Exactly how to Polish a Concrete Countertop

Whether you seek a just-buffed matte look or a high gloss sparkle, all poured concrete countertops benefit from a thorough sprucing up prior to they're put to utilize. With an electric wet concrete brush and a collection of coarse- to fine-grit diamond polishing pads, coupled with a healthy dose of patience and effort, you'll be able to accomplish a lovely surface on your kitchen counter. Not just will brightening eliminate bumps and also rough edges, yet it can subject several of the appealing aggregates within the concrete mix, leading to an unique piece. [1]


Part
1
Cleaning and Covering Openings
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Shield your workspace with drop fabrics and plastic. Wet polishing concrete can be a very messy procedure. Cover your floorings with drop towels to stop splashes as well as discolorations. Consider covering your walls with plastic too. [2]
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2
Load tiny openings in the concrete with a patching mixture. If your concrete counter top has any type of little holes or small imperfections, you can fill out the openings with homemade or store-bought patching mixture prior to beginning the polishing procedure. [3] Picture entitled Gloss a Concrete Countertop Action 3
3
Allow the concrete to fully treat for at least 10 days prior to polishing. Do not try to brighten your kitchen counter till the concrete and any type of succeeding patches are totally cured. For ideal results, the concrete ought to have been treated for no less than 10 days and also no greater than thirty days. [4] Picture labelled Polish a Concrete Counter Top Step 4
4
Clean off the concrete surface with water and a squeegee. Put water over the top and also sides of the fully-cured concrete kitchen counter. Then run a squeegee over the entire piece to get rid of any type of particles from the surface area of the concrete. [5] Any leftover particles could go into the concrete and leave deep scratches once you begin polishing it, so make certain to eliminate all residue throughout this procedure.

Component
2
Developing the Surface with a Coarse Grit Pad
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1
Put on an apron, safety and security goggles, and earplugs prior to functioning. Shield your garments from the mess of concrete slurry with an apron or one-piece suit. Your eyes ought to be covered with safety and security goggles, and also you can use earplugs or building and construction earmuffs to secure your ears from the rough noises of the grinding tool. [6] Make sure any loose apron connections are put away. In a similar way, link back long hair far from your face as well as ensure it won't hang before your shoulders.
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2
Connect a handheld wet concrete brush to a water source. You'll be using a portable damp concrete brush with variable rate setups and ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) turned off capabilities. The polisher you're making use of could have an integrated water hose pipe, or it might have a getting tube that you can twist a garden hose pipe onto. In any case, attach the tube from your water source to the tool firmly.
The tool should launch water constantly as you grind the surface area of the concrete. This will deal with all the concrete dust that would usually form without a stream of water stopping it. It likewise cools off the grinding pads which will warm up swiftly from the friction.
Variable speed settings aren't completely required to attain a smooth surface but will give you extra control over your progress. [7] Picture labelled Polish a Concrete Counter Top Step 7
3
Attach the coarsest grit ruby grinding pad to the polisher. You'll be making use of a suitable set of ruby grinding pads varying from rugged (concerning 50 grit) to really fine (up to 3,000 grit). Several tools as well as grinding pads featured compatible hook-and-loop attachments, making it very easy to change from one pad to an additional. Location the coarsest pad (50 grit) on the polisher and also affix it securely. [8] See to it the tool and grinding pads you've picked are particularly developed for use on concrete. Rock brushes as well as pads intended for usage on materials like granite will not hold up to this project.
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4
Hold the tool level as well as use even pressure to the concrete surface. Starting with the biggest horizontal surface of the countertop, position the grinding pad in call with the concrete and also begin up the tool. Function your means around the surface in fanned or direct strokes at a modest pace.
The brightening tool should not be hung on an angle, as well as you will not need to press down on it very hard. If you do, you'll trigger it to go into the surface and also the concrete will be entrusted to unfavorable divots, swirl marks, and also an uneven coating. [9] Photo labelled Polish a Concrete Counter Top Action 9
5
Buff out bumps to achieve an even surface area appearance with the first pass. With your 50-grit grinding pad, you'll be able to obtain the whole concrete surface area to the very same structure. It will definitely be harsh to the touch, but the important thing is that it's even. Look at the surface area as many times as you need to grind down any kind of remaining lumps in the concrete. [10] You ought to wind up with a totally level surface.
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6
Attach a safety skirt to the device and brighten the upright surfaces. Clip on a protective skirt around the 50 grit polishing pad so that when you hold the device up and down, the water that's streaming out as well as catching all the concrete dirt doesn't spray throughout the floor as well as ceiling of your workspace. When the skirt is affixed, brighten the sides as well as edges the very same method you polished the countertop's straight surface. [11] Whichever grit you're using, finish a complete pass over the straight surface area and vertical surface areas prior to switching out to the next finer grit pad. This will save you time in the future and will make sure that the structure is consistent across all sides of the kitchen counter.
Part
3
Using Finer Grits to Create a Sheen
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1
Change to the next level grit and also look at the entire surface area once more. If you started with a 50-grit pad, tip down to a 100-grit pad, which is developed to buff out the texture produced by the 50-grit pad. Adhere to the very same process of applying even pressure as well as working at a moderate speed up until the horizontal and vertical surface areas have a regular texture.
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2
Rinse and squeegee the countertop periodically between passes. As you brighten the concrete, some particles and slurry might be remaining. Rinse off every surface area and also press off any littles particles. Utilize these intermittent pauses as a possibility to analyze your workmanship and see exactly how close you're getting to the preferred coating. [12] Picture entitled Gloss a Concrete Kitchen Counter Step 13
3
Use portable ruby grinding blocks to polish hard-to-reach areas. Similar to the electric concrete polisher, you'll start with the coarsest block (around 120 grit) as well as function your method as much as the finest grit (around 1,500 grit). Make certain you get any type of challenging edges as well as ravel the edges running around the perimeter of the countertop. [13] You need to use portable blocks in the exact same sequence of grit levels as those you used with the electric polishing tool. If you miss any grit levels you will not achieve the very same surface. [14] Picture labelled Gloss a Concrete Countertop Action 14
4
Progression from the coarse-grit pads to the medium-grit pads. If you've currently utilized a 50-grit and 100-grit pad, you'll make use of a 200-grit pad for the next pass, followed by a 400-grit pad. Whatever you do, don't skip any kind of grit degrees! You'll need to gradually advance from crude to medium to penalty because polishing pads are developed to smooth out the surface area created by the previous grit.
For instance, a fine 3,000 grit pad will not give you a nice looking coating if you most just recently utilized a 200 grit pad. Stick with the development as well as you'll see lovely outcomes! [15] Picture titled Polish a Concrete Countertop Action 15
5
Use 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 procedure of polishing all surface areas of the countertop. dewalt 5 concrete grinding wheel 'll begin to see a smooth surface establish as you function your method via these medium-fine grit pads. [16] Picture labelled Gloss a Concrete Counter Top Action 16
6
Make use of the finest grits to attain a shiny surface. After the 800-grit pad, you can stop with a 1,500-grit pad which will give a smooth-to-the-touch surface and also a subtle shine. For an extra shiny surface, finish the last pass with a 3,000 grit pad. [17] Part
4
Treating and also Securing the Concrete
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1
Offer the kitchen counter a final rinse with water. When you have actually accomplished the preferred finish, rinse as well as squeegee off the counter top one last time. Make certain you have not missed any kind of places as well as that all surface areas have a smooth as well as even finish. Allow the concrete to air completely dry totally.
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2
Treat the concrete with any type of paint or acid spots if desired. You need to use any type of paint or acid stain treatments at this stage-- after you have actually polished the concrete and also given it a last rinse as well as completely dry, but before you secure it.
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3
Apply 1 coat of concrete sealer to the surface area with a cloth. Purchase a penetrative concrete sealant that's developed for counter tops as opposed to floorings. It needs to be water-proof, low-odor, and also food-safe. Fill a clean dustcloth with the product and also wipe on 1 full layer of sealant to the concrete. Make certain to layer all spaces, crannies, and edges of the kitchen counter. [18] You can select from the selection of gloss degrees offered, from high gloss to a matte finish. [19] Image entitled Polish a Concrete Counter Top Action 20
4
Allow the sealant totally heal prior to appreciating your brand-new kitchen counter. Allow the surface area to dry completely. Relying on the securing item you've used, it may take a couple of days or a few weeks to heal. After that you'll be able to make use of and maintaining your new concrete counter top!
Although securing won't protect against all scrapes, spots, stains, and also various other flaws from accompanying normal use, it is an important action in avoiding the growth of microorganisms within your concrete. [20]