Polished concrete floors are constructed by carefully grinding a solid concrete slab together with progressively smaller diamond grinding tools over a series of plates. The initial few steps are usually called cutting, which uses large, strong, and actively-paced grinding instruments to remove imperfections from the surface of the concrete, then homogenizing and flatten the exposed surface of the concrete. The final step is called polishing, which is a delicate process that perfects the polished concrete surface by adding tiny amounts of water. This finishing process not only improves the appearance of polished concrete, but also improves its wear resistance and longevity. Polished concrete will outlast concrete that was used prior to the technological advances in diamond grinding in both the interior and polished concrete floors exterior surfaces of concrete.
Diamond grinding technology has enabled manufacturers to create hundreds of different grinding tool designs for their products. Although each diamond carving tool creates a different finish, they all have in common the ability to produce a polished, mirror-like polished surface on polished concrete floors. Although there are many design options available for diamond-powered grinding, some of the most popular polishing concrete floors include:
Routine Maintenance Just as with any other flooring material, polished concrete floors must be regularly maintained to ensure that the surface is free of imperfections and that it does not require further repair or refinishing. Like other floors, polished concrete floors must be cleaned on a regular basis to prevent staining and etching. Cleaning procedures must be executed both before and after heavy traffic. Cleaning methods must remain consistent to avoid excessive scrubbing that could remove the finish and cause the floor to become ineffective.
Diamond Scratches Diamond-powered grinding machinery is capable of producing minute scratches in flooring materials such as polished concrete floors that are impossible to clean manually. Because these small irregularities can make a small difference in the appearance of the finished flooring, homeowners must regularly maintain the floors using the right cleaners. Weekly cleaning routines can include removing any raised etching and dust from the surfaces and wiping the surfaces with an appropriate cleaning solution.
Moisture Drying Although polished concrete floors can be extremely hard-wearing, they can also absorb a significant amount of moisture. Any water that is inadvertently spilled onto the floor should be mopped up immediately with a sponge or soft cloth and then dried with a commercial dryer set to medium heat. While dry heat will likely accelerate the drying process, dry heat will also damage the finish and reduce its durability.
Diamond-Piloted Grinding machines are used to move the diamond dust around the floor. Although this process does not appear as abrasive as machine-ground grinding, diamond-piloted grinding can significantly grind down the surface of a polished concrete floors by more than 30%. The coarse diamond-piloted gravel is placed over the subflooring and then kicked, or clicked, back and forth, across the entire subflooring until the desired finish is achieved. This process, however, can require up to two full days to complete depending on the exact subflooring and amount of gravel being used.