06/01/2026
Skip the grind and use an acid etch for a quick, light exposure.
When concrete countertops first gained popularity, fabricators were taught to finish them like granite—starting at 50 grit and polishing up to 3,000 grit. That never made sense to me for three reasons: concrete is not granite, sealers hide scratch patterns above 200 grit, and customers care about the finished look—not the process used to achieve it.
There are exceptions, such as when a deeper exposure is needed. In most cases, however, an acid etch followed by hand sanding is more profitable for the fabricator and still delivers the finish customers want.
Trinic has developed admixtures and mix procedures that produce nearly flawless off-the-form finishes. The island shown was cast with a self-consolidating face coat and back coat. Next, use diluted acid to remove wax, form residue, and minor surface flaws. At that point, you can either leave the surface as-is for a light exposure or wet-sand it by hand with 400-grit sandpaper to smooth it out a bit.
Wet hand sanding may sound difficult, but once the acid has dissolved part of the cement paste, you are mainly flattening the sand grains rather than grinding the entire surface. Let the piece dry for a day, apply sealer, and the job is complete.
Here is a video that explains the process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySRDYuh8KI
Admixtures, Premixes, Fiber, Supplies: www.trinic.us
Trinic, LLC. [email protected] – 800-475-1975
