Exactly how to Polish a Concrete Countertop

Whether you want a just-buffed matte appearance or a high gloss sparkle, all put concrete counter tops benefit from an extensive polishing before they're placed to use. With an electric wet concrete brush as well as a collection of rugged- to fine-grit diamond polishing pads, coupled with a healthy and balanced dose of perseverance as well as elbow joint grease, you'll be able to achieve an attractive surface on your counter top. Not only will polishing eliminate bumps as well as rough edges, yet it can reveal some of the eye-catching accumulations within the concrete mix, resulting in an one-of-a-kind item. [1]


Component
1
Cleansing as well as Patching Holes
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Protect your work space with ground cloth and also plastic. Damp polishing concrete can be an incredibly messy process. Cover your floorings with ground cloth to avoid dashes as well as spots. Take into consideration covering your walls with plastic as well. [2]
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2
Fill little holes in the concrete with a patching mixture. If your concrete countertop has any kind of small holes or small problems, you can fill out the holes with homemade or store-bought patching mix before starting the brightening process. [3] Image labelled Gloss a Concrete Countertop Action 3
3
Enable the concrete to completely cure for a minimum of 10 days before brightening. Do not attempt to brighten your kitchen counter till the concrete and any kind of succeeding spots are completely cured. For ideal outcomes, the concrete must have been treated for no less than 10 days as well as no greater than 30 days. [4] Image labelled Gloss a Concrete Countertop Action 4
4
Wash off the concrete surface with water as well as a squeegee. Put water over the leading as well as sides of the fully-cured concrete countertop. Then run a squeegee over the whole item to get rid of any kind of particles from the surface of the concrete. [5] Any kind of leftover debris might go into the concrete and also leave deep scratches as soon as you begin brightening it, so make certain to eliminate all residue throughout this process.

concrete grinding wheel for angle grinder
Refining the Surface Area with a Coarse Grit Pad
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1
Place on an apron, safety goggles, and also earplugs prior to working. Shield your clothes from the mess of concrete slurry with an apron or one-piece suit. Your eyes need to be covered with security goggles, and also you can utilize earplugs or building earmuffs to secure your ears from the harsh audios of the grinding device. [6] Be sure any type of loosened apron ties are stashed. In a similar way, link back long hair far from your face as well as make sure it will not dangle before your shoulders.
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2
Connect a portable wet concrete brush to a water resource. You'll be utilizing a handheld wet concrete brush with variable rate settings and also ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) shut down capabilities. The brush you're utilizing may have an integrated water tube, or it might have a getting tube that you can twist a garden tube onto. In any case, link the hose pipe from your water source to the tool firmly.
The device must launch water continually as you grind the surface area of the concrete. This will certainly take treatment of all the concrete dust that would usually create without a stream of water avoiding it. It likewise cools off the grinding pads which will certainly heat up promptly from the rubbing.
Variable rate settings aren't completely necessary to achieve a smooth coating yet will certainly give you a lot more control over your progression. [7] Photo titled Gloss a Concrete Kitchen Counter Action 7
3
Affix the coarsest grit ruby grinding pad to the polisher. You'll be utilizing a compatible set of ruby grinding pads ranging from crude (concerning 50 grit) to really great (up to 3,000 grit). Numerous tools and grinding pads featured suitable hook-and-loop attachments, making it simple to switch over from one pad to an additional. Place the coarsest pad (50 grit) on the polisher and also affix it safely. [8] See to it the tool and grinding pads you have actually picked are particularly designed for use on concrete. Rock polishers and pads meant for use on materials like granite will not hold up to this job.
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4
Hold the device degree as well as use even stress to the concrete surface. Starting with the biggest straight surface area of the kitchen counter, setting the grinding pad in call with the concrete and also begin up the tool. Work your means around the surface area in fanned or linear strokes at a moderate speed.
The brightening tool should not be held on an angle, and also you will not require to press down on it really hard. If you do, you'll trigger it to explore the surface as well as the concrete will certainly be left with unwanted divots, swirl marks, and an unequal surface. [9] Picture titled Gloss a Concrete Counter Top Action 9
5
Buff out bumps to accomplish an also surface appearance with the initial pass. With your 50-grit grinding pad, you'll have the ability to get the whole concrete surface area to the same appearance. It will definitely be harsh to the touch, yet the important point is that it's even. Go over the surface as sometimes as you require to grind down any staying swellings in the concrete. [10] You need to finish up with an entirely flat surface.
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Attach a protective skirt to the device and brighten the vertical surfaces. Clip on a safety skirt around the 50 grit brightening pad to make sure that when you hold the device vertically, the water that's streaming out and also capturing all the concrete dirt does not spray throughout the flooring and also ceiling of your workspace. When the skirt is attached, polish the edges as well as corners similarly you polished the counter top's straight surface area. [11] Whichever grit you're utilizing, complete a full pass over the straight surface area and also vertical surface areas before switching bent on the following finer grit pad. This will save you time in the long term and will make certain that the texture is constant 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 and look at the whole surface once again. If you began with a 50-grit pad, step down to a 100-grit pad, which is designed to rub out the appearance developed by the 50-grit pad. Follow the exact same procedure of using also stress and also functioning at a moderate rate until the straight and vertical surfaces have a consistent appearance.
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Wash as well as squeegee the counter top occasionally between passes. As you polish the concrete, some debris and also slurry might be remaining. Rinse every surface area and press off any type of bits of particles. Make use of these intermittent pauses as a chance to examine your creation and see how close you're obtaining to the desired coating. [12] Photo labelled Gloss a Concrete Kitchen Counter Step 13
3
Usage handheld ruby grinding blocks to polish hard-to-reach areas. Just like the electric concrete brush, you'll begin with the coarsest block (around 120 grit) and work your means as much as the finest grit (around 1,500 grit). Make certain you get any tough corners as well as ravel the sides running around the boundary of the counter top. [13] You ought to make use of handheld blocks in the exact same series of grit degrees as those you made use of with the electric sprucing up device. If you avoid any kind of grit degrees you won't achieve the exact same surface. [14] Picture entitled Polish a Concrete Countertop Action 14
4
Progress from the coarse-grit pads to the medium-grit pads. If you've already used a 50-grit and 100-grit pad, you'll utilize a 200-grit pad for the next pass, adhered to by a 400-grit pad. Whatever you do, don't skip any grit levels! You'll need to gradually proceed from rugged to medium to fine since brightening pads are made to smooth out the surface created by the previous grit.
For instance, a great 3,000 grit pad won't provide you a good looking surface if you most recently made use of a 200 grit pad. Stick with the progression as well as you'll see lovely results! [15] Picture titled Gloss a Concrete Kitchen Counter Step 15
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Usage medium-fine grits to produce a smooth surface area. When you're finished with the 400-grit pad, switch to an 800-grit pad. Repeat the process of brightening all surfaces of the counter top. You'll begin to see a smooth surface create as you function your means via these medium-fine grit pads. [16] Photo entitled Gloss a Concrete Countertop Step 16
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Use the finest grits to attain a shiny surface. After the 800-grit pad, you can stop with a 1,500-grit pad which will provide a smooth-to-the-touch surface area as well as a subtle luster. For an added glossy finish, complete the final pass with a 3,000 grit pad. [17] Part
4
Dealing with as well as Securing the Concrete
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1
Offer the counter top a final rinse with water. When you've accomplished the desired coating, rinse and squeegee off the kitchen counter one last time. Ensure you haven't missed out on any type of places and that all surfaces have a smooth and also end up. Enable the concrete to air dry entirely.
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Deal with the concrete with any kind of paint or acid discolorations if desired. You need to apply any paint or acid tarnish treatments at this stage-- after you have actually brightened the concrete as well as given it a final rinse and also completely dry, however before you secure it.
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3
Apply 1 layer of concrete sealer to the surface with a rag. Acquisition a penetrative concrete sealer that's developed for kitchen counters as opposed to floors. It needs to be waterproof, low-odor, as well as food-safe. Fill a tidy dustcloth with the product and clean on 1 full layer of sealer to the concrete. Ensure to layer all nooks, crannies, as well as edges of the kitchen counter. [18] You can pick from the range of gloss levels offered, from high gloss to a matte coating. [19] Image entitled Gloss a Concrete Countertop Step 20
4
Let the sealant completely cure prior to enjoying your new counter top. Enable the surface area to dry totally. Depending upon the sealing product you have actually made use of, it may take a couple of days or a few weeks to treat. Then you'll have the ability to utilize and also preserving your new concrete countertop!
Although sealing won't stop all scratches, areas, spots, as well as other problems from accompanying regular use, it is a vital action in preventing the growth of bacteria within your concrete. [20]