Polished Concrete for a Bright Sleek Look

Polished concrete is achieved by grinding the top layer of concrete and leveling any inperfections. Then a hardening agent is applied, which changes the chemical composition of the concrete. It penetrates into the concrete about half an inch, making it harder, stronger, and resistant to water, oil, and other contaminants.

Much like sanding wood, a gradually finer diamond tool is used for concrete grinding. This will create a shiny, long-lasting surface requiring minimal maintenance. The only cleaning needed is mild soap and water.

Any custom color can easily be added during the process, to create the exact look that the client wants. Polished concrete will reflect light about 30% more than unfinished concrete. The concrete polishing process involves up to 15 steps, which can be quite expensive and time consuming.

After the first pass by the grinder, the tiny air holes can be seen. These must be sealed with an acrylic adhesive, which is either mixed with cement powder and spread on with a trowel, or the faster alternative of spraying the adhesive on the holes. The grinder will smooth them over with grinding dust during the concrete sealing.

If the concrete mix was not poured evenly or finished off properly, footwear marks could appear. This would require further grinding to erase them, adding to the cost of the project. The edging must be finished separately, as in wood floors. The large grinding machines could bump and damage walls if used too close. A small angular grinder with a dust shield is used for getting into corners. These have more control than large stand-up machines.

Grinding machines are designed either to create an entirely flat surface, by grinding off any high spots, or to follow the contour of the floor while providing the polished concrete look, which some clients may prefer.

About the Author

George Pettit is a SEO and home improvement specialist from Australia. He writes about various home improvement topics such as polished concrete, concrete grinding and concrete sealing.

Author (George Pettit). Submitted on Sat, 12 Jun 2010 Time: 10:25 PM

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