Just how to Polish a Concrete Countertop

Whether you want a just-buffed matte appearance or a high gloss sparkle, all poured concrete kitchen counters take advantage of a detailed polishing prior to they're placed to utilize. With an electrical damp concrete brush and also a collection of rugged- to fine-grit diamond polishing pads, coupled with a healthy and balanced dose of patience and also arm joint grease, you'll have the ability to attain an attractive coating on your counter top. Not only will brightening remove bumps and rough sides, but it can reveal several of the eye-catching aggregates within the concrete mix, causing an unique item. [1]


Part
1
Cleaning Up and Patching Holes
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Protect your work area with drop cloths and plastic. Damp polishing concrete can be an extremely unpleasant process. Cover your floorings with ground cloth to protect against sprinkles and discolorations. Take into consideration covering your walls with plastic too. [2]
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2
Fill tiny holes in the concrete with a patching combination. If your concrete counter top has any little holes or minor defects, you can complete the openings with homemade or store-bought patching mixture prior to beginning the brightening procedure. [3] Picture labelled Gloss a Concrete Kitchen Counter Step 3
3
Enable the concrete to completely treat for a minimum of 10 days before polishing. Don't try to brighten your kitchen counter until the concrete and also any succeeding spots are fully cured. For ideal results, the concrete should have been cured for no less than 10 days and also no more than thirty days. [4] Image entitled Gloss a Concrete Counter Top Step 4
4
Clean off the concrete surface area with water and a squeegee. Put water over the leading and sides of the fully-cured concrete countertop. Then run a squeegee over the whole item to eliminate any type of particles from the surface of the concrete. [5] Any type of leftover debris might dig into the concrete and also leave deep scrapes once you begin polishing it, so see to it to remove all deposit throughout this procedure.

Component
2
Developing the Surface with a Coarse Grit Pad
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1
Place on an apron, security goggles, and earplugs prior to working. Shield your apparel from the mess of concrete slurry with an apron or jumpsuit. Your eyes must be covered with safety and security goggles, as well as you can utilize earplugs or building and construction earmuffs to protect your ears from the severe audios of the grinding device. [6] Make sure any kind of loose apron ties are hidden. Similarly, tie back lengthy hair away from your face and ensure it will not dangle in front of your shoulders.
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2
Attach a handheld wet concrete brush to a water resource. You'll be making use of a portable damp concrete brush with variable speed settings and also ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) shut off capacities. The brush you're using may have an integrated water tube, or it might have a getting tube that you can twist a yard pipe onto. Regardless, attach the hose from your water source to the device securely.
The device ought to release water regularly as you grind the surface of the concrete. This will take care of all the concrete dirt that would generally form without a stream of water avoiding it. It additionally cools down the grinding pads which will certainly heat up swiftly from the rubbing.
Variable rate setups aren't entirely required to attain a smooth finish yet will provide you a lot more control over your progress. [7] Image titled Polish a Concrete Kitchen Counter Step 7
3
Attach the coarsest grit diamond 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 (up to 3,000 grit). Many devices as well as grinding pads featured compatible hook-and-loop attachments, making it simple to switch over from one pad to one more. Location the coarsest pad (50 grit) on the brush and attach it securely. [8] Make sure the tool as well as grinding pads you've chosen are particularly developed for use on concrete. Stone brushes and also pads intended for use on materials like granite won't hold up to this job.
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4
Hold the tool level and also use also stress to the concrete surface area. Starting with the biggest horizontal surface area of the counter top, position the grinding pad touching the concrete and begin up the tool. Work your method around the surface in fanned or direct strokes at a modest speed.
The polishing device shouldn't be held on an angle, as well as you won't require to press down on it really hard. If you do, you'll create it to go into the surface and also the concrete will certainly be entrusted to unwanted divots, swirl marks, and also an uneven coating. [9] Image titled Polish a Concrete Counter Top Action 9
5
Rubbed out bumps to accomplish an also surface appearance with the very first pass. With your 50-grit grinding pad, you'll have the ability to obtain the entire concrete surface to the same appearance. It will absolutely be harsh to the touch, yet the vital point is that it's even. Discuss the surface as several times as you need to erode any kind of remaining swellings in the concrete. [10] You need to finish up with an absolutely flat surface.
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6
Attach a safety skirt to the device and also polish the upright surfaces. Clip on a protective skirt around the 50 grit brightening pad to ensure that when you hold the tool up and down, the water that's streaming out as well as capturing all the concrete dust doesn't spray throughout the flooring and ceiling of your work area. As soon as the skirt is attached, brighten the edges and also corners the exact same method you polished the countertop's straight surface area. [11] Whichever grit you're utilizing, finish a complete overlook the straight surface and also vertical surface areas prior to changing out to the next finer grit pad. This will certainly save you time in the lengthy run and also will guarantee that the structure corresponds across all sides of the countertop.
Part
3
Utilizing Finer Grits to Produce a Luster
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1
Change to the following level grit and discuss the entire surface once again. If you started with a 50-grit pad, step down to a 100-grit pad, which is created to buff out the structure developed by the 50-grit pad. Follow the very same process of applying also stress and functioning at a moderate rate until the horizontal and also upright surfaces possess a regular appearance.
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2
Wash as well as squeegee the countertop occasionally in between passes. As you polish the concrete, some debris and slurry may be remaining. Rinse off every surface as well as press off any type of little bits of debris. Utilize these recurring stops as an opportunity to analyze your workmanship and also see just how close you're getting to the desired surface. [12] Picture entitled Polish a Concrete Countertop Tip 13
3
Usage handheld ruby grinding blocks to brighten hard-to-reach areas. Similar to the electric concrete brush, you'll start with the coarsest block (around 120 grit) as well as work your means approximately the finest grit (around 1,500 grit). Make certain you get any challenging corners and also ravel the sides running around the border of the counter top. [13] You need to use portable blocks in the same sequence of grit levels as those you made use of with the electric sprucing up tool. If you skip any grit levels you won't achieve the same finish. [14] Picture titled Polish a Concrete Kitchen Counter Action 14
4
Progress from the coarse-grit pads to the medium-grit pads. If you have actually already made use of a 50-grit and also 100-grit pad, you'll use a 200-grit pad for the following pass, followed by a 400-grit pad. Whatever 3 concrete grinding wheel do, do not miss any kind of grit levels! You'll need to gradually advance from crude to medium to fine because brightening pads are designed to smooth out the surface area 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 lately made use of a 200 grit pad. Stick with the progression as well as you'll see attractive results! [15] Image entitled Gloss a Concrete Countertop Action 15
5
Usage medium-fine grits to create a smooth surface. When you're made with the 400-grit pad, switch to an 800-grit pad. Repeat the process of brightening all surface areas of the countertop. You'll start to see a smooth coating develop as you work your means through these medium-fine grit pads. [16] Picture entitled Polish a Concrete Counter Top Action 16
6
Use the finest grits to accomplish a shiny surface. After the 800-grit pad, you can quit with a 1,500-grit pad which will provide a smooth-to-the-touch surface area and also a subtle sheen. For an added glossy coating, complete the final pass with a 3,000 grit pad. [17] Part
4
Dealing with and also Securing the Concrete
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1
Give the counter top a last rinse with water. When you've attained the preferred coating, rinse and squeegee off the countertop one last time. Make certain you have not missed out on any type of places which all surface areas have a smooth and even finish. Allow the concrete to air dry completely.
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2
Deal with the concrete with any kind of paint or acid spots if wanted. You need to apply any paint or acid discolor therapies at this phase-- after you've polished the concrete as well as provided it a last rinse and dry, yet prior to you secure it.
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3
Apply 1 layer of concrete sealant to the surface with a rag. Purchase a penetrative concrete sealant that's made for kitchen counters rather than floorings. It must be waterproof, low-odor, and food-safe. Saturate a tidy dustcloth with the product and clean on 1 complete layer of sealer to the concrete. Make sure to layer all nooks, crannies, as well as corners of the countertop. [18] You can select from the selection of gloss degrees readily available, from high gloss to a matte coating. [19] Picture entitled Polish a Concrete Counter Top Step 20
4
Allow the sealant completely treat before appreciating your new counter top. Permit the surface to completely dry entirely. Depending on the sealing item you have actually made use of, it might take a few days or a few weeks to heal. After that you'll be able to make use of and also maintaining your new concrete kitchen counter!
Although sealing will not protect against all scrapes, areas, spots, and other imperfections from happening with normal use, it is a crucial action in preventing the growth of microorganisms within your concrete. [20]