Concrete Grinding

Concrete Floor Grinders

Walk behind floor grinding is the most aggressive tool you can get to plane a slab of concrete. If you need more, the slab may need to be removed and replaced. This grinder has multiple grinding wheels that spin simultaneously in opposite directions and has powered drive plus an adjustment to lower the wheels to provide pressure on the grind more aggressively. All floor grinders should be used with a vacuum system. Some have shrouds that contain most, if not all, dust. Don’t grind indoors without the use of a vacuum, outside not as important, but to keep your work area tidy then, a vacuum is something to consider. It’s also a good idea to tape off areas indoors so that if there is a dust mishap, it won’t get all over everything. A roll of plastic from the hardware store is the easiest and the most cost-efficient way to go. Plus, it’s reusable. This floor grinder will also work to level the floor as well. If you have a concrete slab up to 1” to 1”1/2 out of level, this will grind it down. Any more, and it would cause the slab to be too weak and could have the possibility to crack more easily. This grinder can also be fitted with polisher wheels, so after the slab has been ground to a nice flat surface, the discs can be changed out, and with a couple of other products, it could be polished to a glossy sheen that can be impervious to spills. Cracking and lifting it won’t help. Any concrete slab that has a crack and has lifted can be repaired. Consider replacing it if it’s cracked, pulled apart, and lifted more than an inch and a half. If it’s not structural, it can be done, but if weight is on it, there is a good chance it will crack. Or worse, it could shatter and have cracking everywhere, and if that were to happen, it would cost even more to fix. Concrete grinding is a floor repair technique that can quickly restore a damaged, cracked, or uneven slab.

Grinding concrete eliminates raised trip hazards. If you have a business, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) might require you to grind down raised trip hazards. Concrete grinding can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars over a complete surface replacement. With the right grinding equipment, it’s possible to take on just about any job, from sanding a small hump in the cement to excavating a 1” trench hundreds of feet long. Floor Grinding Cement floors are never completely smooth and level. Cement slabs always have hard-to-see imperfections. A smooth surface is critical before installing tile, linoleum, or engineered laminate flooring.

Professional concrete grinding contractors can make your floor level enough, whether tile or linoleum installation or polishing the floor to a high sheen. Here’s how the process works: Any high spot 1/8” or higher will require grinding to level the floor. The contractor will systematically check the floor in every direction to identify these high spots.

Then, the proper type of grinder will be chosen, whether it’s a hand-held model or a larger machine that resembles a floor buffer.

Grinders use diamond-tipped or diamond-embedded wheels or pads to remove excess cement. A professional will know exactly how much to grind. Beware: Inexperienced amateurs will often over-grind and ruin your cement floor.

Here are some possible cement floor problems that might require grinding or sanding:

• A slab reinforcing bar too near the surface causes the cement to crack.
• Ridges or humps left by the finishers.
• Expansion or contraction cracks.
• Debris-like chunks of wood float out of the slab while it is still plastic (wet).
• Damaged caused by heavy objects being dropped on the slab before it has cured.

Diamond Grinding Diamond grinding is a concrete pavement restoration (CPR) technique for repairing cracks in cement floors. Compared to overlay or patching methods, diamond grinding can cost less and last up to three times longer while providing a greener solution.

Diamond grinding removes faulting, slab warping, studded tire wear, and unevenness resulting from road patches. It also lowers road noise by providing a longitudinal texture, which is quieter than transverse textures.

Conclusion

Grinding concrete is the best solution for dealing with uneven concrete surfaces, such as grout build-up, humps on the floor, and uneven pours. Floor grinding can be used indoors (with dust control equipment) and outdoors. The alternative is often removal and replacement, which is much more costly.

Grinding concrete floors to achieve a highly polished surface is also becoming increasingly popular, from businesses to residential homes. These floors can be a more economical, practical, and decorative flooring choice for any facility.

Due to the complexity of the work and the tools used, floor grinding is a job best left to professional contractors. Prices can vary depending on the scope of the job and the amount of cement to be removed. Always hire a professional floor grinding contractor to protect your investment in your home or business.