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Our Concrete Polishing Process
You don't just want your concrete floors polished. You want them polished to perfection! At Strong Bond, we utilize industry best practices and top-quality professional equipment in our polishing process. Polishing concrete floors is a labour-intensive process that takes a lot of testing and prep. We have perfected our concrete floor polishing process over the years to ensure the most durable, best-looking floor possible.
Not sure if your concrete floor is a candidate for polishing? The team at Strong Bond will work with you to ensure you get the best finish for your flooring application.
Exposure
Exposure refers to the aggregate Strong Bond customers would like to see in their finished product, but the floor's flatness or FF number often dictates the consistency of the aggregate exposure one can achieve.
The floor flatness is controlled by the concrete finisher and how well they lay and trowel the concrete.
This is why it is essential for the general contractor, finisher, and polisher to be on the same page and understand exactly what the desired outcome the owner is looking for.
These are the 3 most common aggregate exposure classifications:
Sheen
The level of sheen is essentially how shiny you want your floor to be. In some cases, the floor's longevity can be attributed to the degree of polish or level of sheen. The higher the level of sheen, the more dense and abrasion resistant the floor is. For floors that have a lower sheen, we recommend the application of a sealer.
Floors with a high level of sheen can often last 10-15 years before needing any rejuvenation with a proper maintenance system in place. Strong Bond can help set up and recommend floor maintenance programs to keep your polished concrete looking and performing at its very best.
Matte(Full Aggregate)
Semi-Gloss(Full Aggregate)
Satin
(Cream Aggregate)
Full Gloss
(Salt And Pepper Aggregate)
Staining
Concrete staining is the process by which we apply a colour stain to the concrete. It is important to note the quality of the concrete significantly impacts the appearance of the stain. A cream floor will have a more consistent stain than a full aggregate floor.
We have many colour options available and can recommend which stains will work for your application.
Control Joints
Control joints help to prevent cracks in your concrete slab by accounting for the small movements.
Strong Bond grinds and fills control joints, and we match the product rigidness to the application (vehicle traffic, people traffic, forklift). This results in control joints that are easy to clean while still allowing for expansion and contraction.
Grouting
Grouting is the process of filling any pinholes that can result from either air in the concrete or small holes left from aggregate due to the course grinding stages of the process.
Grouting is not always required on every finish, but in many cases, it can increase the floor's clarity and gloss readings.
Spall Repair
Atlantic Canadian winters can be hard on concrete. Harsh contaminants like salt and ice melting products can cause damage to the surface, exposing the aggregate in the areas affected by the contamination.
To properly remedy spalling, Strong Bond can shot blast and remove surface contaminations, apply an appropriate grout material to fill the spalls, and then polish and seal the area to bring it back to life.
Densifying/Dust Control
Proper densification can provide an abrasion-resistant, non-dusting, harder concrete surface. Not only does this reduce the need for re-application of treatments like coatings or sealers, but more importantly, costly downtime. This process also creates a healthy, clean-breathing working space.
Our densifier hardens both new and existing concrete slabs and is proven to provide long-term performance at lower costs than traditional treatments, keeping money in your pocket.
FAQ
Can your repair a floor before polishing it?
Yes, repairs can and should be completed before the polishing process. However, in many cases, these repairs may differ in appearance from the rest of the floor. It is important to discuss the desired finish and expectations of all patchwork and repairs.
How cured does the concrete need to be before you polish it?
A Minimum of 28 days is recommended.
What is the polishing process?
The Mechanical process for polishing a concrete floor involves the use of a concrete floor grinder combined with various girts of diamond abrasive tooling. Similar to sanding hardwood or polishing marble, the process involves using progressive grits of metal bond abrasives followed with resin bond diamond polishing pads.
What is the cost of concrete floors?
Mechanical concrete polishing is one of the most durable and cost-effective flooring solutions that boasts a low annual low maintenance cost and long life span.
Maintenance
If treated properly, polished concrete floors require very low maintenance. Regular sweeping and regular cleaning is recommended. Strong Bond does not recommend using a neutral floor cleaner. The cleaner the floor is kept the longer the finish will last, it is recommended spills be addressed quickly
Imperfections
Imperfections in polished concrete can come from an array of possibilities. Number one is poor installation or concrete finishing. If the floor is older, excessive fatigue from traffic or chemicals that wear down the surface (also known as the near-surface wear layer) might be a factor. One of the most important aspects of polishing concrete is proper steps are taken to ensure the surface is prepared, the floor is densified properly, and client expectations are managed around the proper maintenance
How long will polished concrete last?
A mechanically polished concrete floor should last up to 10 years. However, that is not without proper maintenance and care. The shine may dissipate over time depending on the traffic intensity and cleaning procedures.