Substrate Technology
CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES
Phone:
+1 (815) 941-4800
+1 (815) 941-4600 (fax)
Address:
1384 Bungalow Rd.
Morris, Illinois, U.S.A.

How to Choose a Diamond Polishing System

Polishing concrete or terrazzo isn’t about one tool — it’s about running a matched system of diamond tooling in the right sequence. STI’s diamond systems take a floor from the first grind all the way to a high-gloss polish, with every tool color-coded and matched to work together. As we like to say: it’s a system, not a machine. This guide walks you through choosing the right one.

CLC Diamond System
EGT Complete System
TPS System

Start With Three Questions

  1. What machine do you have? A Prep/Master® or a planetary grinder?
  2. What surface are you polishing? Concrete or terrazzo?
  3. Do you want all-dry, or is a wet stage okay?

Answer those and you’ll narrow it down fast.

STI’s Diamond Systems at a Glance

  • CLC System (red) — for concrete, on Prep/Master® machines. 7 steps, dry-wet-dry process.
  • EGT System (green) — for concrete, on Prep/Master® machines. 8 steps, all dry — simpler setup, no slurry.
  • TPS System (orange) — for epoxy terrazzo, on Prep/Master® machines. Dry grinding, a grout step, then wet polishing.

Choosing Your System

  • Polishing concrete? → CLC, EGT
  • Polishing epoxy terrazzo? → TPS

Choosing by Process — Wet or Dry

  • Want all-dry (no slurry to manage)? → EGT
  • Okay with a wet stage? → CLC (dry-wet-dry) or TPS (terrazzo)

Concrete: CLC vs. EGT

  • CLC — dry-wet-dry, 7 steps
  • EGT — all dry, 8 steps

Before You Start: Is Your Floor Ready?

Every system needs a sound, clean floor:

  • Concrete: at least 4,250 PSI, 28+ days old, and free of coatings and adhesives
  • Epoxy terrazzo: at least 8 hours old (for TPS)
  • If the floor has coatings, glue, or mastic, prep it first with the right surface prep tool
  • Always run a 100 SF mock-up to confirm the system suits the slab and to get owner sign-off

Surface Prep Comes First

If your floor isn’t bare, clean concrete, start with the right prep tool:

Still Not Sure? Talk to a Real Expert

The right system — and the right prep — depends on your machine, your floor, and your finish. Call STI and you’ll talk to a real surface-prep expert who’ll match the system to your job. Call (815) 941-4800 x 1 or fill out our contact form.

Explore the Systems