Everything You Need To Know About Polished Concrete

 

Concrete industries have taken giant leaps in recent years. A lot of advancements have come about making the concrete far more attractive and stronger. One such variant is the polished concrete. Having been introduced into the market about 14 years ago, they surely have commanded a place in the market that few have over such a short span of time.

They are a very popular variant of concrete and these days are used almost in every other building. Their premium appearance and low maintenance are to be held responsible for the rise in popularity. Their low-cost life cycle is equally attractive for its consumers. In spite of all the perks it has to offer, the process of making this concrete is what ensures all the above qualities are maintained.

What Is Polished Concrete?

Polished concrete refers to a particular kind of concrete that is polished using a bonded abrasive. The polishing of the surface of the concrete is carried on until the desired exposure and the desired shine is obtained by the process. The surface of the concrete floor is subject to a mechanical process that involves various steps involving cutting or refining the surface to the maximum potential and to gain the maximum shine. The shine progresses with every advancing step.

Burnished polished concrete, on the other hand, is the polishing of a concrete floor by rubbing, thereby creating friction. There is an also Tropical polished floor where a liquid is poured on to the floor to achieve a glossy finish.

The various processes that are followed to achieve the shine, has its own implications. It is the process that determines the characteristics that the floor will exhibit. In spite of their differences, all the processes produce floors that are closely related but differ in some key characteristics. These differences tend to confuse the architects or promoters as to which process to choose. The customers, on having achieved some useful characteristics, may feel aggrieved on having missed some other characteristics of the floor.

Bonded Abrasive is perhaps the most famous process to achieve a shine. But it is a fairly complicated process. It requires proper knowledge on part of the installer. Knowledge about the concrete and the abrasive tool that is important to have.

Concrete expectation:

There are pre-requisitions to start the polishing process of a floor. The concrete substrate must be flat and hard. To achieve the desired flat finish, “bump cut” or “highway screed” may prove helpful. Highway screed, in particular, is famous for the flat finishes it can provide.

It is also very important to make sure that all the parties involved- the general contractor, technician, architect and customer, are on the same page. They should have the same expectations at the end of the process for the process to be successful.

The polishing process is largely divided into 3 phases: grinding, honing and polishing. Each phase has a grit sequence and is designed to help the technician, to measure the overall performance. This helps eliminate any confusion that may arise due to different expectations between the customer and the technician. If the expectations are not met as per the customer’s wishes, the technician may be forced to work on it again. To avoid such situations, standards are set.

Abrasive expectations:

Diamond Abrasives are the most versatile tool used for polished concrete. But it takes proper understanding to handle it effectively. A certain level of experience and craftsmanship is required to handle this tool. However, once mastered, this tool is capable of producing dynamic results on a consistent basis. It is capable of producing high-quality surfaces based on its design grit and matrix.