Arguably one of the most underrated surfaces is cement. When you think of this, you think of a grey and dull surface, but this could not be further from the truth. When treated correctly, cement can both be durable, functional and pleasing to the eye.
You may be wondering how you can achieve this and properly look after you cement surfaces. The answer lies in a concrete grinder. If you don’t know much about these devices, keep reading.
A concrete grinder is a finishing tool that is most commonly used during the process of levelling a cement floor. This is done to ensure that the flooring has a smooth and level finish.
Interestingly, it is also possible to use these machines for other purposes. They can be used as a surface preparation tool, a polishing tool and as a tool to remove aggressive or tough coatings.
What is the difference between a concrete grinder and a cement polisher?
Oftentimes, these two processes get confused. Although they are both part of cement flooring preparation, they are slightly different.
Cement polishing is its own task, and is a different process to other forms of flooring preparation and finishing. In order to achieve a polished, shiny appearance, you will need to go through the multiple steps of cement polishing. The aim of this process is to create a strong, durable and astatically pleasing flooring.
Concrete grinding, is slightly different. This process is more of a preparation than a finishing step and is most commonly used in flooring restorations. The aim of this process is to remove any excess dirt, grit and old coatings to result in a clean and level surface. This process will not result in a shiny appearance; instead it is likely that you will be left with either a matte appearance or a subtle sheen.
What are the components of a concrete grinder?
These tools are essentially made up of a rotating head that helps to smooth and level the desired surface. Modern machines are generally made up of abrasive disks with diamond particles.
There are two main components of these tools:
- Diamond: Synthetic diamonds are most commonly used in these tools. This allows for any shape and size to be created and inserted into the machine. For aggressive coating removal and levelling, larger diamonds are used, whereas for polishing, a tool with smaller, finer diamonds will be implemented.
- Bonds: The second essential part in these tools is the bonds. The primary purpose of this is to hold the diamonds in place.
Are there different types?
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There are several different types of concrete grinders; the type you choose to use will depend on the specific job it is needed for. There are two main types of these machines:
- Hand held: A hand held device is most often used in tight areas, or corners. These are also a better option for smaller surfaces. This process does create a large amount of dust, which is taken out through an extraction hose that is attached to the tool.
- Walk behind: These devices are much larger than the hand held option and are useful when it comes to dealing with large floors or surfaces.
What are the benefits?
There are many uses for these tools, and their abilities are not limited to levelling and polishing surfaces. These machines offer many benefits when it comes to any cement surface. Some of the benefits are:
- Levels and polishes surface
- Removes any adhesive, coating or grime
- Inexpensive in comparison to other methods
- Will make the surface more durable and long lasting
- Improves the look of any cement surface