text: Concrete is a hugely popular flooring option for just about every possible residential, commercial, or industrial application. However, even a material as durable as concrete can begin to show signs of wear over time, but that doesn’t mean you’ll need to undertake costly repairs or new installation.
  Concrete is as adaptable as it is versatile. If your concrete floors show signs of wear and tear, or you want to give dated floors a new look, professional concrete polishing can help restore and transform your floors for a minimal investment.
  What is Concrete Polishing?
  Polished concrete is the result of concrete processing, a technique that refines the surface layer of your existing concrete floors through mechanical means. Concrete polishing progresses in stages, and not all processed concrete will result in a polished finish.
  There are three distinct categories of concrete processing: grinding, honing, and concrete polishing. Each level of concrete processing is characterized by using increasingly finer grades of grit to achieve a successively more polished appearance. What is important to note is that not all processed concrete is polished. The first two levels of concrete processing, grinding and honing, can be used to produce a matte, low to medium, or even high-shine appearance without polishing.
  Concrete polishing requires the greatest number of steps and the finest grit resin, up to 3,000 grits. Once completed, polished concrete floors will have a smooth, mirror-like reflective surface without requiring any type of resin or polyurethane application.
  Uses and Limitations of Concrete Polishing
  While several methods can be used to restore damaged concrete floors, concrete grinding and polishing are one of the most cost-effective. Concrete polishing can be used to:
  - Smooth uneven surfaces
  - Remove epoxies, paints, or other adhesives
  - Repair surface deterioration
  - Correct the appearance of cracks or raised bumps
  However, concrete polishing may not be an effective solution for restoring all types of concrete flooring.
  A combination of factors will help determine whether concrete polishing is a suitable option for your flooring, including the skill of the contractor, the quality of the concrete mixture and its installation, and the degree of damage that needs to be repaired.
  Residential concrete floors are often built with a low Psi concrete mixture and are hand troweled. While this is perfectly acceptable in residential buildings, low Psi concrete is difficult to polish due to its porous nature. Commercial concrete, on the other hand, has a much higher Psi and is machine troweled, resulting in less surface variance and making it a more suitable candidate for concrete polishing.
  Other Reasons to Consider Concrete Polishing
  Cost-effectiveness is not the only benefit of using concrete polishing to restore your floors. More and more residential and commercial customers have been opting for concrete polishing because restored polished concrete floors are:
  - Environmentally friendly
  - Easy to care for
  - Long lasting
  Restoring, rather than replacing, damaged concrete flooring helps to minimize the drain on resources while keeping more material out of landfills. Concrete polishing is sustainable, requires no harmful or potentially toxic chemicals, and can help prolong the life of your concrete flooring by a significant number of years.
  Polished concrete floors are also highly durable and easy to care for. With no seams or grooves, there is nowhere for dirt and dust to collect. A weekly mop with soapy water is more than enough to keep your polished concrete floors looking new.