Polished concrete is a great investment for your home. It looks amazing, is practical and adds value to your biggest investment. In this article we will cover what you need to know and how to get started. We cover:
- The pros and cons of polished concrete
- How to get started
- FAQ's
What is polished concrete
Concrete polishing is a multi-step process that involves mechanically grinding, honing and polishing the floor with bonded abrasives until it shines.
Polished concrete is denser than porous concrete and can repel water, oil, or any other contaminants. By sealing the surface of the polished floor with a sealant putty that provides an impenetrable barrier against anything entering it- including cracks in your foundation – you are able to keep these potentially harmful materials out from below floors.
Why polished concrete?
You might be pleased to learn that, in the long-run, polished concrete is a lot more affordable than you may have thought. That’s because you can enjoy its timeless qualities for years without needing costly maintenance services like other surfaces would need! Here’s why investing in quality pays off.
Investing your money wisely will always pay off and with polished concrete there are many benefits including low upkeep costs.
Pros & cons of polished concrete
Pros of polished concrete
- Highly durable
- Long life span
- Easy to maintain
- Cost effective
- Looks great
- Slip resistant
- Chemical resistant
- Environmentally Friendly
- Long term savings
- Sanitary
- Hard wearing
Cons of polished concrete
- Hard
- Cold
- Loud
- Initial expense
How to get started with your polished concrete project
Polishing is a multi-step process that requires the proper tools and equipment to achieve top quality results.Â
Polishing concrete is very similar to sanding wood. Machines equipped with diamond-segmented abrasives are used to grind down the surface of a concrete until it shines like new. As you progress from coarser grits, these machines use finer and finer granules which yield an even smoother finish. The finished product resembles a glass like finish.
- Remove existing coatingsÂ
- Seal cracks and jointsÂ
- Grind with a course metal-bonded diamond.
- Grind with medium metal-bonded diamond
- Grind with fine metal-bonded diamond
- Apply a chemical hardener to densify the concrete.
- Polish with course resin-bond diamond
- Polish with medium / fine resin-bond diamond
- Polish with fine resin-bond diamond
- Finish with ultra-fine resin-bond diamond
- Optional: Apply a stain guard to help protect the polished surface and make it easier to maintain.
DIY polished concrete
Polishing concrete is not the easiest DIY project. It requires heavy equipment and special diamond tooling to get it done right. That’s why we recommend hiring a professional contractor with expertise in this area of work for your particular needs, since they’ll have an understanding about what will give you the best results!
