Polished concrete floors

There's no denying the versatility, practicality and affordability of concrete as a flooring option. And now, with the latest polishing techniques, polished concrete floors can look as stunning as any other flooring option - at half the cost!

14/07/2021

 

 

 

 

Simply put, polishing concrete is similar to sanding wood. Heavy-duty polishing machines equipped with progressively finer grits of diamond-impregnated segments or disks (akin to sandpaper) are used to gradually grind down surfaces to the desired degree of shine and smoothness.

The process begins with the use of coarse diamond segments bonded in a metallic matrix. These segments are coarse enough to remove minor pits, blemishes, stains, or light coatings from the floor in preparation for final smoothing. Depending on the condition of the concrete, this initial rough grinding is generally a three- to four-step process. For those not wanting to take the DIY option there are Pro Concrete Polishing companies that can do the work for you.

 

 

 

 

The next steps involve fine grinding of the concrete surface using diamond abrasives embedded in a plastic or resin matrix. Crews use ever-finer grits of polishing disks (a process called “lapping”) until the floor has the desired sheen. For an extremely high-gloss finish, a final grit of 1500 or finer may be used. Experienced polishing crews know when to switch to the next-finer grit by observing the floor surface and the amount of material being removed.

 

 

 

During the final polishing step, some contractors spread a commercial polishing compound onto the surface to give the floor a bit more sheen. These compounds also help clean any residue remaining on the surface from the polishing process and leave a dirt-resistant finish.

 

 

 

 

Whilst almost any structurally sound concrete floor, whether new or old, can be polished, there are some exceptions. Existing floors typically require some surface preparation prior to polishing to remove dirt, grease, coatings, or blemishes. However, floors that are wavy, need extensive patching, or are extremely porous may not be good candidates for polishing. An experienced contractor can usually determine the suitability of a floor.

 

 

 

 

With basic cleaning, polished concrete should keep its luster for years. Eventually, though, the shine can dull, especially in high-traffic areas. Fortunately, it’s easy to restore the gleam. Sometimes simply buffing the floor with a commercial polishing compound will do the trick.