Cream Layer Concrete Polish

[ducatithunder]

Ive been looking into concrete polishing lately. I have a 4500 PSI 1300 SQFT slab that was power troweled to a burned finish. I have been debating on doing a 3 part polish on the slab, or a cream layer polish. I dont need or want to see the aggregate. Debating on a acid stain, then polishing it. With that said do you need to start at 30grit or can you start at a higher grit and go to 400? My other question is how much material is typically removed during the polishing process? I know this is based on slab condition, but on a smooth burned start how much would be removed to get to 400grit?

 

[SolarColumbia]

I am wondering if the polishing process would negatively affect or at least partially remove the stain.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Gents:
In most cases a "cut" must be made. This helps to flatten the floor, 18-30 grit is common at this stage. There is no guarantee you will get a cream look as the proximity of the aggregate to the surface determines this. If you must have a cream-look, a mico-topping could be applied and then polished.

Otherwise, if the floor is already quite smooth you could apply a guard or similar to help protect what you have already, if smooth and desirable.

Acid stain is in direct conflict with polishing as it etches the surface. If a color is desired it would be a dye and applied a few times throughout the process.

Lastly, what is removed really is determined by how weak your concrete is and how far they have to go to get to the good stuff. That said this removal is usually measure in mils vs inches as it's not that much... and almost forgot this is a poor choice for a working mans garage or a snow-belt garage. Polishing is no match for road-salts or common garage chemicals.

Good luck!

 

[Armorpoxy]

Hi
A problem with polishing concrete is that it’s not very stain or oil resistant hence why it’s not used much in automotive environments. Even burnished in stain blockers are nit 100% effective.

Our www.prep-crete.com Division does a LOT of polishing and generally the floors are not stained due to an uneven result. Clients that want a particular color we pour a colored and tinted overlay so the color is true throughout.

Lastly don’t underestimate that to get to a 400 you need to start around 30 then go to 80, 200, then hybrids, densify, then 400. It’s a LOT of work especially if you have a small single phase machine.