and improved the method of concrete polishing, ensuring that concrete floors are not only beautified but also maximally protected - as at Het Magazijn restaurant in Dordrecht.

When restaurant Het Magazijn in Dordrecht opened its doors eight years ago in the former premises of an art loan, the black concrete floor was an important part of the contemporary, warm decor. But it soon became apparent that intensive hospitality use - with hundreds of guests daily - left its mark. “The floor needed to be polished repeatedly, but over time it didn't really become beautiful,” says Marcel Kuster, owner of Kuster Betonpolish. “That's when we suggested a thorough renovation of the floor.”

Polishing and compacting

Kuster Concrete Polish's approach goes beyond cleaning or recoating. “We sand down the top layer, polish the surface in several steps, chemically compact the floor and impregnate it with a silicate-bound densifier,” Kuster explains. “That treatment makes the concrete eight times denser. Liquids, with a proper maintenance plan, can no longer soak in, making the floor more resistant to stains and easier to maintain.” The special feature of this method is that no coating is used. “A coating wears off, especially in the hospitality industry, where floors are intensively walked on. Our method is much more durable: the floor retains its natural appearance and lasts longer.”

Floor is lighter

At The Warehouse, that approach was successfully applied. Safak Zengin, owner of the restaurant together with Fokke Wagner, says: “We immediately had confidence in Marcel Kuster's professionalism. He was able to tell us that we had one of the first colored concrete floors in the Netherlands. Such a floor is worth taking care of. He recommended this treatment to us. The sanding made the pebbles in the concrete more visible. That gives a different image: the floor looks lighter and fresher.”

Floor renovation

The restaurant, which is open seven days a week from breakfast to late-night drinks, demands a lot from its interior. “Our floor gets thousands of footsteps daily, and of course drinks get spilled,” Zengin says. “That's part of the hospitality business. Thanks to Marcel Kuster, our floor can now withstand that. The floor is easier to clean and stays nice much longer.” The renovation went smoothly: “Because we had to close the restaurant for two days, we had organized a staff outing with an overnight stay for our 68 employees. So we had pleasant days and afterwards a beautiful floor.”

Aesthetics

The Dordrecht-based company Kuster Betonpolish applies its method frequently to concrete floors in utility areas such as warehouses, and in places where people have chosen a concrete floor for aesthetic reasons. The method is ideally suited for hospitality floors as well, Kuster emphasizes. “Hospitality floors have to have a nice look and certainly be able to take a beating without losing their character. With our treatments, concrete remains a living material, but in such a way that it is completely ready for everyday practice.”