A columnist for conncrete surfaces sister publication the concrete producer explains why concrete that will be ground and polished benefits from having a larger coarse aggregate content than conventional structural concrete.
Aggregate polished floor.
The grinding is done with a concrete grinder and with each pass a smoother diamond is used until the.
This resembles a salt and pepper type of appearance.
Regular polished concrete is a pretty straight forward job for us.
T here s a time honored adage about concrete which states that concrete is consistently inconsistent.
Because regular floor polishing is a step by step process commercial business owners and homeowners alike are able to choose the level of shine from satin to a very high gloss floor whichever meets your maintenance and aesthetic requirements.
When you start talking polished concrete floors with exposed aggregate there are a few more things to consider.
To expose the aggregate you first have to grind down the floor after which you can polish the surface to give the concrete a mirror like finish similar to terrazzo or polished marble.
Once the aggregate is exposed then the concrete is ground over with many passes.
An exposed aggregate floor utilizes the decorative qualities of a concrete mix s aggregates and the strength and longevity of the structural slab.
Polished concrete is achieved through grinding off the cream to expose the aggregate below the top surface.
Some light sand exposure.
Every single pour will be different from the next with variations in color cracking and overall flatness.
The concrete polishing council classifies finished gloss levels in ranges from 1 through 4 and aggregate exposures as a b c or d depending on the.
Depending on the diamond grit you use to polish a concrete floor you can achieve different ranges of aggregate exposure and different levels of sheen from matte to a glassy mirror like finish.
Removes approximately 1 16 of concrete surface by grinding and polishing.
For certain types of finishes the choice of aggregate will have a dramatic impact on the appearance of a finished concrete floor.
Aggregate can be specified for size sharpness or roundness of edges and color.
These finishes are ones where the surface of the concrete floor is ground off exposing the aggregate to be polished.
This particular slab with polish concrete floors and exposed aggregate was completed in.
Polished concrete floors with exposed aggregate is a whole new ballgame.
Exposed aggregate polished concrete floors are versatile.
Polished surface resulting in little to no aggregate exposure.
Characteristics of a good concrete polished.
While the polish finish is the end game for custom concrete applications aggregate exposure in custom concrete flooring can add a dimension of beauty and interest to the finished product.
Class b fine sand aggregate.