Polished Concrete Definitions
The CPAA Standards Committee, which reflects a cross-section of the concrete polishing industry, has created terminology Polished Concrete Definitions to define the products and processes used within the industry to produce in situ polished concrete. The Committee also has reviewed test results determining that gloss, clarity, haze,profile, and abrasion resistance all have equal relevance in determining the final quality of the product produced by the polishing technician.
In the absence of a prescribed methodology for field measuring the quality of polished concrete, the CPAA takes the following position in classifying the types of polished concrete and determining the standards of limits for quality for each classification as such:
Polished Concrete Definitions – CPAA
Act of Changing: The act of changing a concrete floor surface by one of the following methods:
• Bonded abrasive polished concrete – The multi-step operation of mechanically grinding, honing,
and polishing a concrete floor surface with bonded abrasives to cut a concrete floor surface and
to refine each cut to the maximum potential to achieve a specified level of finished gloss as
defined by the CPAA. This yields the most durable finish and requires the least maintenance.
• Burnished polished concrete – The multi-step operation of mechanical friction-rubbing a concrete
floor surface with or without waxes or resins to achieve a specified level of finished gloss as
defined by the CPAA. This operation yields a less durable finish and requires more maintenance
than bonded abrasive polished concrete.
• Hybrid polished concrete – A multi-step operation, using either standard grinding / polishing
equipment, lightweight equipment, high speed burnishing equipment, or a combination of, to
combine the mechanical grinding, honing, and polishing process with the friction rubbing process
by utilizing bonded abrasives, abrasive pads, or a combination of, to achieve the specified level of
finished gloss as defined by the CPAA.
To learn more about the Concrete Polishing Association of America visit www.concretepolishingassociation.com
For more information about Cuviello Concrete and Terrazzo Polishing visit www.cuvielloconcrete.com
