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The term conjures varying aspects in people’s minds. Texture , exposure , colour and lustre can be important prerequisites in the floor design. Sometimes simplicity is preferred to complex floor appearances. Following, are some of the more common terms regarding ‘polished concrete’. |
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Colour Generally readymixed concrete has a light grey colour resulting from different brands of grey cement and flyash content in standard mixes. Sometimes ‘off-white’ cement is available from readymixed concrete suppliers depending upon demand, location and storage capacity - this produces a lighter grey appearance. Colour pigments or oxides can be added to basic readymixed concrete to produce a wide variety of coloured concrete. |
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Finishes |
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| Coving trowel finish has more texture than a steel trowel finish and is generally used in external areas. | |
| Burnished - a steel or machine trowel finish with multiple additional surface passes that tends to darken or ‘burn’ the surface. | |
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b) Additional - |
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| An Exposed finish is where a diamond grinder is used to expose the coarse aggregates within the concrete matrix. The aggregates can be varied in size and colour depending upon their availability. | |
| A ‘honed’ finish means much the same as an exposed finish. The level of aggregate exposure can vary as well. | |
| A light grind usually refers to a sanding of the finished concrete surface to expose only the fine aggregates or sands within the concrete mix; it is also referred to as a ‘salt and pepper’ finish. | |
| A ‘partial’ or ‘random’ grind is where varying depths of grinding produces exposure of coarse and fine aggregates in a random pattern throughout the floor surface. | |
| Smooth and coarse exposed finishes can be achieved by using multiple diamond grinding discs of varying grit sizes. The coarser diamond grit produces a more textured or rougher feel. Further grindingwith less coarse diamond grit reduces the texture of the exposed concrete to a smoother feel |
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Sealers |
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These are solvent or water based chemical compounds that are used to protect the polished concrete floor from staining by penetrating the pores of the concrete and hardening. |
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Penetrating Sealers |
| Semi penetrating |
| Top coat sealers |
