Exactly how to Gloss a Concrete Countertop

Whether you seek a just-buffed matte appearance or a high gloss shine, all poured concrete counter tops benefit from a detailed sprucing up before they're used. With an electric wet concrete brush and also a collection of coarse- to fine-grit ruby brightening pads, coupled with a healthy and balanced dose of patience and also effort, you'll be able to achieve a beautiful finish on your kitchen counter. Not only will polishing eliminate bumps as well as rough sides, yet it can subject some of the attractive aggregates within the concrete mix, leading to a distinctive piece. [1]


Part
1
Cleaning as well as Patching Holes
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Protect your workspace with decline fabrics as well as plastic. Damp polishing concrete can be an extremely unpleasant process. Cover concrete grinding wheel with decrease cloths to avoid sprinkles as well as stains. Consider covering your wall surfaces with plastic as well. [2]
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Fill up little holes in the concrete with a patching combination. If your concrete kitchen counter has any little openings or small flaws, you can fill up in the holes with homemade or store-bought patching combination before starting the brightening procedure. [3] Image entitled Polish a Concrete Kitchen Counter Step 3
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Enable the concrete to totally treat for at the very least 10 days prior to polishing. Do not try to brighten 4 concrete grinding wheel until the concrete as well as any succeeding patches are totally healed. For finest outcomes, the concrete needs to have been cured for no less than 10 days and no more than thirty days. [4] Photo entitled Gloss a Concrete Kitchen Counter Step 4
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Laundry off the concrete surface area with water and also a squeegee. Put water over the top as well as sides of the fully-cured concrete countertop. Then run a squeegee over the entire piece to get rid of any kind of particles from the surface of the concrete. [5] Any leftover particles could go into the concrete and leave deep scratches as soon as you start brightening it, so make certain to remove all residue during this procedure.

Part
2
Sharpening the Surface Area with a Coarse Grit Pad
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Place on an apron, safety and security goggles, and earplugs before functioning. Secure your garments from the mess of concrete slurry with an apron or one-piece suit. Your eyes ought to be covered with safety goggles, and also you can utilize earplugs or building and construction earmuffs to shield your ears from the extreme sounds of the grinding device. [6] Make sure any kind of loose apron connections are concealed. Similarly, connect back long hair far from your face as well as make certain it won't dangle before your shoulders.
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2
Link a handheld wet concrete brush to a water source. You'll be utilizing a portable wet concrete polisher with variable speed setups as well as ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) turned off capacities. The polisher you're utilizing could have an integrated water tube, or it may have an obtaining tube that you can twist a garden hose pipe onto. In either case, hook up the pipe from your water source to the device securely.
The device must release water continually as you grind the surface area of the concrete. This will certainly deal with all the concrete dirt that would generally form without a stream of water avoiding it. It likewise cools the grinding pads which will certainly warm up swiftly from the friction.
Variable rate setups aren't completely needed to accomplish a smooth surface yet will provide you a lot more control over your progression. [7] Photo labelled Polish a Concrete Kitchen Counter Action 7
3
Attach the coarsest grit ruby grinding pad to the brush. You'll be utilizing a compatible set of diamond grinding pads varying from coarse (about 50 grit) to extremely great (approximately 3,000 grit). Numerous tools and grinding pads included suitable hook-and-loop attachments, making it easy to change from one pad to one more. Location the coarsest pad (50 grit) on the brush and also attach it securely. [8] Make sure the tool as well as grinding pads you have actually picked are especially created for usage on concrete. Rock brushes and pads meant for usage on products like granite will not stand up to this project.
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4
Hold the tool degree as well as use even stress to the concrete surface. Starting with the biggest straight surface of the countertop, placement the grinding pad touching the concrete as well as launch the tool. Work your means around the surface in fanned or straight strokes at a moderate rate.
The polishing tool should not be hung on an angle, as well as you won't require to lower on it very hard. If you do, you'll cause it to dig right into the surface and the concrete will certainly be left with undesirable divots, swirl marks, as well as an unequal coating. [9] Image labelled Gloss a Concrete Counter Top Action 9
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Rubbed out bumps to accomplish an also surface area appearance with the very first pass. With your 50-grit grinding pad, you'll be able to get the whole concrete surface area to the exact same texture. It will certainly be harsh to the touch, however the crucial point is that it's also. Discuss the surface as sometimes as you need to erode any kind of continuing to be swellings in the concrete. [10] You must end up with an entirely flat surface.
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Affix a safety skirt to the device as well as brighten the upright surfaces. Clip on a safety skirt around the 50 grit brightening pad so that when you hold the tool vertically, the water that's streaming out as well as capturing all the concrete dust does not spray all over the flooring as well as ceiling of your workspace. As soon as the skirt is affixed, brighten the sides and also corners similarly you brightened the kitchen counter's horizontal surface. [11] Whichever grit you're utilizing, complete a full overlook the horizontal surface and vertical surface areas prior to switching over out to the following finer grit pad. This will save you time in the future and will certainly make certain that the appearance corresponds throughout all sides of the counter top.
Part
3
Making Use Of Finer Grits to Create a Shine
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Switch over to the following degree grit as well as look at the entire surface area once again. If you began with a 50-grit pad, tip down to a 100-grit pad, which is designed to rub out the appearance created by the 50-grit pad. Adhere to the exact same procedure of using even pressure and also working at a moderate rate till the straight as well as upright surface areas have a constant structure.
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Rinse as well as squeegee the countertop occasionally between passes. As you polish the concrete, some debris and also slurry may be remaining. Rinse every surface and press off any kind of littles debris. Make use of these intermittent stops as a chance to analyze your creation as well as see how close you're reaching the wanted finish. [12] Picture titled Polish a Concrete Kitchen Counter Tip 13
3
Use handheld diamond grinding blocks to brighten hard-to-reach areas. Similar to the electrical concrete brush, you'll start with the coarsest block (around 120 grit) and work your method as much as the finest grit (around 1,500 grit). Ensure you get any kind of tough edges and ravel the sides running around the perimeter of the kitchen counter. [13] You need to make use of handheld blocks in the exact same sequence of grit levels as those you made use of with the electrical polishing device. If you avoid any kind of grit degrees you will not attain the very same coating. [14] Image entitled Polish a Concrete Countertop Action 14
4
Progress from the coarse-grit pads to the medium-grit pads. If you have actually currently made use of a 50-grit and 100-grit pad, you'll make use of a 200-grit pad for the following pass, adhered to by a 400-grit pad. Whatever you do, do not avoid any grit levels! You'll need to gradually proceed from crude to medium to penalty given that polishing pads are made to ravel the surface produced by the previous grit.
For instance, a fine 3,000 grit pad will not offer you a good looking finish if you most just recently made use of a 200 grit pad. Stick with the development and also you'll see beautiful outcomes! [15] Picture titled Polish a Concrete Countertop Action 15
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Use medium-fine grits to develop a smooth surface. When you're done with the 400-grit pad, button to an 800-grit pad. Repeat the process of polishing all surface areas of the countertop. You'll start to see a smooth finish create as you work your means with these medium-fine grit pads. [16] Picture titled Gloss a Concrete Countertop Step 16
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Utilize the finest grits to achieve a glossy finish. After the 800-grit pad, you can quit with a 1,500-grit pad which will offer a smooth-to-the-touch surface as well as a refined luster. For an extra shiny surface, finish the last pass with a 3,000 grit pad. [17] Part
4
Dealing with as well as Securing the Concrete
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Offer the countertop a final rinse with water. When you have actually achieved the preferred finish, rinse as well as squeegee off the kitchen counter one last time. Make sure you have not missed any type of places which all surfaces have a smooth and even end up. Allow the concrete to air completely dry entirely.
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Treat the concrete with any kind of paint or acid discolorations if preferred. You should apply any type of paint or acid tarnish treatments at this stage-- after you've brightened the concrete as well as given it a final rinse and also completely dry, however before you seal it.
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Apply 1 coat of concrete sealer to the surface area with a dustcloth. Acquisition a penetrative concrete sealer that's made for kitchen counters instead than floorings. It should be water resistant, low-odor, and also food-safe. Fill a tidy rag with the item and clean on 1 total layer of sealant to the concrete. Make certain to coat all spaces, crannies, and corners of the countertop. [18] You can select from the selection of gloss levels readily available, from high gloss to a matte coating. [19] Picture entitled Gloss a Concrete Counter Top Action 20
4
Let the sealant completely heal before appreciating your brand-new countertop. Enable the surface area to completely dry totally. Depending on the securing item you've used, it may take a few days or a few weeks to heal. After that you'll be able to use and also preserving your brand-new concrete countertop!
Although securing won't stop all scratches, spots, stains, as well as other defects from accompanying normal usage, it is a crucial action in preventing the development of microorganisms within your concrete. [20]