Grinding gives concrete a smooth matt finish by grinding the concrete surface and exposing the aggregates. Smoother (polished) concrete surfaces can be achieved through extended grinding using progressively finer abrasives (finer grinding grit heads/pads) to impart a lustre to the concrete surface.

In the concrete polishing industry, quantitative testing is replacing qualitative testing.By having consistent objective measurements, a client can be assured of consistent results. The key measurements should include properties for surface refinement such as: