Quick Answer

The proven sequence is 25 → 40 → 80 → 120 → 200 grit in metal bond, then resin pads at 200 → 400 → 800 → 1500 → 3000, and optionally a burnishing pass with a white pad. That is ten steps. Skipping any single step shows up as scratches once the floor is glossy.

Phase 1: Metal Bond Grinding (25 to 200 Grit)

Metal bond segments do the leveling and profiling. Start at 25 grit only if the floor has coatings, high spots, or heavy wear; a clean medium-hard floor can start at 40. Work through 40, 80, 120, and 200, checking under raking light after each pass. The goal of the metal phase is a flat, uniform surface with no visible scratch pattern.

Phase 2: Resin Bond Polishing (200 to 3000 Grit)

Switch to diamond resin floor polishing pads at 200 grit, then step through 400, 800, 1500, and 3000. Resin pads refine the scratches left by the metal bond. Move in overlapping passes, keep the floor clean between grits, and do not rush: each resin step removes the scratches of the previous step and leaves finer ones.

Phase 3: Burnishing for the Final Gloss

After 3000 grit, a burnishing pass with a white or natural-hair pad lifts the surface to a high-gloss mirror shine. Some floors respond to a densifier applied after 800 grit for better hardness and gloss. Burnish dry and check the gloss angle by angle; corners and edges may need a small rotary machine.

Common Sequence Mistakes

Three errors cause most polish failures: skipping the 120 or 200 metal step (leaves deep scratches the resin cannot remove), using a wet resin pad when the floor was ground dry (opens a different scratch profile), and moving to the next grit before the previous pattern is fully gone. Check each step with raking light before advancing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I start polishing at 80 grit instead of 200?

A: You can switch to resin at 80, but you will need more resin passes (80 → 150 → 300 → 600...) and the result is usually softer. The standard 200-grit transition is the most reliable.

Q: Do I need all three of 120, 200, and 400?

A: Yes. Each removes the previous step's scratch size. Doubling grits (40, 80, 160, 320...) is acceptable; skipping to 400 after 80 leaves visible marks.

Q: Why does my floor still look dull at 1500 grit?

A: Likely a skipped metal step, or the 1500 pass was run too fast so the pad didn't fully break down the 800 scratches. Drop back to 800, redo it slowly, then repeat 1500.

Conclusion

Ten disciplined steps from 25 grit to burnished gloss beat any shortcut. Grind flat in the metal phase, refine evenly in the resin phase, burnish to finish, and check every pass under raking light.