How is the long-term durability when loading Ardex K530 with green aggregate?

That 50% aggregate ratio is definately pushing the limits of what Ardex K530 is designed to hold without compromising the matrix. Usually, the sweet spot for a heavy salt-and-pepper or small stone look is around 15 lbs per bag. At 25 lbs, you’re essentially starving the mix of its binder. If you didn’t experiance significant **aggregate plucking** during your initial metal bond grind, you probably got away with it, but the long-term concern is impact resistance. If someone drops a heavy tool, those stones might pop out easier than they would in a standard mix.

As for the 200 grit, that’s a bit low if you’re worried about staining during the rest of the construction phase. A penetrating sealer like Ameripolish is great for densifying and adding some water repellency, but it doesn't create a physical film. At 200 grit, the pores of the concrete are still relatively open. If a plumber spills PVC primer or an electrician leaks oil from a threader, it’s going to soak right into the slab. The sealer buys you a little bit of time to clean it up, but it isn't bulletproof.

Since you’ve still got other trades coming in, you absolutely need to cover that floor immediately. Don't just throw down some thin plastic or drop cloths. Use **Ram Board** or a similar heavy-duty floor protection product. Tape the seams of the board to each other, not to the floor itself, to prevent any adhesive transfer or ghosting on your new finish. Even with the sealer, a floor at that grit level is vulnerable to scratches from grit and sand under people's boots. It’s a killer look, but it needs alot of babysitting until the building is turned over.

That much rock sounds like it woud be a nightmare to keep level while pouring. I'm just starting to learn about these mixes, so I'm curious—did the stones settle to the bottom or stay pretty even throughout? Also, if the 200 grit is risky for stains, would using a topical guard over that penetrating sealer help at all? I’m trying to figure out if there's a way to keep that matte look without it being a magnet for every drop of oil on the job site.

With that 50% rock load, I bet your gauge rake was screaming. K530 is ussually flowable, but at that ratio, it behaves more like a stiff mortar. If you didn't have a helper constantly spike-rolling, it’s a miracle you didn't get massive ridges or low spots.

Watch your diamond consumption too. Grinding that much green aggregate eats metal bonds for breakfast. Since you stopped at 200, you might see "shadowing" where the pads skip the matrix near the stones. It’s basicly where the stone is harder than the surrounding cream, so the pad bounces. If you see that, you'll need to drop back to a transitional pad to even it out before sealing.