How To: Polished Concrete w/ Grout, Densifier & Colored Dye
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- čas přidán 24. 08. 2024
- Polished concrete can be used to give new life to an old slab. There are limitations, however, that could restrict a contractor’s ability to satisfy a spec. Surface uniformity, color variation, and budget all influence the final result. This video demonstrates just one of many ways to transform a damaged, discolored surface into a usable, dust-proof surface.
The chemistry used first (after some grinding steps) is 100% solids epoxy and marble sand. The epoxy and sand are used together to fill the large surface pits. The second chemistry used (after the grout removal) is a silicate densifier. The liquid hardener is used to improve the mechanical bonds between the surface sand and coarse aggregates. The final chemical used is a denatured alcohol dye. This is applied to provide a surface color that is mostly uniform and helps to mask the slab’s variable shading.
The result is a shiny floor that looks much better than its original condition. This was not achieved by a quick few steps, rather, it required multiple products and processes. Any slab can be drastically changed by polishing, but the beginning condition and owner expectation being met relies mostly upon budget.
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#POLISHEDCONCRETE
#ROTARYGRINDER
That is so so so much work
Uh huh. True polished concrete is not cheap for this very reason. A grind & seal is so much easier. 😅
Awesome video! Thank you
Thanks so much, Mark. I appreciate it.
Those little pinholes could easily be filled using a pore filler at about 100x the speed as with everything this operator does. Opening with 30’s? Are you looking for aggregate exposure? Cross cutting 30’s? Are you looking for heavy aggregate exposure? Cross cutting every step? Are you trying to take a week to polish 1,000sqft?
Are these serious questions or an attempt at humor?
I’m just saying it’s not hard to make 30sqft look good and this was ridiculous.
I will admit I did learn you can do things ass backwards and still achieve a good result, like densifying then dying
@@russellchampagne3830 I’m sorry to hear this disturbed you so much.
Have you ever done a real polish job or just mock-ups?
I’ve seen you dye after densifying. I’m having a hard time finding info after dyes after densifying. I densified after 100 because I had soft concrete. I plan to again after 400. Just finished 200. Can I still dye? Dye and denatured alcohol? What ratio? Any help is appreciated thanks!
That’s a really good question. Early dyeing (before densifier) can pose the problem of the dye penetrating too deep. This can lead to unexpected color variation as some of the colors that make the dye color can absorb differently. This is why I prefer to densifier first if a floor is not new or scratching at less than a six. I want to strengthen a soft floor as early as possible whether it will be dyed or not.
The reason for dyeing later is that the diamond pads below an 800 will remove a substantial amount of the dye. It’s important to note that not all 800 grit diamonds (or any of them for that matter) are the same across different manufacturers. The system I use is too aggressive in the early steps up to 800, and that forces my using the dye later than most.
For my preferred solvent, I like denatured alcohol better than acetone. It doesn’t flash as fast and that gives me time to micro-fiber agitate it into the surface. Many have success with acetone, but my preference is denatured alcohol. The ratio is the same as whatever the manufacturer would otherwise suggest when acetone is used.
I wish I could give you a clear answer as to what will work best for you. The best advice is to take the time to practice varying the dye application to see how it works with your preferred pad and densifier system.
Thank you for the good question. Please do not hesitate to reply as needed.
Do you have some recomended place to buy materials.?
Thank you for the request. Most everything shown in the video is available on buymanufacturersdirect.com/
If you need a local dealer, can you provide your city and state?
Charlotte, NC
@@RafaelFdez okay. If you send me your contact info to josh@substratetechnology.com , I’ll have someone contact you today.