I'm pouring 2 slabs late this week or early next week and I'm going to do a light "salt & pepper" grind/polish in both the house and shop. My understanding is, that it is easier to do the first heavy grind with the course stones in the first few days after the slabs are poured to save time. Then a sacrificial sealer is put down to protect the slab during the rest of the construction process and the remaining polishing is done after the concrete has fully cured and majority of construction is complete. Anyone done this? Seems like a good way to go...maybe?
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Grinding Fresh Green Concrete
- Thread starter climb.on
- Start date
We do tons of polishing via our Prep Crete Division. We wouldn't recommend that since if the concrete is not well cured it won't grind well. Also the aggregate is not affected by curing. Lastly don't under estimate the amount of work and type/size of grinder you need to get into aggregate and create this look as normally this is done with very large three phase 1,200 lb plus grinders. Grinding concrete is one thing, grinding aggregate is another.
Sounds like some people do it green, but it can be risky...I don't need to go there. I can wait.
In the house, i'm hoping to just barely get into the fine aggregate. Seems like that should give a random salt and pepper here and there. In the shop I'm just looking for a "Big Box" polish. Just want the shop to be smooth and easy to clean. I don't care about the aesthetic as much in the shop. The machine I am looking at renting is a 30" Lavina, single head (610lb) propane powered machine. I am being told that I should be able to do about 2000 sq/ft in a day with this machine, down to 200 when I apply the densifier. Sound about right?
In the house, i'm hoping to just barely get into the fine aggregate. Seems like that should give a random salt and pepper here and there. In the shop I'm just looking for a "Big Box" polish. Just want the shop to be smooth and easy to clean. I don't care about the aesthetic as much in the shop. The machine I am looking at renting is a 30" Lavina, single head (610lb) propane powered machine. I am being told that I should be able to do about 2000 sq/ft in a day with this machine, down to 200 when I apply the densifier. Sound about right?
LegacyIndustrial
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Densifier at 400.
Retroman
Well-known member
Green concrete is really good for floor.??
Green concrete is newly poured not fully cured concrete.
ConCretin
Well-known member
Sounds like some people do it green, but it can be risky...I don't need to go there. I can wait.
In the house, i'm hoping to just barely get into the fine aggregate. Seems like that should give a random salt and pepper here and there. In the shop I'm just looking for a "Big Box" polish. Just want the shop to be smooth and easy to clean. I don't care about the aesthetic as much in the shop. The machine I am looking at renting is a 30" Lavina, single head (610lb) propane powered machine. I am being told that I should be able to do about 2000 sq/ft in a day with this machine, down to 200 when I apply the densifier. Sound about right?
We've placed a lot of slabs that were subsequently polished. In my experience, this process is always performed after the concrete has reached full strength. I'm not an expert on polishing but I assume the cement paste needs to get hard enough to polish rather than erode away under the grinder.
I can tell you that it's critical that your concrete contractor achieve a very flat floor. The minimal grind and polish you are considering won't do anything to flatten the floor and the polishing will bring out every wave and dip.
I'm curious what you are looking to achieve. I assume your living areas will have exposed concrete?
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