Can New Concrete Be Polished?

Part 3 in a Series on Coating New Concrete

In two recent articles, we discussed why it is best to wait at least four weeks for new concrete to dry before applying an epoxy coating or a color stain. There is one other service provided by California Custom Coatings, and that is concrete polishing. Is the polishing process also harmful to new, or green concrete?

Unfortunately, there is no escaping the fact that green concrete contains a lot of moisture. That moisture affects color stains (often used in concrete polishing) and it limits the strength of the concrete. Dry concrete, just like dry glue, is stronger. While an epoxy coating and protective topcoats can play a role in strengthening concrete, nothing makes it stronger than allowing it to completely cure through the process of water evaporation.

How Does Concrete Polishing Prevent Evaporation?

At the earliest stages, when we simply take out the roughness of the concrete surface, the pores in the foundation are not really affected. As the polishing job gets finer and finer, however, we need to add densifiers that seal the pores and allow for a brighter, smoother finish. Without this step, you get a smooth floor, but not the polish this process is known for. Therefore, just like epoxy coatings and quality concrete staining, it is best to wait at least four weeks for new concrete to sufficiently cure before performing a concrete polish.

At this point you may wonder how California Custom Coatings determines if your concrete is ready for an epoxy coating, a color stain, or a polishing treatment. This subject will be the final topic in our series on working with new concrete.