Professional Documents
Culture Documents
dec
2006
Briefing
Polished Concrete
Floors
An unlimited range of polished finishes can be provided by a variety of techniques
such as steel trowelling, burnishing or honing the surface of the concrete. Colours
and patterns can be introduced during construction thus adding to the spectrum of
decorative options available. This publication provides an overview of a wide range
of polished finishes from basic to elaborate outlining the major considerations in
achieving the required finish.
Steel Trowelled
Steel trowelling of the concrete
surface is usually specified when a
basic flat, smooth finish is required. Figure 2 Steel trowelled finish to Figure 4 Burnished finishes can
Some trowel marks may be present off-white concrete topping free of provide elegant up-market floors with
Figure 1 unless a finish free of trowel trowelling marks. Beeswax sealer low maintenance. Steel trowelling
marks is specified Figure 2. applied to surface. Architect: Craig combined with surface sealer.
Typically, normal grey concrete Rosevear
is used, but concrete incorporating
off-white cement can also be used to Honed
achieve a lighter and more consistent Honing typically provides a smooth,
colour. low-maintenance and durable finish.
It is usually produced by grinding the
Burnished concrete surface with abrasives. The
Burnishing provides a hard-wearing, term ‘honed’ is used to cover a level
durable finish with a surface lustre. It of grinding that produces a smooth
is usually produced by steel trowelling but matt surface. Further grinding
the surface until the concrete with progressively finer abrasives
surface takes on a polished or glossy produces a ‘polished’ finish. The
appearance of its own Figure 3. process of grinding exposes the
Alternatively, products such as floor aggregates which therefore have
waxes, liquid polishes and resin-based a significant influence on the final
coatings can be applied to the surface appearance. A uniform honed finish
and burnished using polishing is shown in Figure 5, while patterned
equipment Figure 4. terrazzo (concrete incorporating
marble aggregate) is illustrated in Figure 5 Driveway with ground finish
Figure 6. incorporating decorative white quartz
aggregate and 1% green pigment
2006
SYDNEY OFFICE:
Level 6, 504 Pacific Highway
St Leonards NSW Australia 2065
POSTAL ADDRESS:
Locked Bag 2010
Briefing 05 November 2006 supersedes Briefing 05 August 2001 St Leonards NSW 1590
TELEPHONE: (61 2) 9437 9711
FACSIMILE: (61 2) 9437 9470
Other Briefings available online from www.concrete.net.au are:
BRISBANE OFFICE:
Briefing 01 Colouring, stencilling and stamping concrete flatwork Level 14, IBM Building
348 Edward Street
Briefing 02 Exposed aggregate finishes for flatwork Brisbane QLD 4000
TELEPHONE: (61 7) 3831 3288
Briefing 03 Colour and texture in concrete walling FACSIMILE: (61 7) 3839 6005
MELBOURNE OFFICE:
Briefing 04 Concrete panel homes 2nd Floor, 1 Hobson Street
South Yarra VIC 3141
Briefing 06 Form liners achieving surface relief and texture TELEPHONE: (61 3) 9825 0200
FACSIMILE: (61 3) 9825 0222
Briefing 07 Concrete floor heating
PERTH OFFICE:
Briefing 08 Concrete panel buildings 45 Ventnor Avenue
West Perth WA 6005
TELEPHONE: (61 8) 9389 4452
Briefing 09 Passive solar design
FACSIMILE: (61 8) 9389 4451
ADELAIDE OFFICE:
Greenhill Executive Suites
213 Greenhill Road
Eastwood SA 5063
POSTAL ADDRESS:
PO Box 229
Fullarton SA 5063
TELEPHONE: (61 8) 8274 3758
FACSIMILE: (61 8) 8373 7210
EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES OFFICE
PO Box 243
Henley Beach SA 5022
TELEPHONE: (61 8) 8353 8151
FACSIMILE: (61 8) 8353 8151
TASMANIAN OFFICE:
EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES OFFICE
PO Box 246
Sheffield TAS 7306
TELEPHONE: (61 3) 6491 2529
FACSIMILE: (61 3) 6491 2529
WEBSITE: www.concrete.net.au
EMAIL: info@ccaa.com.au
ISBN 978-1-877023-19-4