Polished Exposed Aggregate Concrete Countertops

However it does require more work that just pouring the concrete because you need to expose the aggregate through careful grinding and optional polishing.

Polished exposed aggregate concrete countertops.

Grinding honing and polishing. Make your concrete countertop project a conversation piece crushed glass aggregate direct colors offers glass aggregate colors sized from 1 2 to 1 mm for any poured or overlay finished project. I define three stages. Polished cream with waviness due to not finishing flat.

Smoothing the concrete mix with a hand trowel is the only technique you will use on the day the countertop is poured. And from the ready mix side tony allison glacier northwest s head of. Fred herbold css csi with sera architects in portland ore says he sees polished concrete as part of the placement criteria and feels that the opportunity for bidders to miss the specification is too easy if placed in division 9. To enhance the gem like sparkle of exposed aggregate seal the surface with a high gloss sealer.

The exposed aggregate will be more noticeable if it contrasts with the concrete color such as using bits of white marble in a charcoal gray countertop. Polished concrete of new england specializes in polished concrete floors decorative stamped concrete concrete countertops and artist concrete designs serving maine new hampshire massachusets boston and new england. Depending on the look you are trying to achieve you may start or stop at any point along this progression. This process will expose the top of the stone aggregate leaving the rest embedded.

Tip finishing or polishing concrete countertops using these techniques is done the next day and in some cases 3 7 days after the concrete countertop was poured. Because regular floor polishing is a step by step process commercial business owners and homeowners alike are able to choose the level of shine from satin to a very high gloss floor whichever meets your maintenance and aesthetic requirements. If you want a salt pepper look or an exposed aggregate. Aggregate is not very difficult to use and it creates a total custom look.

Achieving a fine polished look in concrete countertops requires using progressively finer grits of diamond pads. Exposed aggregate polished concrete floors are versatile. Photo courtesy of retroplate. Add aggregates directly into countertop mix and polish for a sparkly finish.

After the concrete is poured and finished there are a few methods that can be used to expose the aggregate such as water washing abrasive blasting honing and acid etching but when it comes to concrete countertops whether pre cast or poured in place a wet polisher and diamond polishing pads are most common.