Concrete polishing is how an unfinished concrete surface is honed, polished, and coarsely ground before being made into a usable floor. Polished concrete is a complex multi-step procedure in which a thick layer of concrete is ground, subsequently honed, and subsequently polished using bonded additional abrasives to the concrete’s surface to achieve a certain finish level. The concrete’s honed surface will be finer than that of the concrete floors and may have more pronounced imperfections. Polished concrete will be more resistant to staining. However, imperfection can vary within the finished product by varying the amount of extra grit used during the polishing process.
Polished floors will have a sheen on the lower surface of the flooring that will make walking on it feel more like walking on polished wood. There is a level of sheen that can be obtained by either grinding or using a very coarse grit honing process. By honing and polishing a concrete floor, the existing surface will become smoother and more even and will resemble the surface of expensive natural stones. This allows for the floor to be well suited to a wide range of settings including residential homes, museums, offices, and public buildings. It will have a high resale value and be durable to a great extent. Due to its beauty and durability, polished concrete will be the preferred choice for many building owners.
Such floors may also be referred to as glazed or treated concrete surfaces. They are usually sealed using polyurethane based sealants that are water and weather resistant and will remain that way for years. Polished concrete polishing and sealing floors are a complicated multi-step process that includes four steps: grinding, sweeping, blotting, and sealing. These four steps are necessary for achieving the desired result. The following paragraphs will discuss in detail the significance of each of these steps.
Polished floors are usually cleaned with water and mild detergents. A very fine grit abrasive wheel is usually used during this cleaning process in order to reduce the appearance of lint and dirt left behind by the previous cleaning activities. After the cleaning is complete, the floors will be polished with an electrochemical gas treatment to permanently coat all facets of the floor surfaces. In recent years, new technologies have emerged that allow concrete polishing to create a surface that mirrors the look of marble. Some polishes will even produce a mirror-like reflective finish on a flat or concreted surface. Some products will even last for up to 50 years.
After the floors are polished and sealed, they will need to be treated to protect them from stains and the elements. The new floors will need to be coated with a clear protective coating designed specifically for concrete. This finish should protect the floors against stains, heat, and moisture. In addition, it will need to resist stains caused by acidic substances like red wine, coffee, and tomato sauce. These acidic substances can cause irreparable harm to concrete and should be avoided whenever possible.
After the concrete has been properly treated, it will need to undergo a second polishing process to remove any residual dust or debris that may have been left behind during the initial polishing process. After the dust and debris has been removed, the floor will need to undergo yet another round of protection. This protection process will help to further prevent dust from getting trapped in the joints of the floor and again cause damage to the floor. Air quality specialists often utilize low-density dust particles as an alternative to commercial air cleaners. These high-density particles are extremely effective at removing all sorts of small dust particles from concrete floors.
Once all of the protection has been achieved, the floor will need to be subjected to yet another chemical treatment to promote the sparkle and brilliance of polished concrete floors. Special epoxy resins will be applied to the floors to promote the growth of a clear protective coating over the polished concrete. As the epoxy resin dries, it will provide an excellent seal to prevent any future dirt or dust from getting cleaned into the paint.
Polished concrete should always reach a final shine and gloss that is unmatched. Two methods can be used to ensure that the finish is as smooth as possible. The first method involves using fine-grit sandpaper to smooth the finish after it has been applied. The other method is to use a grit engine to grind away excess grit during the finishing process. Either way, a concrete polisher that includes both coarse and fine grit sandpaper will allow the finish to reach its true potential.
