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The polished concrete industry: a year in review By Transitions Polishing and Grinding, Queensland As a new year commences, we reflect upon the year that has passed and for those in the polished concrete and decorative flooring industry it has certainly been a year filled with notable changes. Such changes have ultimately resulted in a shift in perceptions of concrete flooring products and the customer’s expectations in the market. Polished concrete is possibly the fastest growing flooring solution in the Australian commercial sector. This growth is not only due to the extensive list of benefits that the product offers but also the hard work, dedication and commitment of the contractors in the industry, who continually deliver high quality and lasting flooring solutions. Recent times have proved difficult for the construction industry as a whole and with the slowdown in work comes increased competition amongst contractors for survival. For polished concrete contractors this competition has ignited a price war and, as a result no one, including the customer, is winning. The reality is that contractors who choose to partake in extensive price-cutting are lowering their profit margins, many below cost, and to overcome this are resorting to corner cutting methods and the delivery of inferior specifications. Customers who take advantage of contracts with unrealistic prices are, in turn, receiving a substandard version of what should be a premium product. The end results are floors that are aesthetically unappealing, hard
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to maintain, have a short life span and ultimately lower the reputation of polished concrete floors. These are all characteristics that contradict the primary reasons for installing a polished concrete floor to begin with. The poor quality works being completed by these contractors is not only damaging the reputation of a premium flooring product but making it extremely difficult for the companies who remain committed to providing high quality products and customer service to remain competitive in the market. The success of polished concrete and related concrete flooring products will only remain if this commitment is shared and delivered by all contractors, with their focus remaining on the longterm benefit to the customer and the product alike. Despite shifts in the market, 2012/2013 has also brought about some positive results for the industry with many architects, big-box retailers, large corporations and government bodies recognising the benefits in specifying polished concrete and decorative concrete floors and pledging their ongoing commitment to utilising these products in their
future developments. This is a great step forward for the industry and the products we provide. Transitions Polishing and Grinding wants to empower their customers, industry personnel and key decision makers with accurate, unbiased information on how to make more informed decisions regarding the concrete flooring products they specify and how to analyse and compare the quotes they receive to ensure that all requirements are accounted for. The company wants to re-educate and re-establish polished concrete as a premium-flooring product. Transitions Polishing and Grinding wants all polished concrete contractors to work collectively towards the shared benefit of the products to strengthen the industry as a whole.