Introduction to Concrete Floor Grinding
Concrete floor grinding has in the recent past gained significant ground in the construction industry. It is the process of smoothening concrete surfaces and also making them glossier through the utilisation of abrasive tools. More and more property owners are starting to realise the benefits of grinding their concrete floors. Not only does it improve the aesthetic appeal of a property, but it also offers a long-term cost-effective tiling projects. However, in order to carry out this process effectively, there are some specific tools and tips that are a ‘must-have’. This article delves into the importance of concrete floor grinding and the tools and tips needed.
Why Go for Concrete Floor Grinding?
1.Durability
One of the most notable perks of concrete grinding is durability. Unpolished concrete floors and other flooring options such as vinyl are susceptible to damages and regular wears caused by weather conditions, the rate of use and other factors. Polished floors are highly durable and less prone to damage. Therefore, it can be dubbed the most appropriate flooring option for any type of setting either indoors or outdoors.
2.Low Maintainance
Due to the durable nature of polished concrete floors, minimal maintenance is required, other than the regular sweeping and mopping for cleanliness purposes. It may take up to a decade before re-finishing and re-touching are deemed necessary on polished concrete floors.
3.Affordability
Concrete floor grinding as a style option doesn’t require the purchase and installation additional flooring materials since it makes use of the current floor. The desired aesthetic results are achieved just by grinding and polishing concrete floors. Additionally, considering the fact that polished floors require minimal maintenance, expenses are kept at a minimum.
Tools Needed to Grind Concrete Floors
Having the right concrete floor grinding tools is essential for achieving a perfectly polished floor.
1.Repair Kits
Before commencing the concrete floor grinding process, it is essential to have the floor checked for any cracks or damages. A floor repair kit will come in handy in case of any repair needs.
2. Concrete Floor Grinder
It goes without saying that a grinder is an intrinsic part of the concrete grinding equipment. Grinders come in different sizes, weights and features such as power requirements, motor size and direction of abrasives rotation. Depending on your needs, it is essential to find the one that suits you best. It is worth noting that for polishing purposes, you need grinders that have over 800 grits.
3. Diamond Tooling
The next tools that you’ll need to consider are the abrasives. Depending on the condition of the surface, you’ll need to choose diamond tooling with the appropriate bond hardness. The type of abrasives utilised determines the efficiency of the grinding process. Metal bonds are preferred for hard floors while resin bonds are preferred for softer floors and the final steps of surface polishing.
4. Hardening Agent
For starters, it is easier to achieve better polishing results with harder floors. Liquid hardeners are used to make concrete floors harder and denser. Hardening also helps to protect the floor from water penetration, staining and future damages.
Tips to Grind Concrete Floors
After acquiring the above tools, you’ll need to follow the concrete grinding tips listed below.
1. Make Use of Play Sand
Every expert will mention to you the effectiveness of play sand while using a concrete grinder. Play sand poured on the surface acts as a supplementary abrasive and also helps in cooling the grinding tools. If the diamond matrix swells up, it hinders the release of the next set of diamond abrasives. Play sand provides for a constantly dressed diamond tooling.
2. Rotate the Concrete Grinder to Extend the Life of the Diamond Tooling
To get the most out of your concrete grinder, you can regularly make use of the ‘rotate’ button. This button reverses the direction in which the abrasives spin. This helps in cooling the pads and also re-opens the diamond tooling, which prevents inconsistent wear patterns, especially when grinding soft concrete.
3. Pre-Soak Hard Surfaces
Pre-soaking not only helps in temperature regulation, but it also aids in minimizing the surface tension, which pushes dust and small aggregates to the surface. These aggregates provide the diamond tooling with necessary debris to ensure that it is constantly in top working condition, and they also act as additional abrasives.
If you follow the above guide on how to grind concrete floor, this task shouldn’t be as daunting as it seems to beginners. Effective cement floor grinding offers impressive results to property owners, which is definitely worth the time, cost and effort.
Thank you for covering how to grind a garage floor and what tools are needed to do so. My husband and I probably need to have that done in our garage. We will probably have to hire concrete grinding contractors to get it done since we are not great with power tools!