Getting the Best Concrete Finish Possible With Diamond Polishing Pads

Concrete is ideal for people who want flooring, countertops, or structures that are resistant to environmental damage or accidents, but the disadvantage is that it doesn’t look too presentable in its natural state. To get the most out of concrete flooring, it needs to have a good finish – and that’s where diamond polishing pads come in.

Different Types for Different Needs

It helps to understand that diamond polishing pads are not necessarily identical to the pads used in the granite industry. The pads used for granite may be slightly cheaper, but they will not work as well on concrete as they do on stone. As floor buffing pads, these diamond polishers are versatile and have very long lives because they use premium industrial diamonds, which are capable of leaving a smooth, scratch-free surface in less time compared to the cheap granite-filled pads.

Diamond pads usually range from 2mm to 8mm in thickness, and your needs will decide the right thickness. For instance, thicker pads generally last longer compared to thin pads particularly during aggressive applications. But when polishing curved or hard to reach areas, a thinner pad may actually last longer because they are flexible. Thicker pads tend to be stiff and are prone to cupping after drying.

Some Factors to Consider

The pattern molded into the buffing pad surface should also be considered with care. Pads that have wide and deep channels are used when there is a need for coarse honing, because it allows faster ejection of the abrasive cutting residue. On the other hand, if you need to polish concrete, the better pad to use is one that has narrow channels on its pattern.

For people who need a one-size-fits-all approach, it is possible to pick a pad with lots of large channels compared to the diamond-covered surface. This should provide a workable balance, although it is still advisable to get the right kind of pads and switch between them as the situation requires. Rough concrete floors may need coarse honing at the start and finer buffing pads to finish.

ETC’s Diamond by Gorilla® system of floor pads polishes and cleans natural stone, terrazzo and concrete floors without the use of chemicals. Ideal for shopping malls, retail clubs, hospitals, schools, airports, banks, high-end hotels and more, these pads work with all types of machines and auto scrubbers and eliminate the need for periodic restoration.

Finally, the quality of the diamonds is an important consideration because it is what does the cutting and polishing. Unfortunately, it is not easy to assess the quality of the diamonds in the pad, so you should pick a supplier that you can trust.

Sources:

How to choose the best diamond pad for concrete countertops
concretecountertopinstitute.com

How To Polish Marble
askthebuilder.com