The New Floor Finish — Diamond Polished Concrete
By Rob Byrnes, Designcrete of America, LLC Diamond polished concrete is the
latest innovation taking the flooring industry by storm. Beginning in the stone ages and first appearing in the United States with the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park visi- tor centers in the early 1900’s, dia- mond polishing has seen a re-emer- gence in the last six to eight years. The World of Concrete Trade Show
held in Las Vegas the first week of February had over 60 exhibitors and four classes dedicated to this inno- vative flooring technique. Polished concrete can be done with either new construction or as part of a renova- tion. The benefits are numerous in- cluding, “Green Points,” increased reflectivity for reduced lighting ex- penses, low maintenance and afford- able installation costs. Careful planning is essential for a successful diamond-polishing proj- ect. In new construction the floor must be poured to very low FF and
FL numbers thus ensuring a smooth finish. Polishing only affects the top 1/16-1/8 inch and is not grinding. In most cases construction continues after the initial pour because polish- ing must be done after the concrete cures in 28 days. Care must be taken to “bib” aerial equipment and ensure the floor is not stained by construc- tion debris, such as: grease and oil from threading machines. Polishing entails numerous “pass-
es” with floor machines outfitted with polishing pads. The process can range from four to eight steps with five being the most common. Each pass is done with different grit-think sandpaper. The process can be started wet with 30 grit and go to 3200 grit. Most common is 800 grit. Polishing to the 800 grit level, followed by the concrete densifier passes the Nation- al Safety Slip Test. This can be done with five passes - 30 wet, 100, 200, 400 and 800 dry. Increasing the grit
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to 1600 or 3200 will result in higher reflectivity, but not proportionately. To get the best results for your dollar you should stop at 800. Color can be incorporated into dia-
mond polishing in various ways. The easiest is integrally coloring the con- crete in an initial pour application. In retrofit and remodel applications, acid staining and dye are common. The acid stain or dye is applied af- ter the 400 grit level of polishing is attained. Colors can be added in any combination and can be incorporated with using a 4” grinder and adding designs to the floor. Please note diamond polished concrete is a low maintenance, not a zero- maintenance product. Most manufacturers have a cleaning solu- tion, which is applied to the floor and contains a slight amount of densifier. This allows the floor to maintain its brilliance. Regular cleaning reduces abrasion (dust and dirt), which en- sures a long lasting floor. LEEDS programs offer points for
both diamond polishing and color- ing concrete. If involved in a LEEDS project use water based acid stains or dyes. Increased reflectivity adds to the favorable standing in LEEDS. So, when looking for something
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18 | CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR 1ST QUARTER 2010
different and exciting on your next renovation project or when building on a budget you may want to con- sider diamond polished concrete as a viable alternative for your finished floor. For more information on diamond- polishing you may contact Rob By- rnes at DesignCrete of America, LLC at 877-423-4100 or online at www.
DesignCreteofAmerica.com.
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