Expectation & Limitations

Not all concrete is a good candidate for processing and polishing. When working on existing concrete results are largely dependent on the quality of concrete a contractor is given to work with. For example, residential concrete has a low PSI, often hand troweled and rarely is there a concern for mix design, finish methods and the curing processes.

However most existing commercial concrete that has not been damaged is of sufficient PSI and finished in a manner (with a trowel machine) that will allow for excellent results.

Variables such as aggregate, color variations, miscellaneous contaminates, cracks, Patterns Left by Previous Floor Covering, Existing Stains, Nail Holes from Previous Calls, Patched Areas and flatness can effect the final appearance and results.

On new projects final results are significantly improved when the concrete slab is poured within specifications that lend itself to the processes. When planning for a processed concrete application it needs to be viewed as a total flooring system that includes several components - concrete mix design, finishing and curing methods, control joint placement and the processing/polishing process. When there is an opportunity to specify all components do not look at concrete processing as a single stand alone component. A slab poured within a concrete polisher’s specifications will eliminate a significant number of variables and provide improved finish results over an existing finished concrete slab.

For more additional information visit our “Architects Specifiers Section” of the web site.