Concrete polishing is a developing industry, nonetheless it is predicted to expand in the coming years. Procedures such as concrete polishing date back a while, however it is only fairly recently that interior designers, architects, engineers, property owners and general contractors have paid them any attention. The professionals who embrace this industry today, and familiarize themselves with the finer points of the procedures, will profit considerably after demand for these services rises.
Initial Obstacles
As with other developing industries, there are hurdles that professionals have to surmount. Lots of professionals, who go into the processing business, assume that concrete polishing amounts to no more than placing abrasives onto machines, then taking them off again. In reality, the process is detailed and, in conjunction with other factors that professionals can’t control, results are usually unsatisfactory. In particular, this is the case if professionals lack the proper knowledge and expertise to handle these problems. Moreover, there are numerous factors that are within the control of professionals, which they must learn to deal with.
Additional problems for the industry include professionals who base their prices on what their competitors charge, as opposed to working it out by deducting their expenses from their desired profit. I have seen many professionals who do not have enough technical education, as well as many customers who do not understand what concrete polishing is.
To guide the industry in the right way, professionals should make it their mission to acquire proper training, and increase their knowledge of concrete processing. Also, they should tell their customers what concrete processing involves, what the expected time scale for projects is, and how quality workmanship should be billed.
It’s ‘Processing Concrete’ Without a Doubt
Due to the fact that concrete polishing is a young industry, lots of the technical parlance is used wrongly. Frequently, the words “concrete polishing” are used out of context; generally the appropriate words should be “concrete processing”. These words describe a procedure common in other industries — placing materials like stone, metal and optical lenses through a specific process.
When concrete is polished, an existing concrete surface is altered using machines that refine and cut the surface to a desired finish. Polished concrete surfaces are just one of numerous results that can arise from concrete processing, using mechanical refinements and different abrasives categorized with grits.
At the moment, the industry arranges concrete polishing procedures so that polishing is done separately from grinding. Often, people in the field use the word “polishing” to mean the entire process. Nonetheless, in fact, concrete polishing involves a few different stages: grinding, honing and polishing. Each of these stages are divided up even further, to comprise a grit abrasive sequence. During the procedure, hardeners or densifiers are used, which are absorbed into the concrete. This generates a chemical response that makes the concrete denser and/or harder.
Not all processed concrete is polished. With the grinding and honing stages, for example, this leads to a medium, low or high sheen appearance without involving any polishing.
Explaining the Stages and Different Categories
The ground concrete category is the lowest for processed concrete surfaces. Every grit abrasive (when abrasives are classed using grits) from a resin of fifty grits and below falls under the concrete grinding stage. Surfaces of ground concrete look flat, with a slight sheen and reflection.
The next processing system category is honed concrete. Every grit abrasive, with grit resins between 100 and 400, fall under the honing stage. Surfaces with honed concrete have a reflection with a low, high or medium sheen and a matte appearance.
The highest category for processed concrete is polished concrete. Every grit abrasive, with a grit resin of at least 800 (and sometimes as high as 3000) falls under the polishing stage. Surfaces with polished concrete have a mirror like reflection clarity, as well as a glass like feel.
The Various Factors Involved
The process of concrete grinding, honing and polishing is more intricate than many people assume. There are various factors that can impact the results of the procedure. Lots of these factors are within the professional’s control, like the quality of tools, the quality of abrasives and the skill with which you utilize your equipment. Other factors can not be controlled, like the condition of the floor or the concrete mixture used. Being aware of how to cope with these factors is what differentiates a diligent, goal driven professional from a professional who is happy to settle for shoddy work.
