­3 Things About Concrete Polishing

by | Oct 28, 2015 | Construction and Maintenance

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Want to make your concrete shine again? Looking to hire a company to polish your concrete to perfection? Here are a few things about concrete polishing from Concrete Décor to give you an idea of what to expect:

Contractors Use Sandbox Sand

Some contractors use sandbox sand because it works great as a secondary abrasive. It helps maintain and improve the abrasion of a concrete grinder. That’s because the sand helps keep the diamonds dressed as well as cool. Why do those things matter in concrete polishing?

After considerable use, the equipment and tools heat up after a while. That makes the tools less sharp and less effective. It also can lead to a buildup of the matrix, which traps the diamonds, making it tough for the next diamond to cut. That’s where the sand comes in handy. It helps keep the matrix abraded and exposes the diamonds. Also, with the debris, play sand gets in the way of the sealer or adhesive—along with the mastic—clumping back together, preventing unattractive smears.

They Presoak Carpet Adhesives

Some contractors presoak carpet adhesives before removing them from the concrete. Too much water will only help the adhesives stick and spread on the surface but will make the removal even more difficult. Contractors must be very careful in pouring just enough water to rehydrate the adhesive. When it swells, the removal process will be easy. Another advantage of presoaking is that it keeps the tools from heating up. That means longer tool efficiency.

Water won’t work on all carpet adhesives, though, just on water-based ones. Green or blue adhesives aren’t water-based—and probably use epoxy or urethane. So if the carpet adhesives you have are green or blue, skip presoaking it in water. Use sandbox sand as a removal aid instead.

They Keep Water Channels Open

When contractors deal with a transition tool or resin during a wet cutting, they usually make it a point to keep the water or air channels open. This helps keep operating temperatures on an even keel for the tools. That means longer, more convenient tool performance. More importantly, though, open water channels keep the slurry paste from building up and prevent unpleasant scratches from happening.

These are just 3 things you can expect when you hire someone to polish your concrete. If you’re near Columbia South Carolina, Sandifer’s Stone & Tile Care offers concrete polishing services to that area.

At Sandifer’s Stone and Tile Care we make your concrete shine with our concrete polishing services. Call us today if you’re near Columbia South Carolina.

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