Concrete Floor Polishing Levels
The polished concrete floor level 1 produces a matte sheen polished concrete finish.
Concrete floor polishing levels. To level concrete floors start by cleaning the floor and filling in any cracks or holes with concrete filler and sealer. Knowing the levels of polished concrete will give your client a visual idea of the finished product. The concrete polishing council classifies finished gloss levels in ranges from 1 through 4 and aggregate exposures as a b c or d depending on the degree of exposure. Depending on the diamond grit you use to polish a concrete floor you can achieve different ranges of aggregate exposure and different levels of sheen from matte to a glassy mirror like finish.
Concrete is not considered polished before 800 grit and it is normally finished to either the 800 1500 or 3000 grit level. Then go over any particularly high spots with a concrete grinder so they re level with the rest of the floor. Every single pour will be different from the next with variations in color cracking and overall flatness. Begin by using a 100 grit resin diamond bond then move up the cycle to a 400 grit bond then an 800 grit bond and finally finish with very fine grit between 1500 and 3500 level resin bond.
Polishing a concrete floor in the basement ranges from 3 to 12 per square foot. While the polish finish is the end game for custom concrete applications aggregate exposure in custom concrete flooring can add a dimension of beauty and interest to the finished product. T here s a time honored adage about concrete which states that concrete is consistently inconsistent. Depending on the diamond grit you use to polish a concrete floor you can achieve different ranges of aggregate exposure and different levels of sheen from matte to a glassy mirror like finish.
800 grit polish 400 grit polish 200 grit polish. You can choose nearly any color create patterns with saw cuts or embed aggregates or interesting objects into the concrete prior to polishing. The concrete polishing association of america classifies finished gloss levels in ranges from 1 through 4 and aggregate exposures as a b c or d depending on the degree of exposure. The design options for polished concrete are vast.
The reflectivity of the floor can also be controlled by using different levels of concrete polishing. Dyes designed for concrete polishing are often applied to add color to polished concrete as well as other options such as scoring creating radial lines grids bands borders and other designs. Polished concrete is popular in commercial. For an average 700 to 1 000 square foot basement your estimate could run from 2 100 to 12 000.
A lot of people update their floors as part of refinishing their basement.