QA

Question: Can I Polish Concrete Yourself

Polishing concrete is not an easy DIY project, since it requires heavy equipment and special diamond tooling. We recommend hiring a professional concrete polishing contractor to complete your project.

How do you polish concrete at home?

How To Polish Concrete Floors Step 1 – Prepare the Area for Polishing. Step 2 – Polish the Concrete Floors Using a Coarse Grit Abrasive Disc. Step 3 – Polish the Concrete Floors Using a Fine Grit Abrasive Disc. Step 4 – Polish the Floors with an Extra-Fine Grit Abrasive Disc. Step 5 – Apply a Coat of Concrete Floor Polish.

Can you just polish concrete?

Almost any structurally sound concrete floor, whether new or old, can be polished. However there are some exceptions, for example with new floors no special mix design is required to achieve good results – although the floor should be in place at least 28 days before polishing begins to ensure adequate curing.

How much does it cost to polish concrete DIY?

The cost of polished concrete can start at $60 per square metre, but on average, grind and seal polished concrete will cost around $100 per square metre. Honed concrete may cost $80 per square metre. Mechanically polished floors may cost $120 or more per square metre.

How do you make concrete shiny?

For this, you need to put a small amount of elbow grease on the area and sprinkle baking soda over it. Then use a damp cloth to rub around the area to make the area smooth and shiny again. Most of the time, you will be needing to follow this technique to make the concrete surface look shiny and smooth.

Is it easy to polish concrete floors?

Polishing concrete is not an easy DIY project, since it requires heavy equipment and special diamond tooling. We recommend hiring a professional concrete polishing contractor to complete your project. They will have a thorough understanding of what it takes to achieve the best results.

How can I make my concrete floor shine without wax?

4 ways to Make Tile Floors shine without wax Soapy water. A mixture of soap and warm water can be of great help in this process. Baking soda. Baking soda may be useful in cleaning stains on the tile floor. Ammonia-water solution. Use of vinegar solution.

How do I clean concrete?

Simply fill a spray bottle with equal parts water and vinegar (or water and baking soda), and add a little bit of liquid dish detergent. Spray the mixture on your concrete surface and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Then scrub and rinse your concrete.

How do you polish small concrete?

Polish the completed cement sculpture with fine sandpaper. Begin with approximately 200-grit and finish with 400-grit. After the sculpture is smooth, rub with dry talc, if desired, for additional polishing. Allow the concrete sculpture to cure for approximately seven days.

Can you put a thin layer of concrete over concrete?

How Thin Can You Pour Concrete Over Existing Concrete? The thinnest that is usually used when pouring concrete, in general, is about 2 to 2 ½ inches. That also applies to this pouring new concrete over old concrete. Any thinner than 2 inches would be too thin.

Does polished concrete crack?

“Polished concrete is more susceptible to cracking.” A concrete slab cracks as part of the initial curing process, and it will crack again over time. Polishing will not change this aspect of concrete’s nature, though it may draw attention away from it.

How much does polishing concrete cost?

Concrete polishing can cost from $50 – $100 per square metre, depending on the method used. To begin, basic polishing starts at an average cost of $50 per square metre for the grind and seal method. The honed polishing method is on average around $75 per square metre.

Is polished concrete slippery?

While highly polished concrete looks great, the downside is that it can be slippery when wet. This means that while you’re free to choose the desired level of aggregate exposure for you outdoor surfaces, honed concrete for outdoor use can’t be highly polished and is only available in a matte finish.

Can you have polished concrete in bathrooms?

‘Polished concrete can look nice in bathrooms – there’s no grout so it gives a very clean look. It’s easy to slip on a highly polished floor when wet though, so you need a finish with extra sanding to give it some texture,’ says the renovation specialist.

Is polished concrete cold?

Polished Concrete is no colder than tiles and many testimonials claim that due to Polished Concrete being recognised as a sustainable and ‘green’ building product the thermal mass naturally draws its temperature from the ground rather than the outside so it tends to be warmer than tiles in winter and cooler than tiles.

How do I keep my concrete floor shiny?

Stained concrete floors are easy to clean and keep shiny. Sweep your floor. Use a dustmop to avoid damaging the surface of your stained concrete floor. Mop your floors. Use a damp mop for occasional cleanup. Wax your floors. Avoid scuffing your floor. Maintain your shiny floors.

How do you make concrete countertops smooth and shiny?

If you want to achieve an ultra-smooth, seamless surface, then polishing or sanding the concrete after it’s cast is the best approach. Polishing can also be used to expose decorative aggregate, glass, or stone within the concrete, resulting in terrazzo-like finishes.

Can I polish my concrete basement floor?

If you have to clean your isle ways and floors many times per day, polished concrete works well since the process can include special cleaners and cleaning pads that continue to polish, densify and stain proof the concrete floor.

What is the difference between sealed and polished concrete?

Both polished and grind/seal concrete floors can have a matte, satin, or gloss appearance. For polished concrete, the concrete is polished using finer grits of diamond abrasives until the floor reaches the desired level of shine (level 1-4). However with sealed concrete, the finish is achieved from a topical sealer.

Is polished concrete cheaper than tile?

Polished concrete is less expensive per square foot than carpeting, tiles, linoleum or any other forms of floor covering. Not only are polished floors easy to clean, they hold up extremely well to heavy foot traffic.

Should I wax concrete floor?

Concrete Floor Wax Many concrete contractors recommend applying a mop-down wax or floor finish to your decorative concrete floor after you seal it. This sacrificial wax coating not only makes the floor look nice, it also protects the surface from scuffs, scratches and grit.

Can you polish concrete with a floor buffer?

The finishing touch should be concrete polish. Use with the floor buffer all around the area. This polish seals the wax and creates the layer that you want to protect against dirty shoes and wheels. Apply evenly using the buffer, until you have covered the whole floor.