A Comprehensive Guide to Achieving true polished concrete.
If you want Polished Concrete that looks like. this than you need to read this article
Polished concrete has become an increasingly popular choice for flooring in commercial and residential spaces due to its durability, low maintenance, and aesthetic appeal. However, not all polished concrete is created equal.
In this article, I will freely share my companies share our process for correctly polishing concrete and explain why we avoid the traditional mould/system for optimal results.
Contrary to popular belief, each concrete surface is unique and requires an individual assessment and processing around its specific requirements. A general "system" approach to polished concrete is not effective.
First of all Polished Concrete is not a "flooring i
nstallation", but rather a fabrication process that transforms raw material into a finished surface.
The goal of polished concrete is to create a finished surface that is visually appealing and functional rather than installing a finihses on or over your your surface with a pre-manufactured finish like tile, carpet, timber.
Polished Concrete is actually the process of enhancing the concrete's chemical makeup with densifiers and refining the surface with a series of grouts, cutting, and polishing resins.
The following steps outline our process for achieving a durable and beautiful polished concrete surface:
Concrete grinding: This process rem
oves the crust of the concrete to achieve general flatness and reveal the desired amount of stone or aggregate.
Refining and removing diamond scratching: After the grinding process, we refine the surface by removing any remaining diamond scratching.
Mechanical grouting: We fill 90-98% of naturally occurring pinholes in the cement with a specialized grout. Raw surfaces may complete this process in earlier steps as well to ensure we meet the 90-98% parameter.
Densifiers or hardeners: We use densifiers or hardeners to increase the density of the cement or "matrix," making it possible to polish your concrete. Multiple applications of concrete densifiers like sodium-potassium and lithium are used in our process to create a long-lasting polished concrete surface.
Polishing: We use specialized polishing resins to refine the surface and achieve the desired shine. It's important to note that all polished concrete floors have shine, but the level of shine can be adjusted based on the reflective properties of the space.
Sealing: After the polishing proces
s, we apply a penetrating sealer to protect the surface and slow down the absorption of water and contaminants.
Our process involves between 30-40 steps, including consideration of the body of the floor, edges, corners, cleaning and chemical treatments, and multiple processes that need to be done multiple times. This ensures that we create a surface that lasts a lifetime.
In conclusion, our process for polishing concrete involves a detailed and individualised approach to achieve a durable and beautiful surface. By avoiding the traditional mold/system, we can tailor the process to the specific requirements of each surface, ensuring that we create a surface that outperforms our competitors.