Just how to Polish a Concrete Countertop

Whether you want a just-buffed matte appearance or a high gloss sparkle, all put concrete counter tops take advantage of a detailed polishing prior to they're put to make use of. With an electrical wet concrete polisher and a collection of coarse- to fine-grit diamond polishing pads, combined with a healthy and balanced dose of patience as well as elbow oil, you'll have the ability to accomplish an attractive surface on your counter top. Not only will brightening remove bumps and also harsh edges, yet it can reveal several of the appealing accumulations within the concrete mix, leading to an unique piece. [1]


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Cleaning Up and Covering Openings
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Safeguard your work area with ground cloth as well as plastic. Damp brightening concrete can be an exceptionally unpleasant process. Cover your floors with ground cloth to avoid splashes and also spots. Take into consideration covering your walls with plastic as well. [2]
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Fill little openings in the concrete with a patching combination. If your concrete countertop has any type of small openings or small flaws, you can complete the holes with homemade or store-bought patching mix before starting the polishing procedure. [3] Photo titled Polish a Concrete Kitchen Counter Step 3
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Permit the concrete to fully treat for at the very least 10 days prior to brightening. Don't try to polish your countertop up until the concrete as well as any type of subsequent spots are totally cured. For finest outcomes, the concrete ought to have been treated for no fewer than 10 days and no greater than one month. [4] Image entitled Polish a Concrete Countertop Action 4
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Laundry off the concrete surface with water and a squeegee. Put water over the top as well as edges of the fully-cured concrete counter top. After that run a squeegee over the whole item to eliminate any debris from the surface area of the concrete. [5] Any type of remaining particles could go into the concrete and also leave deep scrapes as soon as you begin polishing it, so see to it to remove all deposit throughout this process.

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Honing the Surface Area with a Coarse Grit Pad
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Place on an apron, safety and security goggles, as well as earplugs before functioning. Protect your garments from the mess of concrete slurry with an apron or jumpsuit. Your eyes should be covered with security goggles, and also you can make use of earplugs or building and construction earmuffs to safeguard your ears from the severe sounds of the grinding tool. [6] Make sure any type of loose apron ties are concealed. Similarly, connect back long hair far from your face as well as make sure it will not dangle before your shoulders.
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Link a portable wet concrete brush to a water resource. You'll be making use of a portable wet concrete brush with variable speed settings and also ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) turned off abilities. The brush you're using might have an integrated water hose, or it might have a receiving tube that you can turn a yard hose onto. Regardless, connect the tube from your water resource to the tool safely.
The device must release water constantly as you grind the surface area of the concrete. This will certainly look after all the concrete dust that would generally form without a stream of water stopping it. It likewise cools down the grinding pads which will certainly warm up promptly from the rubbing.
Variable rate settings aren't completely essential to achieve a smooth coating however will offer you a lot more control over your progress. [7] Photo titled Gloss a Concrete Countertop Step 7
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Affix the coarsest grit ruby grinding pad to the brush. You'll be using a suitable set of diamond grinding pads ranging from coarse (regarding 50 grit) to extremely fine (as much as 3,000 grit). Several tools and also grinding pads featured suitable hook-and-loop attachments, making it easy to switch from one pad to another. Place the coarsest pad (50 grit) on the brush and also attach it securely. [8] Ensure the tool and also grinding pads you've selected are especially designed for use on concrete. Rock polishers and pads planned for usage on products like granite won't hold up to this task.
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Hold the device degree and also apply also pressure to the concrete surface. Beginning with the largest horizontal surface area of the countertop, placement the grinding pad in call with the concrete as well as begin up the tool. Work your means around the surface in fanned or straight strokes at a moderate pace.
The polishing tool shouldn't be held on an angle, and you will not require to lower on it very hard. If you do, you'll trigger it to go into the surface and also the concrete will certainly be entrusted to undesirable divots, swirl marks, and also an uneven surface. [9] Image entitled Polish a Concrete Kitchen Counter Action 9
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Rubbed out bumps to accomplish an also surface texture with the first pass. With your 50-grit grinding pad, you'll be able to obtain the entire concrete surface area to the same appearance. It will certainly be rough to the touch, but the crucial point is that it's also. Go over the surface area as sometimes as you require to grind down any continuing to be lumps in the concrete. [10] You must wind up with a completely flat surface.
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Attach a safety skirt to the device and also polish the vertical surface areas. Clip on a protective skirt around the 50 grit polishing pad so that when you hold the tool up and down, the water that's streaming out and catching all the concrete dust doesn't spray around the floor as well as ceiling of your work space. When the skirt is connected, brighten the edges as well as corners similarly you polished the countertop's horizontal surface. [11] Whichever grit you're making use of, complete a complete pass over the straight surface as well as vertical surfaces before switching out to the following finer grit pad. This will certainly conserve you time in the lengthy run and will make certain that the texture corresponds throughout all sides of the counter top.
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Utilizing Finer Grits to Develop a Luster
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Change to the following level grit and go over the whole surface once again. If you started with a 50-grit pad, step down to a 100-grit pad, which is developed to buff out the texture created by the 50-grit pad. Comply with the very same procedure of applying even stress and also operating at a moderate speed until the straight and also vertical surfaces have a regular texture.
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Wash as well as squeegee the kitchen counter sometimes between passes. As you brighten the concrete, some particles as well as slurry may be remaining. Rinse off every surface and press off any little bits of particles. Utilize these recurring stops as a possibility to analyze your creation and see just how close you're getting to the desired surface. [12] Image titled Gloss a Concrete Kitchen Counter Tip 13
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Use portable ruby grinding blocks to brighten hard-to-reach locations. As with the electric concrete polisher, you'll begin with the coarsest block (around 120 grit) as well as function your method approximately the finest grit (around 1,500 grit). See to it you get any type of tough edges as well as smooth out the edges running around the perimeter of the counter top. [13] You must utilize handheld blocks in the very same sequence of grit levels as those you utilized with the electrical sprucing up tool. If you miss any grit degrees you will not accomplish the exact same coating. [14] Photo entitled Polish a Concrete Kitchen Counter Step 14
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Progression from the coarse-grit pads to the medium-grit pads. If concrete grinding wheel for drill 've currently utilized a 50-grit as well as 100-grit pad, you'll use a 200-grit pad for the following pass, followed by a 400-grit pad. Whatever you do, don't miss any kind of grit levels! You'll require to gradually progress from rugged to tool to penalty considering that polishing pads are designed to ravel the surface area developed by the previous grit.
For instance, a great 3,000 grit pad won't provide you a good looking finish if you most lately used a 200 grit pad. Stick to the development and you'll see beautiful outcomes! [15] Photo labelled Gloss a Concrete Kitchen Counter Step 15
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Use medium-fine grits to develop a smooth surface. When you're performed with the 400-grit pad, button to an 800-grit pad. Repeat the process of polishing all surface areas of the counter top. You'll start to see a smooth surface establish as you work your way through these medium-fine grit pads. [16] Photo entitled Polish a Concrete Kitchen Counter Action 16
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Make use of the finest grits to attain a shiny finish. After the 800-grit pad, you can stop with a 1,500-grit pad which will certainly provide a smooth-to-the-touch surface and also a refined shine. For an added glossy coating, complete the last pass with a 3,000 grit pad. [17] Component
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Treating and Sealing the Concrete
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Give the countertop a last rinse with water. When you have actually attained the wanted finish, rinse as well as squeegee off the counter top one last time. See to it you haven't missed any places and also that all surfaces have a smooth and even finish. Allow the concrete to air completely dry entirely.
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Deal with the concrete with any kind of paint or acid spots if wanted. You should apply any type of paint or acid discolor therapies at this phase-- after you've brightened the concrete and offered it a last rinse as well as completely dry, but before you secure it.
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Apply 1 coat of concrete sealer to the surface area with a rag. Acquisition a penetrative concrete sealant that's developed for kitchen counters rather than floorings. It ought to be water resistant, low-odor, and food-safe. Saturate a tidy rag with the product and also wipe on 1 full layer of sealant to the concrete. See to it to layer all spaces, crannies, as well as edges of the countertop. [18] You can pick from the range of gloss degrees available, from high gloss to a matte surface. [19] Image titled Polish a Concrete Counter Top Step 20
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Let the sealer totally treat prior to appreciating your new kitchen counter. Permit the surface to dry completely. Depending upon the securing product you have actually utilized, it might take a couple of days or a couple of weeks to treat. Then you'll be able to utilize and maintaining your new concrete counter top!
Although sealing won't avoid all scratches, spots, stains, and also various other imperfections from occurring with normal usage, it is an important action in preventing the growth of germs within your concrete. [20]