Concrete polishing is a process that creates a striking, glossy finish on concrete floors and is in demand for both residential and commercial applications. It's become very popular as a floor finish due to the vast range of design options available and how affordable it is. With this type of flooring, different saw cuts, objects or aggregates can be embedded into the floor before polishing to create a different design.
How is it done?
Concrete polishing has many similarities to wood sanding. It involves attaching diamond-impregnated segments or alternatively discs to heavy duty polishing machines which then become progressively finer throughout the polishing process. Different levels of concrete polishing are applied depending on the reflective finish that the floor polisher is trying to achieve.
The first step involved in the polishing process is applying a metallic matrix of diamond segments that are roughly textured to remove any imperfections such as pits, stains or blemishes from the concrete surface. Next, diamond abrasives and progressively finer grits of polishing discs are used to grind the surface finely until the desired sheen is reached. As part of the polishing process, an impregnating sealer is used to protect and harden the concrete so a topical coating won't be required.
Different varieties of concrete polishing
Why concrete polishing is in such high demand for both residential and commercial requirements is because of the wide variety of finishes that can be created. For those after a simple and more industrial feel, plain grey polished concrete is a great alternative. Polished concrete can also be customised to create amazing patterns and designs using colour as well as a range of techniques, such as engraving, stencilling, cutting and scoring. Another alternative to enhance flooring aesthetics is by installing polished concrete overlays.