The basics of concrete polishing

Concrete polishing involves a lot of steps and the use of proper tools as well as equipment in case you need to have the best results. This article aims at guiding you throughout the whole process of concrete polishing from the purchase of material to the process itself. Remember that the task will present different challenges depending on the available conditions and therefore it will be in your best interest in consulting your material supplier for any recommendations.

Concrete and wood sand polishing have some similarities as the machines used in both tasks have diamond-segmented abrasives which grind down concrete surfaces creating a smooth one. This is no different to sanding wood which involves starting with a coarser grit and moving to a finer grit abrasive. The process aims at creating a shiny, glossy surface

There are two techniques in polishing the concrete which is wet and dry techniques. Each among of the two has its own advantages. The dry method is the most commonly preferred one in the industry because of it the reliable, fastest and environmentally friendly. In the wet polishing, water is used to cool the diamond abrasives while on the other hand, it removes grinding dust. Not only that but water acts as a lubricant reducing friction and hence prolonging the lifespan of the abrasives. This method is environmentally friendly because it creates a lot of slurries that you will have to collect and dispose of in a green manner. The polisher has a tube connected to a dust container that vacuums pulling up all the dust.

• Make sure that the previous coating is removed and this can be done using diamond abrasive which is ideal for removing thick coating such as the T-Rex. • Make sure that you seal all joints as well as cracks by applying epoxy or any semi-rigid filler.

• Perform the grinding using a 30-40 grit metal which has a diamond bound.

• Then grind by using an 80 grit metal which has a diamond bound.

• Use a 150 grit metal diamond bound to grind. At this stage, you can use a finer grit metal if you want.

• Harden the concrete by using a chemical.

• Do the polishing by using a 100 grit resin with bound diamond.

• Then do the polishing using a 400 grit with a diamond bounded.

• Finally, complete the task by using a 1500-3000 grit resin which is bonded to a diamond. This depends on the sheen level that you want to get.