Using A Concrete Grinder to Smooth Out Rough Concrete? Here Are 3 Tips for Best Results
Posted on: 10 April 2017
Concrete grinders are indispensable equipment for smoothing out concrete surfaces such as rough basements or floors. You can also use concrete grinders to remove paint on your concrete surfaces. Concrete grinding is mostly done by professionals but if you want to save some money, you can take on the task on your own. However, for this to pay off, you need to know how to do it properly. Therefore, whether you are buying or renting a concrete grinder, here are a few tips to ensure your concrete grinding project is more effective.
Buy or Rent Heavier Units
The weight of the concrete grinder you choose to use can actually make a huge difference in its grinding performance. In most cases, heavier concrete grinders tend to be more aggressive in grinding a concrete surface because they place extra weight as well as pressure on the discs. This basically means that heavier units have better contact with the concrete surface than their lighter counterparts. This is why it is even recommended to add ballast weights to the grinder especially when you have heavy-duty concrete grinding projects.
When operating the concrete grinder, grip it tightly and maintain that grip while applying slight downward pressure on it. The combined weight and pressure of the concrete grinder will result in an even surface by preventing the machine from digging grooves on your surface.
Choose A Grinding Pad Carefully
The type of grinding pad you decide to use is also crucial to the efficiency of the concrete grinder. Your decision will depend on the type of project you have. As a rule of the thumb, hard pads are ideal for jobs involving removal of huge amounts of concrete. For small projects such as concrete surface polishing, choose soft grinding pads.
Know What to Do When the Tools Fail to Work
Concrete grinders work with the help of tools, usually diamond or carbide disc attachments. If you notice that you are just moving the machine on your concrete surface without any noticeable change, the tools are likely not operating as they should. Fortunately, you can do a few things to get them working properly again. For instance, you can increase the weight or pressure on the machine because the tools or discs may not be making good contact with the surface. You could also vary the speed, switch to tools that have a softer bond or moisten your concrete surface.
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