Polishing Basics
Simply put, polishing concrete is similar to sanding wood. Heavy-duty polishing machines equipped with progressively finer grits of diamond-impregnated segments or discs (akin to sandpaper) are used to gradually grind down surfaces to the desired degree of shine and smoothness.
The process begins with the use of coarse diamond segments bonded in a metallic matrix. These segments are coarse enough to remove minor pits, blemishes, stains, or light coatings from the floor in preperation for final smoothing. Depending on the condition of the concrete, this rough grinding is generally a three- to four- step process.
The next steps involve fine grinding of the concrete surface using diamond abrasives embedded in a plastic or resin matrix. Crews use ever-finer grits of polishing discs (a process called "lapping") until the floor has the desired sheen.
How Slippery Is Polished Concrete?
lf kept clean and dry polished concrete is usually no slicker than plain concrete. It is also less slippery than waxed tile or polished marble.
How Do I Maintain The Shine?
Keeping polished concrete shiny requires minimal effort and expense. With simple cleaning, polished concrete will keep it's shine for years and will never need a topical coating applied.
Benefits of Polished Concrete
- Reduced Maintenance Costs
- Stain Resistant
- Hardens and Densifies Concrete
- No Need for Topical Coatings
- Eliminates Concrete Dusting
- No Chipping or Peeling
- Low Maintenance
- Elegant Look
- Extremely Durable Surface
Equipment
We at A.P.C. use a patented system that is unrnatched in the industry. For example our P30 machine has three 13" counter rotating heads for a total grinding width of 30". Each head contains four diamonds, so that our operators can walk faster and get better results. This allows us to serve our customers more efficently. Our system increases productionby 40% when compared to electric machines. Standard practice has been to complete a polishing job at 3000 grit, with our system we get the same outstanding results at 800 grit.
Frequently Asked Questions ...