Polished Concrete Options
What to look for?
There are many things that come into play when planning for polishing concrete.
Is it possible to polish this particular slab? Most slabs are good candidates for polishing but some maybe in such a bad shape hat grinding and polishing it's simply not possible. A professional contractor should be able to determine this quickly upon inspection.
Is the concrete too soft? This problem is extremely hard to determine until the process actually begins, soft concrete means that even the least aggressive metal bond pads will remove too much. To remedy this problem the contractor will immediately densify and harden the floor. It may still present a problem if the customer does not want the aggregate exposed, the aggregate will show easily on soft concrete. Soft concrete is a consequence of too much water added to the mix at the time of pour, or low quality concrete.
How much polishing to do? This will depend on the budget, the equipment and the desired result. Most jobs will be polished all the way up to a 3000 grit, this achieves the most reflection, gloss, better wear and appeal, however, if the budget is tight ar such depth is not necessary the floor may be polished to a lesser grit but results will not be the same.
Coloring Options, Stains & Dyes: Most used colors for polishing concrete are concrete dyes. Concrete Dyes penetrate deep into the porous concrete and will last for years. Dyes come in a large array of colors, they can be mixed to create new shades and work well in conjunction with acid stains. Acid stains may also be used in polished concrete but during the grinding process some of the color may be lost. another option that is used is to add integral colors at the time of pouring the concrete, this option offers a pre colored surface that can be polished t
Where is Polished Concrete being used? Though in the beginning polished concrete was used mainly as a way to protect and dust proof commercial warehouses, little by little the process is finding its way into the residential market. More and more homeowners are realizing that this is a very good option for interior floors and matches many decor styles. In the meantime, more and more commercial projects are going to this type of flooring, the advantages are clear: Appealing look, ease of maintenance and durability, many big box stores like Home Depot, Lowe's and Walmart spec polished concrete for all their new stores and many of the existing ones are being refurbished with the system.
Protecting Polished Concrete: It is important to go
over with the contractor in regards to a maintenance program for polished
concrete floors. This type of floor requieres very little maintenance
but it is good practice to clean regularly using recommended cleaning
products, these may be neutral cleaners, conditioners and waxes
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