4 Things You Never Knew About Using A Concrete Grinder

The theory of using a concrete grinder is all well and good. Hire or buy the right machine for the task, suss out how it works, make sure you grind from side to side, clean the machine…. Easy, huh?

Well, this all sounds pretty straightforward. But as any newbie to a skill quickly discovers, theory and practice are two very different things indeed…

As the saying goes, ‘forewarned is forearmed’, and the best way to do this is get the true lowdown on the art of concrete grinding is from a professional source. Experts in the trade, Concrete Hire, share their four essential tips about using a concrete grinder (that no-one ever told you). 

1. Take it slow

Make sure you take your time when passing the grinder over the concrete. Say, for example, you’re removing glue from a surface. Taking a little longer over each pass ensures all the glue is ground away in one go. Go too fast and you risk leaving remnants behind. All this means is you have to go over it again – not only a complete pain in the proverbial, but a massive waste of time.

2. Plan your route

Yep, seriously… Power cables and vacuum hoses are obstacles that, if you’re not careful, will mean you have to stop grinding, move them (or the grinder), in order to clear the area to carry on. You’ll only have to do this a couple of times to realise that five minutes spent planning your route will save you a lot of time in getting the job done.

3. Consider your power source

Unless you’re using a hand-held, large grinders usually require more oomph than that provided from a household plug socket. Generators are usually used, or perhaps arranging for an electrician to come out and sort the power you need.

Of course, you don’t want to realise this just as you’re about to get started! So ask the questions before you begin, ensuring you have an adequate power source to get you up and running the moment you’re ready to go.

4. You’ll learn to hate edging

Yep, you really will. Those tiny little areas adjacent to a wall or post are the very worst part of the whole job. And it takes the longest, so you need factor this into your estimate as to how long a job will take you. Pro concrete grinders know this and make the job far easier by one of the two following options:

a) Use a small, walk-behind grinder that has edging capabilities (for large tasks this is absolutely the best option).

b) Use a hand-held for the tricky edges – but be aware that you’re going to spend some time on your hands and knees, so trousers with padded knees are a really good investment…

Either option involves using a lighter piece of kit. This means it’s going to take longer to grind away whatever you’re removing. In addition, you’ll need to take care as to how you blend the two different paths together in order to end up with a well-blended finish.

The key to understanding all of these points is that the sooner you know and appreciate them, the less time you’ll waste when you encounter them (and you will) on your first few jobs.

Concrete Hire always provide expert advice

When you hire or purchase any concrete equipment from Perth-based Concrete Hire you’re guaranteed of a professional tutorial before you get started. So take advantage of our expertise and ask any questions you need – we’ll always be delighted to help and advise (and we’ve always followed this approach for well over 20 years).

Discover why we’re the favoured supplier of concreting equipment to those in the know by calling 1300 048 521 for a no-obligation chat, or visit  www.concretehire.com.au to find out more.