What are the steps in Polishing Concrete Toppings?

Polishing concrete toppings are becoming very popular among the various concrete flooring contractors. Quiet often contractors come across concrete surfaces that are badly stained, visible surface cracks, deeply trenched, out of level, pitted or has inconsistent aggregate, unsightly glue or thin set patches from other floor covering materials. Grinding and polishing such surfaces becomes impossible or prohibitively expensive.

One of the greatest advantages of a concrete overlay is that they can be duplicated repetitively at various locations because they produce consistent results. Retails stores or any other commercial spaces with multiple locations can have their floors convey the same brand message at every location.

The flooring contractors also appreciate the fact that they can reproduce the sample they created to sell their services to their customer. Consistently reproducing a sample can make or break a contractor’s business!

Polishing self leveling concrete overlay

Polished concrete overlay

Polishing regular concrete and polishing a concrete overlay are requiring different mindset and skill levels although they may require similar tools. Unlike polishing regular concrete, polishing a concrete overlay is less like to show job site surprises. Once a technique is perfected with a particular type of concrete overlay, the polishing steps can be standardized. Polishable concrete overlays also present a greater choice of colors and designs. They can be integrally colored, chemically stained or dyed.

Typically, polishing a concrete overlay involves 5-6 steps after it is poured in place. One of the key things in polishing process is the choice of diamonds for polishing. Usually polymer modified concrete overlays are very aggressive on diamonds. Some diamond manufacturers have special diamonds designed for polishing concrete overlays. When you use the right set of diamonds, you’ll get the proper wear and they will last longer. When grinding soft concrete use a hard-bonded diamond and if the concrete is hard use a soft-bonded diamond.

Recently, Tom Zilian of Madstone, LLC who work in New England area polished Param 6000, polishable self-leveling concrete topping. The polishing of concrete overlay was started between 3-4 hours after Param 6000 was poured. The following steps for followed in the polishing process –

Step 1 – Start with 80 grit metals and followed by

Step 2 – 100 grit metals

Step 3 – Blue diamond resin pads

Step 4 – Densify the concrete surface with Hermetix densifier

Step 5 – White diamond resin pads

Step 6 – Green diamond resin pads

Step 7 – Finish coat and high speed burnish (3000rpm)

Please CLICK HERE to watch the steps in polishing concrete toppings in great detail. Please contact us to discuss your project.