Installation of polished concrete floors
Concrete is obtained by combining cement, gravel , sand and water. The mixture is then usually poured onto a steel and fiber reinforced mesh, which minimizes the risk of cracking.
If you are installing underfloor heating, the concrete should be installed on top of the pipes. In both cases, it will then be leveled and compacted using internal or external vibrations. This will remove any air pockets and surface voids, which could otherwise reduce the strength and life of the material.
Depending on the desired finish, a plain or colored hardener (known as a dry shaker) is added to the concrete surface. This is sanded using a float machine equipped with a large flat round disc for roughing the concrete. The work can be repeated four to eight times to achieve the desired effect.
Treatment should begin when the concrete is hard enough to support the weight of the machine and operator. However, it should not be so dry that the power floater cannot cut the high points or effectively fill in the bass.
Most polished concrete are cast in one section , temporarily covered and allowed to harden. This process will be much faster in the warmer months.
After one month the concrete is uncovered, cleaned, washed and polished to remove any inconsistencies or fingerprints. At this point some companies will simply apply a matt, satin or gloss sealant to achieve the desired look.
Technically a real floor in polished concrete it is finished using a diamond sander that evens the surface. The floor is then treated with a chemical thickener to reveal an imperfection-free sheen. It is not considered polished concrete until a grain level of 400 is achieved to achieve a glossy finish.
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