Just how to Polish a Concrete Countertop

Whether you desire a just-buffed matte look or a high gloss luster, all put concrete countertops gain from an extensive sprucing up prior to they're used. With an electrical wet concrete brush and a collection of coarse- to fine-grit diamond brightening pads, coupled with a healthy and balanced dosage of patience as well as elbow joint oil, you'll have the ability to achieve a lovely finish on your kitchen counter. Not just will polishing get rid of bumps and also harsh edges, but it can reveal a few of the attractive aggregates within the concrete mix, causing an one-of-a-kind item. [1]


Component
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Cleaning as well as Patching Openings
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Protect your work space with ground cloth and also plastic. Damp brightening concrete can be an extremely messy procedure. Cover your floorings with ground cloth to avoid sprinkles as well as spots. Take into consideration covering your wall surfaces with plastic also. [2]
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Load small openings in the concrete with a patching mixture. If your concrete countertop has any tiny openings or minor flaws, you can fill out the holes with homemade or store-bought patching blend prior to starting the brightening process. [3] Picture labelled Gloss a Concrete Kitchen Counter Action 3
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Enable the concrete to fully cure for at least 10 days prior to brightening. Don't attempt to polish your counter top till the concrete and any type of succeeding spots are completely healed. For best results, the concrete needs to have been treated for no less than 10 days and also no greater than one month. [4] Photo titled Gloss a Concrete Countertop Step 4
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Clean off the concrete surface with water and a squeegee. Put water over the top as well as sides of the fully-cured concrete kitchen counter. Then run a squeegee over the entire item to remove any kind of particles from the surface area of the concrete. [5] Any type of remaining debris may dig right into the concrete and leave deep scratches once you start brightening it, so make certain to eliminate all residue throughout this procedure.

Component
2
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 working. Safeguard your apparel from the mess of concrete slurry with an apron or jumpsuit. Your eyes need to be covered with security goggles, and also you can make use of earplugs or building and construction earmuffs to safeguard your ears from the harsh noises of the grinding tool. [6] Make certain any loose apron ties are concealed. In a similar way, connect back long hair far from your face and also see to it it will not hang in front of your shoulders.
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Connect a handheld wet concrete brush to a water resource. You'll be making use of a handheld damp concrete polisher with variable speed setups as well as ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) turned off abilities. The polisher you're making use of may have an integrated water tube, or it may have a getting tube that you can turn a yard hose pipe onto. In either case, connect the hose from your water source to the tool firmly.
The tool must release water consistently as you grind the surface area of the concrete. This will take care of all the concrete dust that would commonly create without a stream of water stopping it. It likewise cools the grinding pads which will warm up swiftly from the rubbing.
Variable rate setups aren't totally needed to attain a smooth coating yet will certainly offer you more control over your progress. [7] Image titled Gloss a Concrete Kitchen Counter Step 7
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Affix the coarsest grit diamond grinding pad to the brush. You'll be using a suitable set of diamond grinding pads varying from coarse (regarding 50 grit) to very fine (up to 3,000 grit). Several tools and also grinding pads featured compatible hook-and-loop add-ons, making it very easy to switch from one pad to an additional. Place the coarsest pad (50 grit) on the brush and also connect it firmly. [8] Ensure the device and also grinding pads you've chosen are particularly created for use on concrete. Stone polishers and also pads intended for use on products like granite will not hold up to this project.
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Hold the device level and also use even stress to the concrete surface. Starting with the largest horizontal surface area of the counter top, position the grinding pad touching the concrete as well as launch the tool. Work your way around the surface in fanned or linear strokes at a modest pace.
The brightening tool should not be held on an angle, as well as you won't require to lower on it extremely hard. If you do, you'll cause it to go into the surface as well as the concrete will be left with unwanted divots, swirl marks, as well as an uneven finish. [9] Photo titled Gloss a Concrete Kitchen Counter Step 9
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Rubbed out bumps to attain an also surface appearance with the initial pass. With your 50-grit grinding pad, you'll be able to obtain the whole concrete surface area to the very same texture. It will certainly be harsh to the touch, however the crucial point is that it's also. Review the surface as lot of times as you need to erode any type of remaining swellings in the concrete. [10] You should wind up with a totally flat surface.
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Affix a protective skirt to the tool as well as polish the upright surfaces. 9 concrete grinding wheel 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 and capturing all the concrete dirt does not spray throughout the floor as well as ceiling of your workspace. Once the skirt is attached, brighten the sides as well as edges similarly you brightened the counter top's straight surface. [11] Whichever grit you're utilizing, complete a complete overlook the straight surface and upright surface areas prior to switching out to the next finer grit pad. This will conserve you time in the long run and will certainly make sure that the structure corresponds throughout all sides of the kitchen counter.
Part
3
Using Finer Grits to Produce a Sheen
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Switch over to the following degree grit and look at the entire surface once again. If you started with a 50-grit pad, step down to a 100-grit pad, which is made to rub out the structure developed by the 50-grit pad. Comply with the very same process of using even pressure and also functioning at a modest speed up until the straight and also vertical surface areas possess a consistent appearance.
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Rinse and also squeegee the counter top periodically between passes. As you polish the concrete, some particles as well as slurry might be leftover. Wash off every surface and press off any littles debris. Make use of these periodic stops as a possibility to examine your handiwork as well as see exactly how close you're reaching the preferred finish. [12] Picture labelled Polish a Concrete Counter Top Tip 13
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Use portable diamond grinding blocks to brighten hard-to-reach locations. Similar to the electrical concrete brush, you'll begin with the coarsest block (around 120 grit) and function your method as much as the finest grit (around 1,500 grit). Make sure you obtain any tough edges and smooth out the edges running around the boundary of the counter top. [13] You ought to utilize handheld blocks in the very same sequence of grit levels as those you made use of with the electrical polishing device. If you miss any type of grit degrees you won't achieve the exact same finish. [14] Photo labelled Polish 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 already made use of a 50-grit and also 100-grit pad, you'll utilize a 200-grit pad for the following pass, followed by a 400-grit pad. Whatever you do, do not skip any type of grit degrees! You'll require to gradually advance from rugged to tool to penalty given that brightening pads are designed to ravel the surface created by the previous grit.
For instance, a fine 3,000 grit pad won't offer you a wonderful looking finish if you most recently used a 200 grit pad. Stick to the progression and you'll see lovely results! [15] Picture labelled Polish a Concrete Kitchen Counter Action 15
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Use medium-fine grits to create a smooth surface area. When you're made with the 400-grit pad, switch to an 800-grit pad. Repeat the procedure of brightening all surface areas of the countertop. You'll start to see a smooth coating establish as you function your method with these medium-fine grit pads. [16] Image entitled Gloss a Concrete Kitchen Counter Step 16
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Use the finest grits to attain a glossy finish. After the 800-grit pad, you can quit with a 1,500-grit pad which will certainly supply a smooth-to-the-touch surface area and a subtle luster. For an added shiny surface, finish the final pass with a 3,000 grit pad. [17] Component
4
Treating and Sealing the Concrete
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Provide the kitchen counter a last rinse with water. When you have actually achieved the wanted finish, rinse and squeegee off the countertop one last time. Ensure you have not missed any type of spots which all surfaces have a smooth and even end up. Allow the concrete to air completely dry entirely.
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Treat the concrete with any kind of paint or acid stains if desired. You must apply any paint or acid tarnish therapies at this phase-- after you've polished the concrete as well as given it a final rinse and dry, but prior to you secure it.
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Apply 1 coat of concrete sealant to the surface area with a rag. Acquisition a penetrative concrete sealer that's developed for countertops instead than floors. It should be water-proof, low-odor, and food-safe. Saturate a tidy dustcloth with the item and clean on 1 total layer of sealer to the concrete. Ensure to coat all nooks, crannies, and also corners of the countertop. [18] You can select from the variety of gloss degrees offered, from high gloss to a matte surface. [19] Image titled Polish a Concrete Kitchen Counter Action 20
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Let the sealer fully heal prior to appreciating your brand-new counter top. Allow the surface to dry completely. Depending upon the securing product you've utilized, it might take a couple of days or a few weeks to heal. After that you'll be able to use and keeping your brand-new concrete countertop!
Although sealing won't avoid all scratches, places, stains, and also other flaws from happening with regular use, it is a vital step in avoiding the growth of germs within your concrete. [20]