Concrete Polishing & Grinding
Polished concrete is one of the most durable and lowest-maintenance flooring options available for commercial and industrial facilities. When properly executed — substrate prepared, concrete densified, and surface ground to the correct sheen level — a polished concrete floor can last the life of the building with minimal ongoing cost. When cut short on any of those steps, it dusts, scratches, and loses sheen within a year.
DTI performs mechanically ground and densified concrete polishing for commercial and industrial facilities nationwide, from single-location projects to multi-site rollouts.
Completed Projects
Burlington Store
Burlington's Las Vegas retail location required polished concrete installed on a construction timeline — fast cure, return-to-service within 48 hours, and a finish that met the chain's brand standard for sheen level and consistency across the full floor plate. DTI coordinated directly with the GC to schedule installation within the build-out window and delivered a Level 3 polished concrete floor on time and to spec.
Escape Games San Francisco
Entertainment venue flooring needs to handle steady foot traffic and daily cleaning while maintaining the aesthetic the space was designed around. DTI polished the concrete floor to a medium sheen that complemented the venue's interior design — durable enough for commercial use, finished to a level that didn't require ongoing waxing or recoating.
The Polishing Process
Concrete polishing is a mechanical process — not a coating. It uses progressively finer diamond tooling to grind the concrete surface down to the desired exposure level, then densifier is applied to chemically harden the surface, and final polishing passes bring the floor to the specified sheen.
No topcoat to peel. No film to maintain.
The finished surface is the concrete itself — ground, densified, and polished. A penetrating guard sealer is applied at the end to repel water, oil, and staining agents without altering the floor's appearance or adding a surface film.
Coarse Grinding (Metal Bond Diamonds)
Removes existing coatings, adhesives, or surface contamination. Opens the concrete surface and addresses high spots, lippage, and surface defects. Determines aggregate exposure level.
Medium Grinding (Transitional Diamonds)
Refines the surface profile and begins developing flatness. Scratches from coarse grinding are removed progressively through finer grits.
Densifier Application
A lithium or sodium silicate densifier is applied and allowed to penetrate the concrete surface. The densifier reacts chemically with free lime in the concrete — filling pores, increasing surface hardness, and significantly reducing dusting.
Fine Polishing (Resin Bond Diamonds)
Progressive polishing with resin bond tooling brings the surface to the specified sheen level. Grit sequence continues until the target finish is achieved and confirmed.
Guard Sealer Application
A penetrating guard sealer is applied to the finished surface. The guard repels water, oil, and staining agents without altering the floor's appearance or adding a surface film.
Sheen Levels
Polished concrete is specified by sheen level — the higher the number, the more reflective the finish. DTI will recommend a sheen level based on your environment, traffic class, and maintenance expectations — not just aesthetics.
Level 1
Ground to a smooth, non-reflective finish. No visible aggregate. Used in warehouses and industrial environments where functionality is the only requirement.
Warehouses & Industrial
Level 2
Low sheen with minimal reflection. Fine aggregate may be visible. Standard specification for light industrial, logistics, and back-of-house commercial environments.
Light Industrial & Logistics
Level 3
Clear reflectivity with visible aggregate. The most common retail and commercial specification — durable, attractive, and low-maintenance.
Retail & Commercial
Level 4
Mirror-like reflectivity, full aggregate exposure. Specified for showrooms, corporate lobbies, and high-end commercial environments where floor appearance is a priority.
Showrooms & Lobbies
Polished Concrete vs. Epoxy Coating
The right choice depends on what your floor needs to do. DTI installs both systems and will tell you which one is right for your floor before any work begins.