Polished concrete in the fundamental sense is only concrete with a highly polished shine, generally created with the help of sanding and sealing the surface. To make the surface more appealing, coloring and patterns have been added, which provide the concrete a stone-like look; once done correctly, the concrete has a smooth finish with a high shine. Unfortunately, sometimes the work does not turn out as expected, and also the finished product has a swirl design embedded beneath the sealant that detracts from the overall sleek design. To be able to create the smooth surface initially desired, you need to grind the swirls from the concrete, then essentially re-polishing the floor to remove the blemishes.
Sweep the floor to remove any debris that might interfere with the grinding and sanding procedure.
Place a 20-grit diamond grinding pad to the concrete polishing gear to remove the top sealant coats that provide the concrete its shine. You’ll require a coarser pad for thicker coatings. If you do not know just how thick the top coat is, then begin with this 20 grit. You always have the option to switch to something tougher if it isn’t working.
Move the polisher over the floor in rows, making sure not to allow the equipment remain in one place. Examine the whole area twice to ensure you remove the top coat of sealant.
Sweep the surface to remove the residue created in the grinder.
Apply an epoxy sealant to any cracks you visit. Squeeze the epoxy tubing to force the flux to the cracks, and then scrape surplus off the surface.
Set the polisher up with a 40-grit metal bonded diamond pad, and then run the sander over the floor to remove swirls and even out the flooring. Repeat the procedure with an 80-grit metal-bonded diamond pad, and again with a 150-grit pad. Sweep between each grinding.
Wipe the surface to remove all of the deposits, using a slightly moist cloth push broom. Let the surface dry for a few hours.
Coat the surface with a concrete hardener, and let it dry for 24 hours.
Begin to re-shine the floor, using a 200-grit resin-bonded diamond pad. Attach the pad to the polisher, and move over the floor as before. Duplicate with a 400-, and then 800-grit pad, sweeping and mopping in between each use.
Add the final bit of shine to the floor with a 3,000-grit leaf pad, operating the gear in the same fashion as before.
Add a sealant to the floor when the floor has been mopped and dried. Employ a roller for even distribution. Let it dry for at least 24 hours.