How to Polish Concrete: Step-by-Step Guide

You will need to determine concrete hardness with a MOHS Concrete Hardness Test Kit in order to select the correct metal bond diamond abrasives. Start with the highest number tip(9) and continue to scratch the surface with the descending tips until the tip stops scratching the floor. When the tip no longer scratches the floor, you have reached the hardness level of the concrete. Test at least 3 areas of the floor to get average test rating. Use the Machine Specific Tooling Guide to select the correct tooling bond.

If the floor is coated, determine type of coating and remove with appropriate tooling. Repair and fill any surface holes or cracks. Grind with either 16, 30/40, 70/80 grit metal bond tooling to achieve desired exposure and floor flatness. TIP: Start with highest grit where possible and move to lower grit when necessary.

Remove metal tooling scratches using 50, 100 or 200 grit transitional tooling. Transitional tooling effectively removes scratches and creates a surface ready for polishing. TIP: Your floor should be free of all visible tooling marks after this stage.

Ensure your floor has been vacuumed and all tool marks have been removed. Use ULTRADensifil (Pore & Crack Filler) densifier to the concrete to help solidify and densify the surface and to provide extra protection from water penetration and staining. To learn more, see our densifiers page. TIP:  DO NOT let densifiers pool or puddle on your floor.  This can create staining that is difficult to remove in the polishing stages.

Begin with appropriate resin bond tooling 200, 400, 800, 1500, 3000 grit (3000 grit optional).  Ensure all concrete dust is removed (vacuumed) in between passes. Burnish floor with 3000 grit burnishing pad after your final grit level.

Once you get the look and polish you’re striving for, you will want to protect the surface by applying a commercial stain-guard product, like WerkMaster ULTRAguard sealer and surface wear protector especially if the surface will be exposed to grease, oil or chemicals. Use a pump up sprayer and apply Two thin light coats. Allow coats to dry for at 30 minutes between coats. Burnish floor to achieve maximum shine and polish with either your WerkMaster Machine or Propane Burnisher. TIP: Start with a low RPM burnishing pass to ensure sealer has cured and pad is not scratching floor.