How to Polish a Concrete Countertop

Whether you desire a just-buffed matte appearance or a high gloss sparkle, all poured concrete kitchen counters take advantage of a comprehensive sprucing up prior to they're used. With an electric damp concrete polisher and a collection of rugged- to fine-grit diamond brightening pads, combined with a healthy and balanced dose of patience as well as effort, you'll be able to attain a gorgeous coating on your kitchen counter. Not only will polishing eliminate bumps and also harsh sides, yet it can subject some of the attractive accumulations within the concrete mix, causing an unique item. [1]


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Cleaning Up as well as Covering Openings
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Shield your work area with drop fabrics and also plastic. Damp brightening concrete can be a very unpleasant procedure. Cover your floors with ground cloth to stop sprinkles as well as discolorations. Think about covering your walls with plastic as well. [2]
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Fill little openings in the concrete with a patching blend. If your concrete kitchen counter has any type of little holes or small imperfections, you can complete the holes with homemade or store-bought patching combination before starting the polishing procedure. [3] Image labelled Gloss a Concrete Countertop Step 3
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Permit the concrete to totally heal for at the very least 10 days prior to brightening. Do not try to polish your kitchen counter until the concrete and any type of subsequent spots are totally cured. For best results, the concrete needs to have been cured for no less than 10 days as well as no even more than 30 days. [4] Photo labelled Gloss a Concrete Kitchen Counter Step 4
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Clean off the concrete surface with water and a squeegee. Pour water over the leading as well as edges of the fully-cured concrete kitchen counter. Then run a squeegee over the entire item to get rid of any particles from the surface of the concrete. [5] Any kind of leftover debris may explore the concrete as well as leave deep scrapes as soon as you start brightening it, so make certain to eliminate all deposit during this procedure.

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Developing the Surface with a Coarse Grit Pad
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Place on an apron, security goggles, and earplugs before functioning. Protect your apparel from the mess of concrete slurry with an apron or one-piece suit. Your eyes need to be covered with safety and security goggles, as well as you can make use of earplugs or building earmuffs to shield your ears from the extreme sounds of the grinding device. [6] Make certain any kind of loosened apron ties are hidden. Likewise, connect back long hair far from your face and also see to it it won't dangle in front of your shoulders.
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Link a portable damp concrete brush to a water resource. You'll be making use of a handheld damp concrete brush with variable rate setups and ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) turned off capacities. The polisher you're utilizing might have an integrated water hose, or it may have an obtaining tube that you can twist a yard hose onto. In any case, link the tube from your water source to the device securely.
The tool ought to release water consistently as you grind the surface area of the concrete. This will certainly deal with all the concrete dirt that would normally create without a stream of water preventing it. It likewise cools down the grinding pads which will certainly warm up rapidly from the rubbing.
Variable speed settings aren't completely needed to accomplish a smooth coating however will certainly offer you a lot more control over your progression. [7] Picture labelled Gloss a Concrete Countertop Step 7
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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 coarse (about 50 grit) to very great (as much as 3,000 grit). Numerous devices as well as grinding pads come with suitable hook-and-loop add-ons, making it easy to change from one pad to an additional. Area the coarsest pad (50 grit) on the brush and attach it securely. [8] Make certain the tool and also grinding pads you have actually picked are specifically developed for usage on concrete. Stone brushes and also pads planned for usage on products like granite will not stand up to this project.
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Hold the device degree and use even stress to the concrete surface. Beginning with the biggest horizontal surface of the kitchen counter, position the grinding pad in contact with the concrete and start up the device. Work your way around the surface area in fanned or linear strokes at a moderate speed.
The polishing tool shouldn't be held on an angle, and also you won't need to lower on it really hard. If you do, you'll create it to go into the surface area as well as the concrete will certainly be entrusted unwanted divots, swirl marks, and an uneven coating. [9] Picture titled Gloss a Concrete Counter Top Action 9
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Rubbed out bumps to achieve an even surface area texture with the very first pass. With your 50-grit grinding pad, you'll be able to obtain the whole concrete surface area to the exact same appearance. It will absolutely be harsh to the touch, but the crucial thing is that it's even. Look at the surface as lot of times as you need to grind down any type of remaining swellings in the concrete. [10] You ought to wind up with a completely flat surface area.
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Attach a safety skirt to the tool and polish the vertical surface areas. Clip on a protective skirt around the 50 grit polishing pad to make sure that when you hold the device vertically, the water that's streaming out as well as catching all the concrete dirt doesn't spray around the flooring and ceiling of your work area. When the skirt is attached, brighten the edges and edges similarly you brightened the countertop's straight surface. [11] Whichever grit you're making use of, finish a full overlook the horizontal surface and also vertical surface areas prior to changing bent on the following finer grit pad. This will certainly save you time in the future and will certainly guarantee that the appearance is regular across all sides of the kitchen counter.
6 concrete grinding wheel Of Finer Grits to Produce a Shine
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Switch over to the next level grit and also look at the entire surface once again. If you started with a 50-grit pad, tip down to a 100-grit pad, which is created to buff out the texture developed by the 50-grit pad. Adhere to the exact same process of applying even pressure and operating at a modest rate till the horizontal as well as vertical surface areas have a constant appearance.
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Wash and also squeegee the counter top occasionally between passes. As you brighten the concrete, some particles as well as slurry may be remaining. Wash off every surface area and press off any type of little bits of particles. Make use of these periodic pauses as an opportunity to analyze your handiwork as well as see exactly how close you're obtaining to the preferred finish. [12] Image titled Polish a Concrete Counter Top Step 13
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Use portable ruby grinding blocks to polish hard-to-reach areas. Just like the electric concrete brush, you'll start with the coarsest block (around 120 grit) and work your means up to the finest grit (around 1,500 grit). Ensure you get any type of challenging edges and also smooth out the edges running around the border of the countertop. [13] You need to utilize portable blocks in the same series of grit degrees as those you used with the electric polishing tool. If you miss any grit degrees you won't achieve the very same finish. [14] Picture titled Gloss a Concrete Kitchen Counter Action 14
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Progression from the coarse-grit pads to the medium-grit pads. If you have actually currently used a 50-grit and also 100-grit pad, you'll utilize a 200-grit pad for the following pass, adhered to by a 400-grit pad. Whatever you do, do not miss any type of grit degrees! You'll require to gradually advance from coarse to tool to penalty because brightening pads are made to smooth out the surface produced by the previous grit.
As an example, a fine 3,000 grit pad will not provide you a nice looking finish if you most recently utilized a 200 grit pad. Stick with the development and you'll see stunning outcomes! [15] Image entitled Gloss a Concrete Countertop Step 15
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Use medium-fine grits to develop a smooth surface area. When you're performed with the 400-grit pad, switch to an 800-grit pad. Repeat the process of polishing all surfaces of the counter top. You'll begin to see a smooth coating create as you function your means through these medium-fine grit pads. [16] Photo titled Polish a Concrete Kitchen Counter Action 16
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Utilize the finest grits to attain a glossy surface. After the 800-grit pad, you can quit with a 1,500-grit pad which will certainly give a smooth-to-the-touch surface area and also a subtle luster. For an additional shiny finish, finish the last pass with a 3,000 grit pad. [17] Component
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Treating as well as Sealing the Concrete
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Provide the counter top a last rinse with water. When you've accomplished the desired surface, rinse and squeegee off the countertop one last time. See to it you haven't missed out on any kind of spots which all surface areas have a smooth and also also end up. Enable the concrete to air completely dry totally.
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Deal with the concrete with any kind of paint or acid stains if preferred. You must use any type of paint or acid stain treatments at this stage-- after you've brightened the concrete and also provided it a last rinse and completely dry, but before you secure it.
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Apply 1 layer of concrete sealant to the surface area with a cloth. Purchase a penetrative concrete sealer that's designed for countertops rather than floorings. It needs to be water-proof, low-odor, and food-safe. Saturate a clean cloth with the product and clean on 1 total layer of sealant to the concrete. Make certain to coat all nooks, crannies, and also corners of the countertop. [18] You can select from the selection of gloss degrees readily available, from high gloss to a matte finish. [19] Image titled Polish a Concrete Countertop Action 20
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Let the sealant fully heal before enjoying your brand-new kitchen counter. Permit the surface to completely dry entirely. Depending on the securing product you've utilized, it may take a few days or a couple of weeks to heal. After that you'll have the ability to utilize as well as keeping your new concrete counter top!
Although securing won't prevent all scrapes, spots, spots, as well as various other problems from accompanying routine usage, it is a vital action in avoiding the development of bacteria within your concrete. [20]