Polish
Satin through to mirror
Level of polish is the last of the four decisions and the one most people feel first. It is set by the grit the floor is taken to, and it is written into the specification.
Approved PeterFell C2 Applicator
Approved TextureSafe Applicator
Twenty-Five Years Combined Experience
Residential, Commercial and Civic
The grit progression
Each step in the sequence refines the surface left by the one before it. The floor is taken to an agreed grit and stopped there.
- 200 grit
- Matte, a ground finish with no reflection. Suits garages, workshops and utility floors.
- 400 to 800 grit
- Satin, a soft sheen with light diffused rather than reflected. The most common residential choice.
- 1500 grit
- Gloss, a clear reflection. Suits commercial and showroom floors.
- 3000 grit
- Mirror, full reflection. Specified where the floor is a feature.
How much light the room holds
A matte floor absorbs light and keeps a room quiet. A gloss or mirror floor returns daylight into the space and makes a room read larger and brighter. In a south facing room that difference is significant, and in a room that already takes strong sun it can be too much.
How visible marks and dust are
Higher gloss shows dust, footprints and scuffs more readily. A mirror floor is a beautiful surface that asks to be swept. Satin at 400 to 800 grit is the most forgiving level in daily use, which is why it is the most common residential choice.
How the aggregate reads
Polish sharpens the stone. At matte the aggregate reads as texture. As the grit climbs, the cut faces of the stone gain clarity and the floor gains depth. Depth of cut decides how much stone is there, level of polish decides how clearly you see it.
Maintenance
Every level takes the same regime, a neutral pH wash and no aggressive chemicals. The difference is frequency rather than method. Higher gloss floors are swept and washed more often to look their best, and are re-burnished to bring the sheen back rather than resealed.
The grit sequence is written into the specification, not judged on the day.
Sheen is easier to choose with a tile in your hand.
A physical tile, posted free, anywhere in the Bay of Plenty.
Tell us the room and we will post the tile.
A physical tile, posted free, anywhere in the Bay of Plenty.