Concrete Polishing
Concrete polishing is without a doubt the most significant flooring alternative of the last 30 years. It is a process by which the surface of the concrete is ground and polished using a penetrating hardener to yield a surface that exhibits reflectivity and increased abrasion resistance. Floors that used to be covered in vinyl composition tile, epoxies or urethanes on strait concrete floors can now be replaced with a flooring finish that not only looks good, but is easier and less costly to maintain. The durability and economical aspects aside, a polished concrete surface can be enhanced using decorative dyes, stains, stencils, scoring, etc. to make each floor a unique expression of the business/household that uses the floor.
Popular Applications
- Manufacturing / Distribution Facilities.
- Retail Space / Showrooms
- Airports / Hangars
- Food Preparation / Processing.
- Schools
- Convention Halls
- Stadiums
- Basements
- Kitchens / Dining Room
The polishing process
Simply put, polishing concrete is similar to sanding wood. Heavy-duty polishing machines equipped with progressively finer grits of diamond-impregnated disks are used to gradually grind down surfaces to the desired degree of shine and smoothness.
The process begins with a grind coarse enough to remove minor pits, blemishes, stains, or previous coatings. Any needed repairs in the concrete are also made in preparation for final smoothing. Depending on the condition of the concrete, this initial rough grinding is generally a three to four-step process.
The next steps involve fine grinding of the concrete surface using diamond abrasives of finer and finer grits. During the polishing process an internal impregnating sealer is applied. The sealer sinks into the concrete and is invisible to the naked eye. It not only protects the concrete from the inside out, it also hardens and densifies the concrete. This eliminates the need for a topical coating, which reduces maintenance significantly (versus if you had a coating on it). For an extremely high-gloss finish, a final grit of 1500 or finer may be used. There are not published standards for polished concrete, but it is generally agreed that the concrete must be polished through a sequence ending with 1800-3500 grit diamonds to be considered polished concrete. At this level the concrete will exhibit a glossy sheen and high reflectivity without the use of a topical coating. Experienced polishing crews know when to switch to the next-finer grit by observing the floor surface and the amount of material being removed.
Not Polished, but Still Awesome
As noted earlier, polishing concrete required a series of polishing steps culminating with the use of 1800-3500 grit diamonds. Each step in the process increases the shine and reflectivity of the concrete.There are other options, which though they stop short of 1800-3500 grit diamonds, are still beautiful.
Two steps of grinding to expose the aggregate, then applying a topical sealer, might be called the exposed aggregate, sealed look. While still taking on a polished look, the polish is a result of a topical coating (still beautiful, but requiring more maintenance). Clearly, there are many levels of floors that stop short of truly being polished concrete, but are beautiful in their own right.The professionals at Global Village Construction can help you decide on a floor that best meets your needs and design criteria.