POLISHED CONCRETE - POLISHING BASICSLearn how to polish concrete floors to produce a high-gloss finish that never needs waxingPolished concrete is fast becoming the ultimate no-wax flooring material. Thanks to recent advances in polishing equipment and techniques, contractors are now grinding concrete floor surfaces, whether new or old, to a high-gloss finish that never needs waxes or coatings. Factor in the superior durability and performance of concrete, and it's no wonder why more retail, warehouse, and office facilities are opting for polished concrete flooring as an alternative to marble, granite, tile, linoleum, or coated concrete. Even homeowners are catching on to the appeal of these smooth, high-luster floors, which can be stained to replicate the look of polished stone.

Concrete is a mixture of cement, rock aggregate, sand, and water. Cement by itself is very brittle, but when rocks and sand are added, a matrix is formed that strengthens the mix. The cement is like the glue, and it fills in the small space between the aggregate and sand. This makes concrete much stronger than cement on it’s own. Because the rock aggregate in concrete mixes are quarried regionally, the types of rocks you see will be different depending on where you are in the world. The concrete pieces in this guide are made from a 5000 psi. concrete mix produced with Northern California aggregate.Normally when casting concrete, the cement paste forms a uniform layer on the surfaces of the piece, producing a piece that is one solid color with minor variations. This is referred to as a cast-finish. The cement layer can be removed with very light polishing. This will begin to expose the fine sand in the mix, called a light-polish. Deeper polishing will expose the rock aggregate and produce a ground-finish. Very little material needs to be removed to expose the aggregate and achieve a ground finish (about 1/16″).This guide will show you how to polish concrete countertops. There are a range of finishes possible from a single piece of concrete. Normally polishing is accomplished using a variable speed concrete polisher with a set of diamond sanding discs. The polisher is usually water fed and is attached to a normal garden spout. The water helps cool the pads down and also keeps dust to a minimum.

Is done using a planetary grinding machine, powered by three phase electric, along with a large heppa vacuum, to eliminate any airborne dust particles. The diamond metal bond tools remove the top layer of the concrete surface.Applications for Grinding: 1)Remove coatings, mastic, and glue2)Repair damaged slabs, i.e. rain damage, surface delaminated, flatten high spots, uneven joints3)Leaves a micro profile ideal for new coating or polish

 Polished concrete has a modern, sophisticated appearance, and the polishing process can improve the overall condition of the material. You'll need to grind away any imperfections, buff the surface smooth, and apply a sealer to protect your work. The process is fairly straightforward, but it does require plenty of physical labor and time.

Concrete Grinding If you need to remove sealer, stain, or other contaminants that wouldn't wash off, start with a 40-grit grinding disc. If you do not need to remove anything, though, skip directly to an 80-grit disc.Note that these discs must be metal-bonded diamond discs. Non-diamond discs will not be hard enough to grind down the concrete.Keep in mind that lower grit values indicate coarser discs. In other words, 40-grit discs are coarser than 80-grit discs.Follow the instructions that come with your grinder to determine the proper way to attach discs and power the machine. Pass over the entire concrete surface, gradually working from one corner to the diagonally opposite corner.Quote"https://www.wikihow.com/Polish-Concrete"

Function descriptions:1.To create anti-slip surfaces.2. To remove old glue and resin coatings, in particular thick resins.3. To use as a scarifying machine with the advantage that it is aggressive but gentle enough not to “dig” uncontrollably into the floor surface.4. For floor preparation before laying new coatings.5. To expose the aggregate in concrete floors to prepare for concrete polishing.   Angle grinders are powerful electric or pneumatic grinders with detachable grinding wheels that can be used for a variety of jobs around the house, from cutting small tile and cleaning garden tools to sharpening mower blades and grinding dry mortar. Knowing what you will be using an angle grinder for is important in learning how to use an angle grinder and choosing the right type of grinder and wheel attachments. An angle grinder is a handy and versatile tool that can save you a lot of time and energy, and can be used safely and efficiently by following a few simple instructions.1）Choose the grinder that is best suited to your project. Electric grinders are more powerful and are best for large jobs that cover a lot of surface area. Pneumatic grinders are less powerful, but easier to maneuver and are best for smaller jobs in tighter fitting spaces.2）Choose the proper discs. Sanding discs and polishing pads are used for finishing work, while cutting discs are used for cutting tile, masonry, steel or pipe and wire brush wheels to remove rust or paint. Grinding discs are also available for grinding metal and stone. Never use a cutting disk for grinding.3）Carefully read all the instructions and guidelines, being sure you understand any recommendations from the manufacturer, before using your grinder.4）Clamp your work firmly to a stable surface and make sure that the guard is properly secured.5）Hold the grinder with a firm grip and against the bulk or body of your work rather than on the edge of it.6）Move the grinder across the bulk or body of your work in the direction of the handle to avoid the grinder kicking back and the disc slipping, which may ruin your work and cause injury.When you have finished grinding, lift the grinder off the surface of the work slowly and gently.  

Bush hammer applicationBush hammer tools create a bush-hammered profile on concrete, ideal for use on exterior spaces and creating anti-slip surface. Useful even to remove varnish and resin coating!!

Work in the polish. If you're using a soft cloth, make tight, circular movements. If you're using a polisher, slowly move it in a controlled circular motion. When you finish with the flat sides, polish the corners with a soft rag, continuing your circular movements.Use a low to medium speed if you’re using a polisher.Remove the excess polish. Use a dry cloth to wipe away the residue, and then finish with a damp cloth to ensure a clean surface.Allow your marble to fully dry. Wait 24 hours before applying your sealant.If your cultured marble still has stains or shows damage, you can polish it with a buffing compound and then again with a polishing compound. If neither of these products works, cultured marble can be wet sanded using 1,000-grit wet/dry sandpaper.Don’t try buffing compound or wet sanding on natural marble because it is more easily damaged.

A Guide to Concrete GrindingWhile this introduction is basic only, it does give you a few ideas and considerations in regards to grinding concrete.Concrete grinding is the process of removing high points, contaminants, and loose material from a concrete surface using a grinding machine. When grinding concrete, the bond of the diamond cup wheels should normally be the opposite of the concrete, ie use a soft bond on hard concrete, and a hard bond on soft concrete. Use a larger diamond grit (lower number) for faster removal of concrete and for harder concrete.Grinding hard concrete does not produce much dust, and it is usually soft and non abrasive. The diamonds cut, blunt and break as normal, but the metal bond surrounding them is not worn away easily without the dust, so the diamonds are not exposed as much as with soft concrete. The diamond segment glazes over and stops working and rubs on the floor instead of cutting it. You can use larger diamonds (around 20 grit) to increase dust production. Also, reduce the surface area with fewer segments to increase the weight per square centimetre.Grinding soft concrete usually produces sufficient gritty, abrasive dust that will wear away the bond and expose the diamonds adequately. In fact, too much dust can cause the grinding wheel to wear too fast, so vacuum up excess dust. Reduce the weight on the wheel or increase the surface area with more segments to reduce the weight per square centimetre.Inspect your grinding discs regularly to make sure diamonds are exposed adequately  and that it is not overheating . Even the best discs will perform badly if used in the wrong application.

How to polish concreteConcrete floor polishing follows a process to make sure that it acquires the right amount of sheen as desired. First, existing concrete floors are initially ground with a coarse set of grits. Similar to how one would sand wood, it starts with a coarser sandpaper sheet then slowly progressing to a finer one as it becomes more smooth. So, using a coarse diamond-embedded disk attached to a concrete polishing equipment, the contractor would go through the floor slowly making sure that each area is sanded appropriately. Depending on how much concrete polishing the floor needs to be smoother and glossy, it may take three to four steps to complete the grinding. After the course grinding has been completed, a concrete hardener and densifier is applied to the concrete surface.  This product hardens the concrete which allows for a much more durable and abrasion resistant floor system.  Once the floor hardener has dried the concrete polishing process can resume; these next steps would be classified as fine grinding.  During the fine grinding phase, progressively finer diamonds are used during each step until the floor reaches the specific sheen for that particular project.  Typical polished concrete floors can range from a 400 grit satin finish all the way to a 3000 grit high gloss finish.  With the polishing process complete, an oil and water repellent can be applied to the surface depending on the environment of the facility.