Polishing Concrete For Low Maintenance Floors That Are Durable
Polished concrete has the most durable finish of all decorative concrete.
It is most commonly used for industrial floors, but it is becoming increasingly popular for commercial, retail, and even residential floors.
When people hear the term "polished concrete," they often have misconceptions.
Concrete isn't polished, but the end result is a high shine similar to that of polished concrete.
Concrete is actually ground in multiple steps.Concrete is actually ground in multiple steps.
Similar to finishing wood, concrete polishing is a process.
With wood, you start with coarse grit sandpaper and work your way down to fine grit sandpaper until the desired smoothness is achieved.
Diamond-impregnated wheels, discs, and pads are used to polish concrete from coarse to fine grit. The result is a beautifully smooth, high-shine floor.
As the surface layers are removed, aggregates in the mix are revealed.
After grinding the floor, it will expose the sands and even some pea-sized aggregates. There will also be variations from one part of the floor to the next.
Densifiers or hardeners can be used to strengthen the cement matrix between the aggregates.
They react with free lime and form a gel. As the gel hardens, it fills in pores and capillaries in the concrete.
Thus, the strength, density, and impermeability of the concrete are further increased. One of the biggest advantages of polished concrete is that it requires little or no maintenance.
The polishing process eliminates the need for top coatings, sealants, or waxes.
Dusting is eliminated and spills and debris are easily cleaned up. It doesn't have to be boring gray polished concrete. Acid stains and concrete dyes can add color.
The process is performed prior to fine polishing to allow stains and dyes to penetrate. It is possible to turn a polished floor into a work of art by combining a variety of colors and patterns.
Polished concrete offers a high level of durability and maintenance-free beauty. It is becoming a popular alternative to marble, tile, granite, and other types of flooring.
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