How Do I Grind My Concrete Floor?
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Concrete floors used to be relegated to industrial sites and heavy duty public places, but thanks to the recent ‘industrial revolution’ in decorating trends, this long-lasting and low-maintenance flooring option is now firmly entrenched as one of the most stylish and popular flooring choices.
Creating a sleek and shiny concrete floor is not difficult and even a lay person DIYer can handle a concrete grinding machine. However, even though concrete grinders are easy to use, they come in many different sizes and capabilities so it is vital you choose the right equipment for your particular application.
If you intend hiring a concrete grinder, choose your supplier carefully. You need to a) select the most appropriate equipment for your job and b) have the skills and technical knowledge to achieve your desired finish - so seek out a concrete equipment supplier who is genuinely interested in helping you meet your objectives and who backs up their products with user-friendly resources such as ‘How-To’ guides.
In the meantime, here’s some basic information on how a concrete grinder works and how you should go about grinding your concrete floor.
Step 1 - Evaluation
Take the time to evaluate the condition of the concrete surface.
Step 2 - Preparation
Sweep and mop the area to remove any loose dust or dirt.
Step 3 - Using a concrete grinder
A concrete grinder works by using rotating discs that have tiny bits of diamond embedded in a resin or metal matrix. These rotate horizontally to smooth and polish the surface of the floor. The diamond tooling discs are available in a variety of abrasion levels, bond hardness, shapes and diamond concentrations to fulfil various functions. For example, coarse grits can be used for breaking up and removing stains, grease, paint and other coatings, levelling uneven areas or joints and light texturing whereas finer grit abrasives are used for a glossy, smooth, polished finish.
There are many different models of concrete grinder on the market which perform multiple functions so it’s worthwhile discussing your needs with the equipment hire company to make sure the machine is fit for purpose and that you have selected the most appropriate accessories. Different power options are available, plus there are machines with built-in water-mist systems for wet and dry applications, vacuum attachments and skirts for dust-free grinding, floating heads and adjustable rear wheels.
Step 4 - Polishing
Polishing Concrete is a process whereby progressively finer diamond tooling is run over the concrete to produce a high sheen finish. There are many different ways to polish concrete. In simple terms there are two methods:
Polished Concrete- This is typically a 10 stage process whereby the concrete is ground to the level of exposure you want, then grouted to fill pin/air holes, then a Densifier/Hardener is applied so the surface can be self-polished to a high sheen up to 1500 or 3000 grit
Semi Polished Concrete- Sealed. This is a process whereby the concrete is ground to the level of exposure you want, then grouted to fill pin/air holes, then a pass with fine diamonds, and then sealed to give the ‘Polished Concrete look’. The sealers used are topical (not penetrating) which means a layer of sealer forms on the top to give a Polished look. The sealer may require resealing every 2-3 years depending on Environment
If you want to learn more about how to polish concrete floors or are interested in concrete equipment hire for grinding, polishing, pumping, cleaning, repair or demolition, you should contact the professionals at Concrete Hire on 1300 048 521 or via their website, www.concretehire.com.au. Take advantage of their 20 years’ industry experience and let them help you choose the best concrete equipment for your project at budget-friendly prices.