Successful concrete grinding for a beautifully polished finish requires preparation and troubleshooting. If you’re planning on taking on a polishing project, we’ve put together a few tips to get you through the process from start to finish.
The first thing to consider is the floor’s condition. Large cracks, holes, and joints will need to be plugged with a cement-based filler. Also look out for hard bolts or metal objects embedded in the floor, as failing to remove these can cause serious damage to your grinding and polishing machines and other removal tools. Once the floor has been prepared, it’s time to get ready to grind it. We recommend shot blasting and scarifying, as it creates an even result.
Your next step is to identify the floor surface you’re dealing with, so you can choose the correct bond for your diamond tooling. If the surface is soft, open, and porous, use a medium to hard bond, and if it’s is hard and troweled, use a soft bond. If you’re not sure what the floor’s condition is like, choose a medium bond diamond, as you can change the bond later, if necessary.
Once you start grinding, look out for these signs so you know when to stop and readjust your approach:
If you’re finding the grinding slow, experiment with different tool speeds and weights, or using a softer bond or higher grit diamond. If this fails you can also try wet grinding, or even using sand or concrete dust. If your disc is wearing out too quickly, use a hard bond diamond or increase the number of segments being used. You can also try reducing the weight or increase tool speed and forward movement.
Is the machine becoming difficult to move or prematurely switching off? Try reducing your grinding pressure, tool speed or head weight, or choose different tooling. If your diamond is getting worn too quickly, choose a harder bond and reduce the head pressure or add extra diamond segments.
For a finishing glazed effect, use a softer diamond bond or increased grinding pressure and tool speed.
The above tips should be more than enough to ensure that any concrete grinding you undertake is successful. Remember that Con-Treat is a one-stop flooring shop, so we can provide you with the materials you need.
We have a guide on concrete grinding for you to explore more.
* The above information is to be used as a guide only and Con-Treat accepts no responsibility for any consequence resulting from the advice contained herein or verbally.
