Glossary
The CPAA has created the following list of common terms used with processed and polished concrete.
- Polished Concrete: The processing of a concrete surface with bonded abrasives to achieve a desired class of aggregate exposure and level of reflective clarity and reflective sheen.
- Processing: The act of changing a concrete surface by means of a multi step mechanical process that involves cutting and/or refining the surface to the maximum potential with a bonded abrasive medium where each step cuts progressively finer microscopic peaks and valleys. Each step must be refined to its maximum potential in which the abrasive no longer cuts or cuts very little under its current weight.
- Bonded Abrasives: Abrasive medium that is held within a bonding that erodes away to expose new abrasive medium as it is used.
- Aggregate Exposure: Grinding a concrete surface with bonded abrasives, in as many abrasive grits necessary, to achieve one of the following:
CLASS NAME SURFACE CUT DEPTH APPEARANCE A Cream Very little Little aggregate exposure B Fine Aggregate (Salt and Pepper) 1/16 inch Fine aggregate exposure with little or no medium aggregate exposure at random locations C Medium Aggregate 1/8 inch Medium aggregate exposure with little or no large aggregate exposure at random locations D Large Aggregate 1/4 inch Large aggregate exposure with little or no fine aggregate exposure at random locations - Reflective Clarity and Reflective Sheen: Before application of a polish guard, polishing a concrete surface with the minimum number of bonded abrasives as indicated to achieve one of the following:
LEVEL NAME REFLECTIVE CLARITY REFLECTIVE SHEEN GRIT RANGE MINIMUM NUMBER OF ABRASIVES 1 Ground Flat appearance with no to very slight diffused reflection None to very low Below 100 4 2 Honed Matte appearance with or without slight diffused reflection Low to medium 100 to 400 5 3 Semi-Polished Objects being reflected are not quite sharp and crisp but can be easily identified Medium to high 800 and higher 6 4 Highly-Polished Objects being reflected are sharp and crisp as would be seen in a mirror-like reflection High to highest 7 - Reflective Clarity: When viewed 5 feet above and perpendicular to a surface, the degree of sharpness and crispness of the reflection of overhead objects.
- Reflective Sheen: When viewed at 20 feet from and at an angle to a surface, the degree of gloss reflected from a surface.
- Concrete Processing: The act of changing an existing concrete surface by means of a mechanical process that involves cutting and/or refining the surface to a desired finish.
- Ground Concrete: Also the complete processing procedure as mentioned for Polished Concrete. Ground Concrete has a flat appearance with no, or very little, reflection and sheen. Grinding Steps are the lower grit diamonds up to 50 grit.
- Honed Concrete: Also the complete processing procedure as mentioned for Polished Concrete. Honed Concrete has a matte appearance and a slight clarity of reflection that has a low, medium or high sheen depending on the final diamond grit used. Honing Steps are those between 50 grit diamond and 800 grit diamond.
- Surface Cut: The degree to which the surface of the concrete is abraded. These cuts are defined as Surface Cream, Fine Aggregate, Medium Aggregate, and Large Aggregate.
- Full & Maximum Refinement: When the abrasive has refined the surface to the degree to which it no longer cuts, or cuts very little, under its current weight.
