Polishing
Factoring in the superior durability and performance of concrete alone, polishing the top layer of the flooring increases molecular strength after its densified. Using a process of grinding, chemical hardening, and polishing, a customer’s concrete floors are transformed into an attractive and dependable surface. Polished concrete is fast becoming the go to for more retail, commercial warehouse and office facilities. Combining the proper equipment with our experience, Extreme IFC can take your new or old substrates to a smooth, high gloss finish that requires minimal maintenance. Polished concrete floors exceed in affordability, eco-friendliness, durability, and of course aesthetics.
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Polished Concrete
Process
Finishing Options
Why Polish
Where To Use
Maintenance
Polished Concrete Considerations
Polished concrete provides customers a durable, easy maintenance, economical, long lasting solution to achieve an aesthetic floor finish that performs in wide range of environments. Using a process combining grinding, chemical hardening, and polishing a customer’s concrete floors are transformed into an attractive and dependable surface.
Grinding
- The first grit of metal bond used will depend on the surface conditions. Surface condition such as old/new, smooth/rough, clean/dirty & contaminated, tight trowel finish/rough trowel finish, uncoated or sealed/ coated or Sealed.
- If there are coatings, mastic
- Those factors confirm the decision to start with 16 grit or 60 grit metal bind diamonds.
- Each step is followed by the next grit up, It is crucial that no grits or steps are skipped as it will result in a diminished finish. 16grit-> 30grit-> 60 grit
- After each grit the floor must be cleaned to remove debris and potential diamonds from the previous grit that could leave scratches in the surface.
- After 60 grit metal grinding is completed a transitional hybrid resin pad will be used to grind surface. A 50 grit hybrid followed by a 100 grit hybrid are used before resin pads.
Polishing
- After the floor has been ground with a transitional Hybrid pad the use of polishing resin pads begins.
- The floor will be polished with resin pads until the desired grit/sheen level is acquired.
- 100 Grit (optional pending the performance of the 100 grit hybrid)
- 200 Grit
- 400 Grit
- 800 Grit
- 1500 Grit
- 3000 Grit
Densifying
- After the 200 Grit polishing step a lithium silicate densifier is applied to the concrete surface with a sprayer and microfibers. The surface is kept wet with densifier for a 15-20 minute time period to ensure adequate absorption. The minerals and molecules in the densifier bond with those in the concretes surface to create a harder, denser, scratch and abrasion resistant surface. Densifiers minimize dusting, reduce efflorescence, increase stain resistance, help protect stain from UV light, and enhance the final sheen and clarity of a polish
Sealing/Guarding
- The floor will receive the stain guard/ penetrating sealer after the final polish step/grit. The floor will be cleaned to remove all dust and debris from the surface. Once cleaned the guard will be applied with sprayer and microfibers to ensure consistent and thorough application. After the guard has been applied it is allowed to dry for the recommended time before being burnished. The Non-topical, penetrating sealer is within the surface of the concrete therefore it will not scratch, scuff, chip, peal, or flake like topical sealers. Penetrating Sealers will work in conjunction with the densifiers to increase the hardness of the surface and also provide stain repellency by exhibiting hydrophobic and oleophobic properties delivering long-lasting protection. These properties create a water and oil resistant barrier preventing staining and etching. This offers opportunity to clean spills before they stain or etch surface.
Burnishing
- After the guard has sufficiently dried the use of a 3000 grit diamond impregnated pad will be used on a high speed burnisher. After the floor has been burnished with the diamond pad it can be burnish with a white pad to provide a clean sheen. This final step will leave the surface with the desired sheen.
Aggregate Levels
- Cream-light grinding that doesn’t pass the cream surface of the concrete. Leaves a polish that highlights concrete colors with some sand particles visible
- Salt & Pepper- Medium grinding that reveals the tips of rock with in the concrete mix. Polish highlights the sand and tips of aggregate in the concrete surface
- Exposed Aggregate- Heavy Grinding that reveals the embedded aggregate surrounded by the cream and sand.
- Large Aggregate- Very heavy grinding that reveals full pieces of the embedded aggregate surrounded by sand and cream.
Grits & Sheen
- Matte Finish=100-200 Grit resin pads
- Low Sheen= 400 Grit resin Pads
- High Sheen= 800 Grit Resin Pads
- High Gloss= 3000 Grit Resin Pads
Staining
- Large Color Selection
Mottled Appearance
Logos & Design
- Custom logos
- Patterned or Custom design with Stains
- Durable, Abrasion resistant, long service life
- Cost Effective Solution
- High Light Reflectivity
- Easy Maintenance
- Customizable
- Tolerates Moisture Transmission
- Treated surfaces ‘breathe’ and do not trap moisture
- LEED Projects
- Warehouses
- Industrial Facilities
- Manufacturing Production
- Loading docks
- Retail & Showrooms
- Restaurants & Eating areas
- Waiting Areas
- Schools
- Churches
- Office Buildings
- Entertainment/ Sports Centers
Easy To sweep & mop
Daily use of microfibers and dust mops will keep the surface clean, slip resistant, and maximize the life of surface sheen.
Easily cleaned with auto scrubbers
Weekly Use of auto scrubbers with neutral PH cleaners ensures the surface is cleaned of grease grime, grit ensuring that the surface stays clean and shiny.
Prevents Concrete Dusting leading to a cleaner environment
The installation of Densifiers and Penetrating sealers along with the polish process hardens and seals the surface of the concrete preventing it from continually dusting like untreated surfaces. This dusting is caused by traffic wearing on the untreated surface of the concrete surface. As this dust is produced its made airborne by traffic and eventual settles on the surrounding surfaces making them dusty and dirty.
No Stripping or Waxing
Once the surface has been polished there is no longer a need to constantly wax and strip the surface
Burnishing with diamond pad
When the sheen has diminished and shows wear the floor can be burnish with diamond impregnated pads to revitalize the sheen.
Re-application of Stain Guards/Sealers
With the wear of traffic and cleaners it is suggested the floor be treated with stain guards to ensure that the surface maintains its stain resistance and water repellant properties.
Slip Resistance
- Oils, soaps, dust, powders, or small particulate that are not routinely cleaned and are allowed to remain will leave a slippery film or surface residue that may lead to slips and falls. Such environments should be finished with antiskid coatings using epoxies or urethanes.
- Resinous Floring
Chemical Resistance
- Although the installed densifiers and stain guards are chemical resistant and repel liquids they do not provide long term or constant exposure protection like chemical resistant coatings can. For areas that may be exposed to harsh chemicals on a consistent basis chemical resistant coatings would be a better option.
- Resinous Flooring
- Chemical Resistant/ Secondary Containment Coatings
ESD Requirements
- Polished concrete may offer antistatic properties, but it will not provide conductive and dissipative properties of ESD floor coatings. For environments or processes that are electrically sensitive polished concrete cannot provide the consistent properties and testing of ESD flooring.
- ESD
Sensitive Production or Procedures
- Polished concrete does not provide a surface that ensures a pore and penetration free surface. Therefore, it is not recommended in areas or environments that are handling, producing, or packaging beverages, food, medicinal products, or other products that are sensitive to bacteria, fungi, mold, mildew. Similarly polish is not suggested in decontamination, surgery, sensitive treatment, or chemical/biological research laboratories/rooms. Such areas should consider epoxy or urethane flooring.
- Resinous Flooring