We are so excited that you have chosen polished concrete for your project, and, most importantly, that you have chosen OzGrind to complete the work for you. Our workmanship and quality are of a high standard; however, concrete is a natural product and there are some outcomes during our process that we simply cannot predict. When we work with a slab that has previously lived under tiles, one of those outcomes is tile ghosting, and we need you to understand it before we start.
When tiles sit over a slab for any length of time, bleach or chemicals can leach through the grout into the concrete, leaving stained or bleached grid lines in the slab underneath. Once we grind and polish, those grid lines can become visible in the finished floor. This is the biggest issue with previously tiled slabs, and it is impossible to rectify.
There are too many variables to give you any estimate of how likely it is, the type of adhesive used, the strength, density and finish of the concrete, the type of grout, and how long the tiles were down. All we can tell you is that we have seen it happen from time to time.
Tile ghosting does not necessarily show up early in the grinding. As we progress through the stages it can appear right near the end. Every slab is different and the concrete reacts differently every time.
Polished concrete is subjective, some people love the look and some do not. Most of the time, if you don't love a particular feature it does not mean there is a fault in your floor. With different lighting and different times of day you may notice imperfections that disappear when the light shifts. That is part of the character of a polished concrete floor.
We want every client to be aware that some polished concrete floors do not turn out exactly as expected. Managing your expectations from the very beginning is the main reason for this disclaimer.
We recommend completing a 1 m² sample patch in the kitchen, as this is the most likely place to find tile ghosting if it occurs. Please be aware, though, that even if the kitchen sample comes back clear, there have been very rare occasions where ghosting has appeared in another room far from the kitchen, so a clear sample is not a guarantee that there will be no ghosting elsewhere in your floor.
If you have any questions in relation to this document, please do not hesitate to contact our friendly office staff on 07 3177 3367 or enquiries@ozgrind.com.au.
By signing below I confirm that I am aware of the risks associated with proceeding. I have had, or been offered, a sample patch, which in no way guarantees there will not be tile ghosting in another area of the floor. I understand that if tile ghosting does occur and I wish to move to an alternative flooring option, I will still be charged for all labour and materials of the first floor as well as the cost of the new flooring. I confirm I have received, read and understood all content in this document and the important terms & conditions in my quote.
Tell us about your space and whether your slab is new or existing. We will come back within 48 hours with honest advice and a no-obligation quote.
