ForConstructionPros.com

Jim Cuviello

The concrete polishing industry is still in its infancy, but it's growing very rapidly. Although concrete polishing and other concrete processing steps have been performed for about 10 years, it has only been in the last two to three that architects, engineers, property owners, interior designers and general contractors have taken increased notice. Those contractors who get involved now and take time to understand the technicalities and variables of the process will be rewarded as market demands expand.

Growing pains
As with any other new or growing industry, there are challenges contractors must face. Some new contractors getting into the processing business think polishing concrete is simply flopping abrasives on and off the bottom of a machine. In reality the process is quite technical and when mixed with multiple variables beyond a contractor's control, results can potentially suffer significantly if a contractor does not have the proper experience and know-how to overcome these obstacles. There is also a slew of variables within a contractor's control that he or she also must learn to manage.

Additional problems in the industry include contractors who base their pricing on what other concrete processors are charging instead of basing their pricing on expenses plus profit. I also see a lack of formal technical training for contractors and a significant lack of understanding by the customer in what concrete polishing actually is.

To see the industry grow in the correct direction it's up to contractors to seek out the proper training, educate themselves on concrete processing as much as they can, and educate their customers on what proper processing means, the time it entails, and how much a proper job should cost.

It's really 'concrete processing'
With the concrete polishing industry still in its infancy, much of the terminology is used incorrectly. "Concrete polishing" is frequently used out of context; most often the correct terminology is "concrete processing," which describes a process not much different from other industries putting material such as stone, metal and optical lenses through a like process.