Polished concrete is a concrete flooring that has been treated with a chemicals and ground down to a fine polish with grinding tools. These tools are usually made of diamond and are applied on wheels and polishing pads.

In terms of sustainable design and use of materials, polished concrete makes good sense due to its use of concrete flooring already present in a home or building. It also provides a beauty that is unmatched in other types of concrete flooring. They are easy to clean and represent a safety aspect as well since polished floors tend to be non-skid without applying aggregate or other types of floor covering applications.

Polished concrete flooring can be applied to either new construction or as an addition to a home or building that is already standing. In an existing structure, Concrete flooring slabs are sanded to a fine polish with a minimum of effort. New buildings can also employ polished concrete flooring with decorative aggregate as part of the design and construction phase.

The process involved in polishing concrete flooring is fairly straightforward. First, the surface of the flooring is ground down to a fine surface with 3-4 passes of a diamond tool. This can be done with either a dry or wet application, with a wet cut creating slurry that can be disposed of fairly easily. After the initial phase of grinding on the concrete flooring, the surface of the floor is grouted with a cement compound to eliminate air bubbles and fix any blemishes in the surface of the concrete flooring. After the filling is done, another pass of the diamond grinding tool is applied. This prepares the surface of the floor for a liquid hardener, or intensifier, to be applied to the concrete flooring. This is the step which begins the transition from dull to glossy for the concrete.

After these first steps, the concrete flooring to be polished is generally left to sit overnight to cure. After drying, the floor is cut down a few more times by the diamond grinding tool. The final step is the application of any desired stain and a sealer to protect the new, polished concrete flooring surface.

Allison Concrete Construction considers every project a direct reflection of our company’s high standards and quality of service. We customize each project according to the client’s own individual needs and style to achieve the look and functionality that the customer wants. In addition, all of our clients receive the utmost professional service tailored specifically to their own individual project. Call us today to set up your free at home consultation 503-314-5138 or fill out our online request form.