Understanding Concrete Polishing Methods

 Have you ever considered concrete polishing methods? If not, but you’re still interested and want to understand the methods, let us help you get educated.
  
Understanding concrete polishing methods is not rocket science, but there are still some things you need to understand especially if you want to do the job yourself. It takes skill and patience. Skill in accomplishing the well thought out task, and patience to let the newly poured concrete stabilize and cure.
  
The term ‘retroplate topical’ uses a hardening and sealing process approximately 45 days after the concrete has cured. The specifications call for Cure and Seal Hardener and are a chemically reactive penetrating hardener that will seal the floor.
  
Retroplate Grind & Seal still required the cure time of 45 days and they will not put down a sealer right after the concrete is cured like they do in the retroplate topical. They advise you to clean the floor with a rotary machine and scrub it with a high quality detergent. They also don’t specify the sheen level.
  
Retroplate Grind & Polish doesn’t require as much time, only 28 days for the grind and polish to achieve an 800 and/or 3000 grit finish. Then apply a hardener/sealer after polishing that will densify and seal the floor.
  
L & M Construction Topical is a method that requires the concrete to be cured for between 14-18 days before you even begin. That is unless you plan on the exposed aggregate is to be achieved. Grind before the 14 day. References a waterless system and a hardener and sealer.  Evidently they don’t use any machinery during this process, but they advise you early on to clean the concrete daily with a white pad.
  
FGS Hardener Plus Topical Mechanical Polish. This is referred to as “Concrete Floor Polishing and Surface Treatment.” You need to follow the directions on the product to achieve the results required. It also suggests that you follow the steps of 50-200 diamond grind.
  
If you want to see a few jobs that a contractor has done, contact a company on- line and view their work. Concrete polishing methods require a trained professional to accomplish the results. You’ll be amazed what an expert can achieve, and it looks so simple. Like anything else though, the difference between a novice and professional will be startling.
  
Don’t leave your concrete there without finding out exactly what the facts are. See how much the curb appeal of your property will advance with just a bit of polished concrete, chances are, and you might not stop there

Stellar Surfaces specializes in polished concrete NZ, concrete floor finishes and concrete floor polishing.

Polished Concrete Facts: Benefits of Polished Concrete

If you’ve never heard of Polished Concrete, now is a good time to start your education. Polished Concrete is relatively new, and they now install it on the interior and exterior of businesses and homes and have for a number of years. A professional can now polish your exterior concrete driveways and walkways even if they are old, worn-out and ugly.

However don’t stop there, now the interior of your home can achieve that same brilliance and even the professionals can’t tell the difference. So what is it and why haven’t we heard about the benefits before?

The surface of the polished concrete inhibits contaminates and is transformed into a dense surface. Even oil, paint, and water are not absorbed into the concrete. The polished concrete actually removes the top layer of the surface of the old concrete, including patchy, partial or whole coatings. It then hardens the top part of the underneath surface.

Dusting is another term not popular today. Unpolished concrete floors have small particles of dust that make maintenance practically impossible or at the least costly. When a contractor transforms the porous concrete into a dense surface, it not only looks better, but the advantages outweigh the cost.
Wet or dry, the polished concrete flooring surfaces at least meet, but often exceed building standards. The finished product may look like glass or even, marble, and the friction content makes it harder to slip on the polished concrete floor, and it doesn’t require harsh scrubbing.

Where do they install the polished concrete? Businesses find that the floor is cost effective and saves wear and tear on fork lift tires. The polished concrete also levels and smoothes the ‘curling’ joints, that often happens during the curing process of the original concrete.

Businesses also appreciate the fact that the floors are accessible shortly after they complete the process.

When installed on the interior of homes, the surfaces never need stripping or waxing. The floors are durable and the sleek surface is attractive and they are now moving into the kitchen and bathroom and not only on the floors, but the countertops as well.

If the time comes that the floors have lost their luster, the concrete is easily repolished at a fraction of the cost.

As you research polished concrete and find that it will work well in your business or home, contact a contractor that is familiar with the process. Ask to see some of their work, you’ll be amazed at the difference the polished concrete makes, and it will add to the beauty and efficiency of your property.

Stellar Surfaces specializes in concrete finishes, polished concrete NZ, and concrete floor grinding.