What is Polished Concrete?
Suitable for older concrete, as well as newly placed or constructed floors, polished concrete is the product of mechanical processing and chemical treatments. The mechanical process is a series of stages referred to as grinding, honing, and polishing (GHP), progressing from coarser to finer diamond abrasives appropriate for each stage of the process.
The goal of progressing to finer grits in each stage is to achieve maximum refinement; that is, to remove the scratch or abrasive marks introduced by the coarser grits. In simple terms, GHP processing levels prepare, smooth, and finally shine concrete flooring.
The processed concrete is chemically treated with a liquid hardener to enhance its surface durability, reflectivity and gloss. It is a critical application that positively contributes to the aesthetic longevity of the floor. A protective micro-film can also be applied for stain resistance and cleanability.
Each floor is ground with a planetary grinder equipped with a dust collection unit specifically designed for concrete dust. These systems capture 99.9% of all airbourne dust.
At a certain stage of the GHP processing, the floor can be colored. Acetone dyes put into polished concrete are more color uniform than acid stains, their main advantage is that they are literally “in” the concrete – not residing in acid weakened cement paste. The dyes penetrate the cement paste down to and around the sand particles of a concrete floor that has been honed with industrial diamonds. Densifiers are then applied on top of the dyes…so before the color walks off, the hardened and polished concrete and sand particles will have to walk off.
The floor can be polished as high as a 3000 grit, which will provide a mirror-like shine. And because of the densification, or hardening of the concrete due to chemical reactions, the floor becomes nearly maintenance free. Only mild cleaners are needed which add to the cost savings of the highest life-cycle floor in the industry today.
Aren’t Polished Concrete Floors Slippery?
The short answer is NO. A properly polished concrete floor is one of the safest flooring choices available. This revelation came out of a CPAA (Concrete Polishing Association of America) sponsored field workshop where a battery of tests were performed, including measurements of dynamic coefficient of friction (DCOF). It was determined that people walking on polished concrete floors will slip less often than those on almost any other floor.
Polished Concrete Maintenancef
A study by the US government showed a contaminated (dirty) floor to be 17 times more likely than a clean floor to cause a slip-fall accident. Even a properly prepared surface will become contaminated and slippery when inadequately maintained. However, when polished concrete is properly polished and properly maintained, it just might be the safest floor yet. Proper floor maintenance includes developing a plan that outlines what maintenance takes place, when, and who is responsible for it. TThe plan should consider expected traffic and spell out daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly cleaning procedures. It should also include instructions on spill clean-up, specifically acidic products like vinegar.
Using the correct products to clean polished concrete is essential. Acidic, alkaline, solvent, and chelating cleaners will dull polished concrete finishes. Neutral pH products are safe, but they can leave residues which will will leave a finish-dulling film over time. Use only products that were developed specifically for cleaning polished concrete surfaces.
The often invisible grains of dirt and grit that people track onto concrete floors are the chief culprits in destroying glossy finishes. Daily dust-mopping helps to remove the potential for these to act like sandpaper and dull the finish. Walk-off mats at building entrances can trap dirt and grit before it reaches the floor, but they should be changed and cleaned periodically. When finish matches function, and proper maintenance is performed on schedule, expect the Polished Concrete Floor to last the life of the building.
