Concrete Polishing
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Polishing a floor is like upgrading your old TV to a new 1080p flatscreen. Much like the resolution on a TV, you can start with a lower level and work your way up to a higher resolution with a finer image and more clarity.
You can choose from our most basic polish of 400 grit (much like a Home Depot floor) or go all the way up to 3,000 grit where your floor will look similar to reflecting glass. Talk to a Zenith Professional to determine what level is necessary to get the effect you desire, and learn more about our concrete polishing here!
How it works:
Our concrete polishing process begins with a grinding process that removes the top layer and smooths it out in preparation for the polish. This grinding process has to be layered, starting with a rough grit grinding disc (30 grit), slowly working our way up to a finer grit grinding disc. With every pass we make with a finer and finer grinding disc, the smoother the surface becomes.
Following the grinding process, we start making passes with resin polishing pads. We begin with the lowest level (400 grit resin polishing pads) and work our way up to the level of gloss and shine that you are hoping to achieve!
Our polishing team always completes Steps 1 – 7 below, with the option to build on the polish levels from 400 grit, all the way up to 3,000 grit.
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The first pass is made with a set of single, 30 grit diamond grinding disc. This first step is almost always repeated with each pass made in a different direction until we are able to get through the top layer of concrete.
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The second pass is made with a set of 70 grit diamond grinding disc. At this point, only one pass will be made with each set of grinding dots or polishing pads. The concrete will be cleaned after each set of diamonds/pads.
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The third pass is made with a set of single, 120 grit diamonds.
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The fourth pass is made with a set of 100 grit calibras. These are the first pads that begin the polishing process.
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The fifth pass is made with a set of 220 grit resin polishing pads.
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If the floor is only getting polished up to a 400 grit, this is where we add the color (by request) and densifier. At this point after cleaning the floor, we would mask the perimeter and anything that can’t get over-spray on it. The color is then applied with a pump sprayer. If the customer chooses to do a very light, transparent color, then no additional grind is needed. If they choose a dark, rich color, then an additional pass with the 220 grit resin pads may be needed after the color is applied. The densifier is applied to the floor at this point with a pump sprayer. The densifier needs to remain wet on the surface of the concrete for 30 minutes.
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The seventh pass is made with 400 grit resin polishing pads. This is done after the 30 minute densifier application period. If the customer chooses to go higher than a 400 grit polish, then the color and densifier will be applied after the pass with 400 grit pads.
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400 grit resin polishing pads is the lowest entry level package that we will offer with concrete polishing with a result similar to Home Depot concrete floors. Additional passes can be made with 800 grit, 1600 grit, 3000 grit, or more, incrementally adding the higher level grit for gloss and shine. Talk to a Zenith Professional to determine what level is necessary to get the effect you desire.
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However high of grit the customer chooses, the last step will be the lithium protective finish. This product goes on with a pump sprayer and a microfiber broom. Once again, a 30 minute wait period is required for the lithium protective finish to dry. A burnisher and buffing pad is then taken across the entire floor for the final finish!
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