Polished concrete is the highest category of steps of processed concrete. Any grit abrasive from approximately an 800-grit resin and above, typically to a 1,500 or 3,000 grit, is considered a polishing step. A polished concrete surface has clarity of reflection like a mirror and has a glass-like finish.
How do I polish concrete?
Grind with a 150-grit metal-bonded diamond (or finer, if desired). Apply a chemical hardener to densify the concrete. Polish with a 100- or 200-grit resin-bond diamond, or a combination of the two. Polish with a 400-grit resin-bond diamond.
How do you get a glossy finish on concrete?
After you stain your concrete floor with the color of your choice, you should apply a concrete sealer. A glossy sealer creates a shiny surface, and an acrylic wax adds an additional protective coat.
What are the different types of concrete finishes?
- Troweled Finish. Trowel finish is the most common and popular finish of concrete used for major types of applications. ...
- Broom Finish. ...
- Stamped Concrete Finish. ...
- Salt Finish. ...
- Exposed Aggregate Finish. ...
- Swirl Finish. ...
- Polished Finish. ...
- Colored Finish.
What is the difference between sealed and polished concrete?
The differences are quite significant in process, duration, cost, and durability. For polished concrete, the concrete is polished using finer grits of diamond abrasives until the floor reaches the desired level of shine (level 1-4). However, with sealed concrete, the finish is achieved from a high-performance sealer.Sep 29, 2020
Is polished concrete the same as epoxy?
There are many differences between epoxy and concrete polishing. Epoxy flooring is water resistant, provides a non-slippery surface and will not be damaged as a result of a chemical spill. ... Concrete polishing is a smooth and clean surface that does not peel or scratch as compared to epoxy flooring which can scratch.Oct 8, 2018
How thick should concrete be to polish?
The method used for retrofitting a polished concrete floor is either to (a) cut or sand the existing floor slab to be hardened and polished, or (b) apply a topping slab of polished concrete flooring, at least 50 mm thick, over the existing slab.Sep 26, 2021
When should you polish concrete?
(This should be done roughly 30 days after concrete placement and after the HVAC system has been operating for a minimum of 14 days.)
What are the steps to polish concrete?
- Complete hardness test.
- Repair any cracks and holes.
- Fill expansion joints.
- Grind the concrete using 16/20 ~ 30/40 ~ 60/80 or 120/140 grit diamonds.
- Complete the grinding process using 50 ~ 100 and 200 grit resin pads.
- Apply stains and densifiers.
Can you polish old concrete?
Almost any structurally sound concrete floor, whether new or old, can be polished. ... Some retail and warehouses facilities that plan to polish their floors after placement may specify a floor that is as smooth as possible to minimise the polishing steps required.Aug 9, 2017