How to Polish Concrete that Lasts Long
Polished concrete has a sophisticated look. It not only smooths the surface but also adds to the beauty of the surface. It enriches the surface with more durability and improves the overall conditions of the material.
This article focuses on polishing concrete floor surfaces in a way that polish lasts for a longer period.
Polishing the concrete
Here is a step-by-step description of the process to polish the concrete. If you follow the method properly, you will be able to achieve a glossy polish look that will last for a long time.
Cleaning and Patching the Surface:
You must clean the entire surface with soap water. Also, use a brush to scrub the concrete thoroughly. Make sure to use clean water. If there are some stubborn stains on the concrete, you can also use hydrogen peroxide, ammonia, or TSP (trisodium phosphate). However, you should not mix the two chemicals.
You should also inspect the concrete for damaged areas and cracks. You can use marking paint to address them separately. For small cracks (0.64 cm), you can buy concrete crack filler. You can apply it with a caulk gun. If there are wide cracks in the concrete, choose vinyl crack patch material. Fill the crack with the patch material and smooth it out even with the surface with a trowel.
Smoothing the Surface with Grinder:
Rent a grinder and look for a set of concrete grinding discs. The discs should vary from 40-grit to 3000-grit. Make sure that grinding discs are metal-bonded diamond discs. Put on protective gear and start grinding the surface in half-circle motions with a 40- or 80-grit disc. However, if there are stains in the concrete that you couldn’t wash off, choose 40 grit disc, else choose 80 grit disc. Start from one corner of the surface and work slowly.
Repeat the grinding process with 150-grit, 200-grit, and 400-grit discs. Make sure you spray on a densifier after the 80-, 200-, or 400-grit grinding pass. For example for soft concrete- use it after the 80 grit pass while for medium hard concrete- after the 200 and 400 grit pass. You should make a final grit pass with a 3000 grit disc.
Although, you can skip 3000 grit passes but it adds a glossier touch to concrete. You should vacuum all dust and debris off the concrete surface before heading to the next step.
Buffing and Sealing the Surface:
Attach a burnishing pad to the grinder and pass it all over the concrete. Now apply a thin coat of concrete sealer with a roller. It protects the concrete against stains and grease. However, make sure that you apply concrete sealer only during dry conditions. Wait for 2-4 hours and apply a second sealer coat. Finally, burnish the surface again to achieve a glossy look that will last for a long time.
Conclusion:
Polishing helps in achieving a glossy look in the concrete. All the steps of polishing the concrete are discussed above extensively. You can also get your work done with the help of our expert polishing team. You can also connect to concrete polishing Auckland to get the job done for you.