Concrete Grinding: The Process

Concrete is the most common building material for many reasons, among them its versatility and strength. Despite this durability, concrete is a natural material and will degrade over time. In addition, many decorative options now exist that can transform your space from unremarkable to extraordinary. When aesthetics aren’t the main driver, performance might be. An industrial coating can be customized to fit your needs, whether you need a surface that is resistant to heat, chemicals, moisture, or has other requirements.

Whatever your objectives, concrete grinding is the process of using specialized abrasive tools to produce a smooth, tailored finish for your surface. Grinding usually leaves you with a smoother profile than if you were to scarify or shot blast your concrete. Grinders are better than scarifiers for decorative applications since they won’t create ridges on your surface. In addition to correcting spelling, helping create level joints, and eliminating high spots, grinders can help remove dirt, grease, and industrial contaminants. The elimination of chemical etching and coating removal is also possible with grinders.

Clearing away materials that have adhered to a surface creates a uniform foundation for polishing your floors, staining them, or applying concrete sealer on them. If you polish a rain-damaged or otherwise poor-quality surface before it is even and free of imperfections, you’ll end up with a final product that could look worse than what you started with. This is where an experienced concrete contractor comes in. A pro can evaluate the current condition and hardness of your surface to confirm that concrete grinding is the best technique to get the results you desire.

Concrete grinders have horizontally rotating discs with different attachments, which vary by type and grit, depending on your application. Generally speaking, newer floors are harder, while older surfaces are softer. When used on a hard concrete surface, the rotary movement of a grinder will usually polish and not abrade your surface. On softer concrete, the grinder will expose the aggregate, which can then be polished or flattened to be ready for an industrial or epoxy coating.

There are two types of grinders: walk-behind and handheld. Some of the higher-quality walk behind concrete floor grinders have a grinding width of 21 inches, while others can grind a 32-inch section of your floor in a single pass. Handheld grinders are used in tighter spaces, such as close to walls and near corners. These units can also remove bumps, graffiti, and other surface inconsistencies.

Crews run the grinders across the surface multiple times, using discs with a progressively finer grit until the floor is ready for polishing. A trained eye can determine when another pass is necessary, and when the floor is ready for the final grit. Grinding concrete can be a time-consuming process, but cutting corners will sacrifice the quality of the work. Concrete grinders should only be operated by certified technicians under the supervision of skilled concrete contractors. Choosing a concrete grinding contractor that owns all their equipment will help avoid unexpected surprises during a job.

The most important part of a concrete grinding project is choosing which discs, grit, and bond are needed to achieve your preferred sheen. You could find many diamond tooling from MEtool diamond tools.