Editor’s Note: Superabrasive, Hoschton, Ga., was originally founded in Bulgaria in 1986 to manufacture, engineer and test advanced diamond tooling. In 2001, the company began to develop its own concrete polishing machine, Lavina — the Bulgarian word for avalanche. The company claims to have created one of the quietest machines on the market today and the Lavina is manufactured in different sizes and horsepower to meet customer needs. At The Rental Show 2010 in Orlando, Fla., Superabrasive, booth No. 2917, will showcase its Lavina Pro Surface Preparation System, a new line of grinding and polishing machines. “The proof is in the polish” is the company’s slogan. Superabrasive encourages anyone interested to visit their headquarters in Atlanta to see the process. The company also provides monthly two-day seminars for those who wish to learn the craft of concrete polishing. George Georgiev, president of Superabrasive, recently answered questions posed by RENTAL MANAGEMENT about the process of polishing concrete and the opportunity this creates for rental companies. An edited version follows.
RM: What type of equipment is needed to polish a concrete floor?
George Georgiev: A passive planetary machine works best for polishing concrete. Rental customers also would appreciate a versatile portable machine that does more than one task, so they do not have to rent multiple pieces of equipment to get the job done. We believe that diamond tooling is critical to the success of the polish. You also will need a fast-drying concrete densifier with about 20-minute drying time as well as an easy-to-apply sealer for the concrete floor. Although the polished concrete will last a lifetime, you still need to guard it against stains and water penetration. The sealer then needs to be burnished after it dries. We also suggest using a good microfiber mop with three clean heads and a heavy-duty industrial-strength vacuum to pick up the concrete dust as you work. A regular shop vacuum will not be enough to properly do the job.
RM: What are the steps for polishing a concrete floor?
Georgiev: The steps for polishing concrete depend on what condition the concrete is in before you get started. If a floor is in great shape, I would start by grinding the floor with a 120 grit metal bond diamond tooling under a passive planetary machine. This will allow for proper surface preparation and evening out the floor. Rougher grits could be used before this if the floor is very uneven and blemished. You should vacuum thoroughly between each step. After 120 grit metal plates, you would switch to 50 grit resin pads, clean the floor again, switch to 100 grit resin, vacuum, switch to 200 grit resin and vacuum again. Once this process is completed, then you would apply a densifier to the floor with an air pump sprayer and a microfiber mop. Once the densifier is dry to the touch, then you continue on with the resin bond diamond tooling steps beginning with 400 grit resin pads, followed by 800 grit, 1,500 grit and 3,000 grit until the concrete floor has the desired clarity and shine. The highest polishing step available on today’s market is 8,500 grit, which will result in an extreme shine.
RM: What questions should a rental business ask its customer in order to ensure the customer has a successful experience with concrete polishing?
Georgiev: Before sending out a concrete polishing system, a rental business should ask customers the following questions:
- What is the condition of your concrete? This will determine the initial grinding steps needed to prepare the floor for polishing including coatings and epoxy removal.
- How large of an area do you want to polish? This will determine the size of the machine and vacuum as well as the number of tools needed to do the job.
- Do you want to color the concrete? If so, then the rental store has an opportunity to sell concrete dyes as part of the package.
- Is the project indoor or outdoor? This will determine the type of sealer and dyes needed as well as the customer’s electrical needs.
- How much shine do you want? This will determine the number of resin steps needed to achieve that shine.
- How much time do you have to complete this project? This will help determine the size of machine and tooling needed.
RM: What types of add-ons are needed for polishing a concrete floor?
Georgiev: The consumable items that a rental store can sell as part of a concrete polishing system include densifier, indoor and outdoor sealers, concrete dyes, microfiber mops and mop heads, air pump sprayers, and painter’s tape and masking paper. Also, the rental store should have a resident expert who knows the system and can assist in a project over the phone or on-site. The most successful companies have a person who will actually get involved in these projects. A rental store could charge for this service as well.
RM: Any other tips you might have for rental stores wanting to offer this type of equipment for rent?
Georgiev: Explain in detail to customers that they must clean the floor extensively between steps because the cleaner the floor, the longer the tooling will last and the better the floor result. The customer also must mask off all areas that will not be colored. Also, strongly recommend that the customer takes it slow and doesn’t rush the project, reminding him that the floor can last a lifetime if it is done right. Also, help customers determine electrical needs ahead of time to avoid surprises. For example, the Lavina Quick 220V system will help you put a 220V, 20-amp circuit in just about any house using two separate 110V outlets on different circuits.
