What polished concrete finish is right for me
This is a loaded question and ever house is different. So we thought we might put together a small list of pro's and con's to the major types..jpg)
First big difference is diamond polished or grind and seal.
- Pro Diamond polished:
- hard to scratch as no topical coating to scratch off
- able to achieve a variety of non-slip levels easily
- eco-friendly greener flooring option
- low lifetime cost
- easy to refurbish
- Con Diamond Polished:
- susceptible to acid etching
- susceptible to staining
- level of exposure and artefacts determined by the concreter who installs
- Pro Grind and Seal:
- often cheaper option
- very good staining resistance
- can achieve "wet look" polished concrete
- Con Grind and Seal:
- topical coating that can scratch
- achieving non-slip requires an additive that can detract from aesthetics or cause floor to wear prematurely
- harder to refurbish
The next major question to answer is the exposure of aggregate level
Burnished concrete/cream polish Class O and A):
- Pro:
- clean seamless finish
- natural looking and easier to colour match between different pours.
- cheapest and fastest diamond polished concrete floor
- Con:
- staining that occurs before polishing can be difficult to impossible to remove
- pattern and finish dictated by the quality of helicopter work when installed
- acid etching can be much more noticeable compared to floors with exposed aggregate.
- can really only be achieved on new builds
- small aggregate and fines can be exposed during the polishing process
- level of finish dictated by levelness of floor
Hit n Miss/partial aggregate exposure (Class B):
- Pro:
- industrial look
- works on most floors (sometimes due to installation majority of aggregate will need to be exposed)
- can sometimes hide artefacts from pouring.
- Con:
- level of exposure dictated by levelness of floor
Full exposure/platinum (Class C/D):
- Pro:
- will always level the floor out
- can grind out high spots and to allow for doors without affecting the look and finish
- terrazzo look to floor
- very high end finish
- Con:
- quality of exposure dictated by installation of concrete
- artefacts such as boot prints and screed marks can be seen.
- Cold joints in pour can be obvious
Different Types of Polished Concrete
There are so many different names givent to polished concrete it can be extremely confusing for example;
hiperfloor, superfloor, pyrafloor, hit n miss, burnished, surface polish, cream polish, salt n pepper, partial exposure, bronze, silver, gold, platinum, just to name a few........
At Diagrind (R) we have tried to simplfy the process and ignore all the fancy names which essentially mean the same thing. American standards (as we are yet to get Australian ones) break polished concrete into several classes
Class O: burnished concrete
Class A: cream polish
Class B: partial exposure
Class C/D: medium to full exposure
Class S (this is unique to Australia: grind and seal (varying levels of aggregate exposure)
There are no fancy names, this can be used by any propriatary polishing system. This way you know that you are getting what you asked for from your contractor. We provide free resources for you to use and give you contractor to descibe the type of polished concrete you want.
All of the forms are here
Concrete and how to get it right as a flooring choice - Undercover Architect Podcast
Diagrind ® was recently interview by the Undercover Architect. This was a great way to help answer all the questions that people often have when it comes to polished concrete. 
Diamond Fire & Electrical
We are independant and 100% Australian owned.
All of our expert electrical services are carried out by competent and highly qualified electricians to the very highest of standards.
Diamond Fire & Electrical All of our expert electrical services are carried out by competent and highly qualified electricians to the very highest of standards.
We take health and safety very seriously indeed, and all of our team are licensed and certified for the electrical services that we provide. We have established a solid reputation for outstanding work and top quality products that are supplied at the best value for money prices in the Sydney.
Call David on 0400 293 464 or Anthony on 0406 641 747 Electrical:
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- Fire Systems & Testing: Using latest mobility device technology we can provide on call 24/7, our service technicians test, service and maintain your equipment to help ensure it complies with regulations including Australian Standard AS1851. Our expertise and services extend across a range of fire suppression systems and interventions including;
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24 Hour Emergency ServicesRoutine maintenance work is extremely important and can reduce the risk of the unexpected. But when the unexpected does happen, you can rest assured that the friendly team at Diamond Fire & Electrical Team will be there for you
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Hot Water |
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Using the latest mobility device technology we can provide on call 24/7, our service technicians test, service and maintain your equipment to help ensure it complies with regulations including Australian Standard AS1851. |
With such a broad range of equipment available, it can become very difficult to select the right combination to suit your requirements and environment. With our experience in Audio Visual installations you have access to our expertise and the latest audio technology. |
If you want to install a hot water system in a new house, townhouse, apartment or office, or if you’re replacing an inefficient or broken system, We don’t discriminate between types of systems because we know everyone has different needs and different budgets, with our experience we’ll help you select the perfect one to meet your needs & budget. |
Our highly organised and efficient team are reliable and professional, and in the event of an emergency, an electrician will be on their way as soon as possible. |
Our mission
Here at Diamond Fire & Electrical we are about delivering a great experience to customers that achieves great results and a happy customer. We have the reputation for the supply of expert services to our clients all across the Sydney & Western Sydney Areas.
Call us today on 0400 293 464 or 0406 641 747 today for more information on our electrical services.
Why DIY isn't always better or cheaper
There are times that DIY is the best and the cheapest option and then there are times that it is not. When paying for a professional to do the work you aren't just paying for the hours that they are working for you. What you are paying for is they years of experience and knowledge.
There are many factors to consider when starting a DIY Project. Below i have listed some to consider before starting your DIY Journey.
