If you have a concrete floor in a warehouse, home, or place of business, you might be wondering about the process that's usually used to polish it. Let's examine what concrete polishing is and how it is typically employed.
Multiple Steps
Several steps are required in this form of floor polishing. The surface must be machine-ground, honed, and then polished. A hardening chemical is also frequently applied to make sure the surface will stay tough. Dying is also sometimes performed for aesthetic reasons.
Grinding
A professional trained in concrete polishing will use a machine that's designed to grind the surface of the floor. This removes stains and other discolorations, and it also makes sure that a relatively even surface will be available in the later stages of the process. Most industrial- and commercial-grade grinders use diamonds that are bonded to some sort of metal to provide a grinding surface.
Honing
Increasing higher levels of grit at used to start smoothing out the rough surface that's left behind by grinding. The higher the grit used, the finer the smoothness of the surface will be. Once the grit gets to a 1600 rating, the floor is considered honed. Folks who are looking for finer results can ask for grits over 3000.
Dying, Texturing, and Polishing
If a floor is going to be dyed, the work will be performed during or before polishing. A range of dyes can be used to change the color of the floor, add grids and borders, or apply designs. If you want a texture applied, the surface can also be scored before polishing. A seal can also be applied at this stage.
Once you've achieved the appearance you desire, polishing will begin. The surface will be dusted, and then a chemical hardener will be applied. Polishing materials will be spread out, and a machine will be taken over the surface to buff out imperfections several times. Finer polishing is possible with more passes and finer buffing pads.
Applications
In addition to cleaning up an existing floor, concrete polishing can be used on new surfaces or to retrofit current ones. With a new floor, the process proceeds exactly as described above.
When you wish to retrofit a floor, the grinding process will likely be more aggressive. The contractors will attempt to strip away all evidence of the previous appearance of the floor, and then they'll proceed like they would with a new or existing floor.
For more information on concree polishing, feel free to contact sites such as Spectrum Floor Systems.