There are some common methods used to get a sheen in concrete. These include using mechanical means like a wet polishing process using a special grinder, applying a sealer, or adding an epoxy coating.
Diamond polishing is one of the most common methods used to get a shiny glass-like surface. It uses industrial diamonds to smooth, grind, and ultimately polish the surface. The grit you use determines the level of sheen you'll get on your floors. The finer the abrasive grit, the better.
Sand the Surface and Wash the Concrete
Start with medium sandpaper to remove the most noticeable irregularities. Finish by fine-tuning with light sandpaper, until the surface is perfectly smooth. We recommend using a hand planer to smooth and compact the surface.
Wet Rubbing Finishing Method
Finishing process is conducted by slow speed grinding disc (wheel), at the same time applying water. So, the operator can apply water and grind concrete Simultaneously. The water and the rubbing action, brings up a cement paste which makes concrete very smooth, plaster-like surface.
Yes, concrete can be sanded by hand if the right tools are used. Although hand sanding gets the job done, one should avoid using this method on large areas instead of using a floor grinder. However, hand sanding suits smaller surfaces like quick and easy-to-sand countertops.
You can polish concrete using wet or dry methods. Although each has its advantages, dry polishing is the method most commonly used in the industry today because it's faster, more convenient, and environmentally friendly. Wet polishing uses water to cool the diamond abrasives and eliminate grinding dust.
You just mix up some sand, a little hydrated lime and Portland cement and trowel this onto the concrete. To get this stucco to bond permanently to the spalled concrete, the old concrete must be clean and solid, with all the loose concrete chipped away.
Simply put, concrete resurfacing is a thin cement based overlay that is mixed with special bonding agents. It is poured over existing concrete and adheres to create a beautiful and smooth new surface.
Use a 150-grit metal-bonded diamond for grinding (or finer if desired). Densify the concrete by applying a chemical hardener. Using a resin-bonded diamond of 100 or 200 grit, or a combination of the two, polish the surface. Use a 400-grit resin-bonded diamond to polish the surface.
Use Epoxy to Get a Silky Smooth Surface with High Sheen
You can also apply an epoxy resin coating to the surface of the concrete.
Concrete goes from a dull, rough surface to a shiny, smooth, polished surface through a series of grinding steps. This grinding is done with a series of diamond impregnated floor pads. These pads contain millions of microscopic diamonds that are used to grind the concrete and make it smoother.
To make the sparkle even more prominent, he recommends integrally coloring the concrete mix. This metallic aggregate from Pacific Palette Concrete Products comes in black and white. Sparkle Grain is recommended where you want a decorative, hard, nonslip surface.
Dry delivers more shine
However, dry polishing will always give the floor a much higher level of shine than wet polishing. It will provide a much higher level of light reflection and a classier-looking floor. Dry polishing will also always work better on a soft concrete floor.
Almost any structurally sound concrete floor, whether new or old, can be polished. However there are some exceptions, for example with new floors no special mix design is required to achieve good results – although the floor should be in place at least 28 days before polishing begins to ensure adequate curing.
As more and more industrial buildings are converted into luxury condos and upscale retail space, one of the most common questions we're asked is 'can old concrete be polished? '. While concrete polishing on old slabs is more challenging than modern pours, the answer is nearly always yes.
You can sand concrete by hand. However, doing so likely depends on the amount of space you need to polish. How big of a space you're willing to do this in is up to you. Working with 30 to 60 grit sandpaper, use smooth, even strokes to sand down the target area.
For basic sanding, use sandpaper with the grit between 40-60. To remove minor irregularities, use 80-120 grit sandpaper. For perfect finish and smoothness, use superfine sandpaper with grit ranging between 200-400.
Simply fill a spray bottle with equal parts water and vinegar (or water and baking soda), and add a little bit of liquid dish detergent. Spray the mixture on your concrete surface and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Then scrub and rinse your concrete.
Many or even most concretes are confronted with potential deteriorative service conditions. If the concrete has not been provided with immunity against these influences, it may well slowly deteriorate as time passes, but not simply because time passes. Concrete need not deteriorate.