How to Polish Concrete

Concrete is a very versatile building material. It can be used for building structures, bridges, floors and even countertops. One of the latest decorating crazes is using polished concrete for countertops. The cost of the raw materials for this type of countertop is minimal; however, because polished concrete requires a lot of hours to manufacture, it can be pricey. If you want to save money on your polished concrete products, you can do it yourself.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Electric sander
• Sand paper
• Concrete wax
• Safety glasses
• Mask
• Ear plugs
• Cloth
• Buffer

Polish Concrete

1. Put on safety glasses, a mask and ear protectors. Polishing concrete is noisy and dusty. Work outside if at all possible.

2. Apply a course grade sandpaper to the bottom of the electric sander. Start sanding the concrete; you will want to work in small circles. As you wear down the surface of the concrete, you will replace the course grade sandpaper with finer grained sandpapers. Expect to spend about one hour per square foot of concrete you are polishing.

3. Dust the concrete piece and install it. Clean the surface using a concrete cleaner. Then use a concrete sealant. Allow the concrete piece to dry overnight. Then finish your polished concrete surface by applying a coating of concrete wax. Use a cloth or a buffer to polish the surface of your concrete to a shine.

Tips & Warnings

• You can use concrete stains to create different finishes. For example, you can use an acid wash to create a faux-marble look.
• Always wear safety glasses, a mask and ear protectors while polishing concrete.