I believe that many architects/builders/interior designers have encountered: polished concrete floor dullness, cracking, flowery, alkali and other problems. The effect after completion is far from the design effect. How to make your concrete floor have a transparent mirror-like effect? I will teach you 3 steps to easily achieve the good effect of polished concrete floor
Step 1: Slowly and gradually remove defects and unevenness
Use metal diamond grinding discs, 30-80 mesh grinding discs to gradually grind, remove defects and uneven areas on the concrete floor, and make the whole floor flat and smooth.
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Fill the potholes or cracks in the base with high-strength, fast-drying repair mortar first.
Note slow, uniform speed, vertical and horizontal cross grinding.
Step 2: Lithium-based curing grouting
This step is the most critical. The principle of curing is: liquid silicate penetrates into the already cured concrete matrix and re-reacts with the incompletely reacted silicate cement. The reacting substances will seal the capillaries of concrete, thereby improving the density, hardness and durability of concrete.
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“Lithium-based curing agent” must be used, and it should be diluted with water at a ratio of 1:4-1:5.
The previous generation of “sodium-based curing agent” must not be used. The reason is that when sodium phosphate reacts with silicates in concrete, it is a chemically reversible curing reaction. When the finished floor encounters water, sodium silicate will react in reverse and precipitate on the surface of the concrete, causing the concrete surface to lose its gloss and hardness. The most dangerous thing is that the concrete will also lose its anti-slip properties.
Clean up the floating slurry in time during the grinding process to prevent the sand in the mud from grinding the floor (leaving circle marks).
Use the “grouting process”, spray the repair liquid in small amounts and evenly, use a 100-mesh resin grinding disc, adjust the mill speed to 600 rpm, grind at low speed and grouting, and rub the mud into the gaps and sand holes to play a fine filling role.
Step 3: High-speed cross polishing
Use a high-speed polishing machine, 300-1000 mesh resin diamond grinding disc, and appropriate polishing pads to polish the floor step by step. This step will make the floor present a bright glass luster, and the patina effect will be immediate
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While polishing, spray a small amount of curing agent with a sprayer again for secondary sealing.
Cross-cross method, advance at a uniform speed, and do not stop.
Why your polished concrete floor does not have a bright effect
- Insufficient concrete strength: Concrete strength is one of the important factors affecting the polishing effect. If the concrete strength is not enough, powdering and peeling are prone to occur during the polishing process, resulting in an unbright floor.
- Water-cement ratio is too high: The water-cement ratio refers to the ratio of the amount of water used to mix concrete to the weight of cement used. A water-cement ratio that is too high will reduce the strength of the concrete and increase the porosity, thereby affecting the polishing effect.
- Improper maintenance: After the concrete is poured, it needs to be maintained to ensure its strength and durability. Improper maintenance, such as insufficient maintenance time and incorrect maintenance methods, can also cause the concrete surface to be dull.
- Improper polishing process: Improper polishing process, such as excessive polishing pressure, pits, scratches and other defects on the concrete surface. Insufficient polishing time, etc., can cause the floor to be dull.
- Polishing too early: After the concrete is poured, it takes a certain amount of time to reach sufficient strength. If polishing is performed too early, the concrete surface will powder and peel.
- Use of inappropriate polishing materials: Different concrete materials require different polishing materials. If inappropriate polishing materials are used, the polishing effect will be poor.
