Polished concrete is a choice of system, not just of grinding

A soft top layer dusts and absorbs

The top layer of a new or existing slab is often softer than the concrete below it. Under wheels it breaks down into dust, and spills soak into the open pores. Grinding a surface like this on its own gives a weak base for a good finish.

• Concrete dusting

  The soft top layer breaks down under wheels into fine dust that keeps coming back after cleaning.

• Liquid absorption

  Spilled coffee, water or oil soaks into the open pores and leaves a stain.

Illustration: A block of concrete slab with a pale, soft top layer and power-float marks. Dust rises behind the wheels of a trolley, and a spilled liquid soaks into the concrete, visible in the section.

HARD hardens the surface layer before grinding

We apply HARD before grinding starts. It penetrates the surface layer and reacts there with the free lime in the concrete, making the layer harder and denser. Because the diamonds then grind a firmer base, the shine can develop sooner.

Illustration: The surface layer of the block is marked in violet, with an unnumbered dimension line beside it: this is where HARD has reacted in the concrete. The top layer is not yet ground.

Ever finer diamonds, then SEAL 3.0

We grind in several passes, from coarse to fine diamonds. The first passes remove the soft top layer and expose the aggregate; the following ones smooth out the scratches. Before polishing we apply SEAL 3.0, which closes the pores in the surface.

Grit numbers are for illustration. We set the number and order of passes to suit the slab.

Illustration: A ground surface with exposed aggregate and fine scratches. The first faint reflections of the windows appear in the surface, and the pores are closed after SEAL 3.0 is applied.

Polishing, then PROTEC

As we polish, light and windows begin to reflect in the surface. Finally we add PROTEC, which improves stain protection: drops stay on the surface and are easier to wipe up.

We do not promise a particular level of gloss. The final look depends on the quality of the slab, how much aggregate is exposed, the grinding process and maintenance.

Illustration: A polished surface with exposed aggregate and the reflection of two windows. After PROTEC is applied, a drop of water stays on the surface as a bead.