Many Australian homeowners mistakenly think that concrete polishing is simply a question of applying a sealer onto the concrete and polishing it until it shines, which is called ‘topical’ sealing, and while that might bring up a shine, it isn’t the concrete that is polished, only the sealant. The correct way to polish concrete is very different and there are many steps to the process, which we will examine in this article.
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The Art of Concrete Polishing
The skilled concrete polisher would never work on any project without first talking to the homeowner about the kind of finish they are looking for, and if you are interested in polished concrete in Perth, for example, an online search is all it takes to source a local expert. Once you have made contact with the right provider, they would be happy to pay you a home visit, which is essential if you would like a quotation.
Diamond Abrasive Machinery
This special type of equipment is necessary to achieve the desired results, and with many different grades, ranging from very coarse to extremely fine, the expert would select the grade that best meets your needs. The grit that is used with the abrasive machinery can also be varied, again, with coarse, medium and fine grades of grit, each having its own unique properties.
Designed Around the Customer’s Needs
The specialist needs to know what type of finish you are looking for, which would include information about how dark you want the finish to be, as well as how much of the aggregate you want exposed, and it is only by discussing your needs that the specialist can formulate a plan of action.
Penetrating Sealer
Rather than using a topical sealer, the expert would always recommend a penetrating sealer, which not only seals the concrete, it also darkens the colour, which is a very attractive feature. Topical sealing means that the shiny finish is not the surface of the concrete, but rather the sealer itself that is polished, which is not the ideal solution.
Grinding
The grinding is the very first step in the mechanically concrete polishing process, and it uses a special diamond abrasive machine that is used in conjunction with special grit. The degree of abrasion and the coarseness of the grit determines the surface, and there are many combinations, depending on the desired finish.
Honing
The nest step in the mechanically polished concrete process, the honing comes after the grinding and prior to polishing. The honing, for example, will determine whether or not the finish will be non-slip, and honing can be carried out without grinding, when the customer requires none or minimal exposure of aggregate.
Polishing
Once the floor has been honed, it is ready for mechanical polishing, and the diamond abrasive tool is combined with special grit that brings up the surface to the desired finish.
Talk to a local polished concrete specialist today and see what they can do for you.