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What can I use to grind down concrete?
Can concrete be ground down?
Any pre-existing concrete can be ground down and smoothed with the right devices and skills. But, the ease and difficulty of the concrete grinding can vary depending on how old the slab is. In general, older concrete is much easier to grind.
How long does it take to grind down concrete?
Most users report that grinding down to an original floor for harder concrete could take up to 6 hours for 500 ft. This would include larger jobs covering the same surface area but having more to remove, like certain glue types or other imperfections stuck in the cement.
Can you sand down concrete?
Can You Sand Concrete? Even though concrete is a very hard material it is possible to sand concrete but it can only be done with the correct abrasives. Always opt for diamond grinding wheels or diamond polishing pads when sanding concrete.
How do you sand a concrete floor by hand?
For basic sanding, use sandpaper with the grit between 40-60. To remove minor irregularities, use 80-120 grit sandpaper. For perfect finish and smoothness, use superfine sandpaper with grit ranging between 200-400. If there are severe imperfections, then you need to use a floor grinder or special diamond disc.
How deep can a concrete grinder go?
The key to their versatility are the grinding attachments, which are available in a variety of types and grits to suit different applications. Because grinders use rotary action rather than impact to remove material, the depth of material removal is limited to about 1/8 inch, depending on the type of attachment used.
How much does it cost to grind concrete?
Cost to Grind Concrete Floor The cost to grind a concrete floor is $1 to $4 per square foot. Grinding or sanding concrete removes adhesives and curing agents, opens up the pores, removes the smooth look, and flattens the surface. Then, polishing hones the surface to a shine for $2 to $6 per square foot.
How do you grind down a concrete wall?
Besides grinders, which are the ideal equipment for smoothing the roughness out of concrete walls, you can also use shot blasting or sandblasting to deal with very rough walls. You can also use scabblers or chisel scrapers, which are more abrasive than grinders and will remove as much as 6mm from the concrete surface.
Can rough concrete be smoothed?
To smooth a rough concrete slab, you will need to brush off all debris with a broom, then wash away the grime with a mop using neutral cleaner and warm water. Next, you will want to identify the areas with cracks or misshapen areas.
Can you grind concrete to level it?
If you have an uneven concrete slab, you could replace it or cover it with leveling compound. But consider grinding it instead. Powerful grinding equipment is available at rental centers that cater to contractors. Grinding down leftover thin-set or other hard coatings.
Can you sand concrete with a palm sander?
If you only have a small area to sand, you can also use a palm sander, orbital sander or belt sander. Rough imperfections may require the use of a special diamond disc and a concrete floor grinder.
Can you smooth out concrete after it dries?
Sand the Surface and Wash the Concrete Finish by fine-tuning with light sandpaper, until the surface is perfectly smooth. We recommend using a hand planer to smooth and compact the surface. If the concrete dries a lot then we recommend that you add water to the surface, this will help you give it a good finish.
Can I sand concrete instead of etching?
Yes, you will need to grind in order to remove the sealer at the surface and provide a proper profile for the coating. You cannot acid etch. The reason is that the sealer prevents the acid from reacting with the minerals in the concrete since the concrete is sealed.
Do you need to seal concrete after grinding?
It is always a good idea to seal your concrete floor after grinding. Grinding your concrete floor will smooth out the surface and bring out the speckled or marbled appearance of the aggregate, which increases the appearance and makes for a more decorative finish.
How much does it cost to pour a 24×24 slab of concrete?
A typical 24×24 garage slab costs between $3,057 and $5,944 with prices ranging from $5.31 to $8.31 per square foot for a 4” reinforced slab of concrete, and $6.83 to $10.32 per square foot for a 6” slab of reinforced concrete.
Why do you grind concrete?
Grinding concrete removes all imperfections and inconsistencies in the concrete, resulting in a smooth and usable surface. Old and damaged concrete surfaces can be restored to their former glory and used for years and years to come.
How do you sand a concrete foundation wall?
Sand any particularly bad areas of concrete with rough-grit sandpaper. Roll liquid concrete bonding agent over the surface of the wall in fairly straight lines using a short-napped paint roller. Trowel a 3/8-inch layer of concrete over the wall with a straight trowel.
How do you sack rub concrete?
Sack rub (sack finish) A finish for formed concrete surfaces, designed to produce even texture and fill all pits and air holes. After dampening the surface, and before it dries, a mixture of dry cement and sand is rubbed over it with a wad of burlap or a sponge-rubber float to remove surplus mortar and fill the voids.
Can I use an orbital sander to polish concrete?
The best and easiest way to sand concrete would be with a random orbital sander. This is because you can easily control the motion left to right or back and forth, whereas using a traditional palm sander, you’ll have to use different strokes for this motion.