How to grind concrete: necessary tools

There are several devices for grinding concrete. Typically, a grinder is used for this, on which a diamond disk or other attachments are attached. Industrial tools are used to process large areas. The main stages and recommendations for grinding are described in the presented material.

Grinding technologies

Grinding of concrete floors is carried out in 2 ways - dry and wet technology. The latter option is best suited for the following surfaces:

• granite;
• marble;
• mosaic.

This is a labor-intensive and expensive technology, although the operating principle is similar to dry technology. The main disadvantage is that during operation dirty splashes and wet sludge are formed, which makes it difficult to view the surface. Therefore, for this method of sanding a concrete floor with your own hands, you should use wheels with an abrasive coating. Simultaneously with the work, water should be drained using a special water pump.

Floor sanding can also be done dry. It is less labor intensive and saves time. In addition, intermediate results are immediately visible, and they are easier to control and make corrections if necessary. The disadvantage is associated with a large amount of dust. During work it is necessary to use an industrial vacuum cleaner.

However, regardless of the specific technology, grinding the screed using both processing methods allows you to obtain a surface that has several advantages:

• resistance to moisture, temperature, “aggressive” chemicals;
• reliability, long service life;
• clean air (due to dust removal);
• low cost;
• maintainability, simple maintenance;
• attractive appearance - polished concrete floor resembles marble or self-leveling floors;
• the surface is practically not abraded and resistant to impacts.

How to grind

You can choose any processing technology. But it is important to decide how to polish the concrete floor. Inexpensive equipment can be purchased in a store or secondhand. As for professional tools, it is easier to rent them. The following equipment is mainly used:

1. Household grinding machines equipped with cups or special wheels. They can work even in hard-to-reach places, and are easy to take and carry due to their light weight. Moreover, the larger the circle in diameter, the more efficient the process. However, you should consider when to sand the concrete after pouring. To do this, you need to wait at least 3 hours, and better – 5-7 hours. Finishing can be done no less than 10 hours after sanding.
2. Grinding of concrete screed is also carried out using grinders with wheels or discs. For this purpose, special nozzles are used - “turtles”, which leave a pattern in the form of cells on the surface. If necessary, they can be easily removed and replaced with others.
3. Another way to sand the floor is with cups. They are also put on the grinder and processed.Depending on the characteristics of the task, different cups are used, for example, with a square segment - for the first processing, and boomerangs - for the finishing one.
4. Frankfurt is a trapezoidal nozzle with an emery base. Fits on a tool for grinding concrete floors.
5. Professional machines are used to process large areas. For example, you can use a “helicopter” - a device with 4 blades to which the abrasive surface is fixed.

Preparation for sanding

It’s clear how to sand a floor at home. To do this, use a grinder and special attachments. You can perform the procedure yourself, but to do this you first need to prepare the floor surface:

1. Remove the previous coating (if any).
2. Open cracks and crevices at a 45 degree angle.
3. Apply primer and let dry.
4. Then fill with cement mortar and level.
5. Remove all protruding parts - fittings or metal inserts.
6. Determine the evenness of the surface using a laser level.
7. Determine the hardness by testing the floors with a grinder. Depending on how the disk wears out during operation, you can calculate the amount of consumables.

Basic grinding steps

Do-it-yourself sanding of the floor screed is planned a few hours after it has completely hardened. Even better is to wait a few days (up to 2 weeks). The main stages of work are as follows:

1. A solution is prepared and applied to the floor, which reacts with concrete and forms a protective film.
2. Choose a grinding technology - dry or wet method. If necessary, prepare liquid.
3. You can sand the floor with a grinder equipped with a 400-grit diamond disc.
4. After the first treatment, you need to inspect the surface for defects.They are cleaned and sealed using mortars.

Thus, it is quite possible to do the grinding yourself. To fully control the process, it is better to take dry technology as a basis. You must first prepare gloves, a respirator and an industrial vacuum cleaner.