Concrete Polishing in Miami

Miami Concrete Polishing

Miami Concrete Polishing produces beautiful concrete that can be used for homes and buildings because concrete is a highly versatile material which is commonly used for floors, bridges, building structures, and even counter tops. It can produce a wide variety of finishes to suit the customer’s desires, and can also be conducted through a variety of ways. For many, Miami concrete polishing is an art in itself because it takes many hours of manual labor and work to manufacture, but the end result is a stunning material that can be custom decorated to suit your needs and desires.

Benefits of Miami Concrete Polishing

1. Polished concrete floors are ideal because they generally require little maintenance, only requiring some vacuuming and occasional mopping to keep it looking great for a long time.
2. They make great sustainable flooring because it doesn’t require any other materials other than what is already being used.
3. Miami concrete polishing has low friction which makes it non-slippery and safer to use than other flooring materials.
4. Concrete is not susceptible to allergens, dust mites, and mold growth, another reason why it’s a safe and popular choice for buildings and homes.
5. Miami concrete polishing can last a long time, it’s built to be durable and will not chip or dent. Mopping with soapy water once a week is all that’s needed to maintain it.

Miami Concrete Polishing Methods

There is a specific process involved in polishing concrete, which for many is similar to sanding wood. However, Miami Concrete Polishing involves the use of diamond pads to smooth the concrete. It should be understood that there are many variables involved that can affect the outcome of the polished concrete, such as the level of the slab, existence of low spots, high spots, and cracking of the floor.

The equipment needed for big polishing jobs is a walk behind, large floor grinder, and for smaller jobs a hand held grinder would do.
There are two types of methods involved in Miami concrete polishing: wet and dry method. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages, and for you to decide which is best for you it’s ideal to speak to a contractor first.

Miami Concrete Polishing ~ Wet method
In this type of method, water is used to cool the diamond abrasives. The use of water reduces friction therefore lubricating the surface and removes any existing dust. The use of resin bonded disks can often melt due to rising temperatures, but the use of water cools it down allowing the resin to last longer. This method produces a more slurry type of surface as a result of mixing the water and grinding dust.

One disadvantage to this method is that there is more cleaning up involved due to the polishing and grinding done. If this isn’t cleaned up well, it can create a mess, so proper disposal must be planned accordingly. However, an advantage to the Miami concrete polishing wet method, is that it is efficient in preventing silica dust in the air, and the slurry that’s left behind can easily be used for other things.

Miami Concrete Polishing ~ Dry method
The dry method doesn’t make use of any water, instead makes use of technologies that allow the grinding disks to endure the friction and heat as a result of the polishing process. A dust containment system is used in the dry polishing machine which enables it to vacuum up the dust that results from the process.

The Miami concrete polishing dry method makes it easy to polish concrete inside buildings and homes without the hassle of cleaning up when the process is finished. However, because no vacuum system is able to absorb 100% of all the silica dust involved, some residue may be left and can go to the air.
The general process involved in Miami Concrete Polishing is as follows:
1. Most floors will require 16-50 metal grit bonded pads, which are designed to be extremely aggressive in cleaning and are efficient in evening out the surface.
2. Move the machine back and forth in a straight line, following the width of the grinder as you move along.
3. Repeat this and double the grit size until you are able to reach anywhere from 60 to 100 in grit size. You should be able to go over the surface area using up to 3 different grit sizes, although this will depend on the condition of the floor.
4. Apply a hardener or liquid densifier to strengthen the concrete between the aggregates. The hardener soaks into the concrete allowing it to solidify and toughen up. This is a crucial part of the Miami concrete polishing process because it increases the strength, impermeability, and density of the concrete.
5. After the densifying process, the polishing stage begins as you increase grit size from 100 even all the way to 3,000, which will depend on how shiny you want the surface to be.
6. Once you’re done, it’s time to mop up the floor, and upon cleaning you should have a nice, shiny, smooth surface.
Various types of surfaces are also available for concrete finishes:
Surface finish: achieved by a steel trowelled finish, some people prefer to have a few marks to create interesting textures on the floor.  The process of using a power troweller is known as a helicopter, and this is very efficient in producing a flat, smooth, and even finish. If Miami concrete polishing is to desired in a home or building that is yet to be built, this is best done before the walls are up and will require a slab surface to protect it for the rest of the construction.

Aggregate finish: this is achieved by grounding the slab to the cement paste which will expose the stones or aggregate within the mix. Fine grinding pads are then used to polish it. This type of finish usually requires additional expense to cover the cost of grinding or polishing. However, one can choose the desired effect by selecting an aggregate type, color, and mineral to achieve a look they prefer.

Does all this sound like a lot of work?  It is, and that is why Miami Concrete Polishing is here to do it all for you!  We would love to speak with you and answer all your questions such as what are your best options in regards to your own individual situation, budget and location of cement flooring.

Call Miami Concrete Polishing today and let us answer your questions and concerns!