Concrete floors, when done right, are extremely durable, relatively inexpensive, and easy to maintain.
Grinding your floor after the concrete has been laid is one of the best ways to improve the overall look and performance of your garage.
What is Concrete Grinding?
Concrete grinding is the process by which abrasive tools are used to transform rough concrete into smooth surfaces.
What are the Benefits of Concrete Grinding?
Concrete grinding serves several purposes.
Firstly, concrete grinding improves the longevity and durability of your floor which is important since it needs to be in perfect working condition to withstand the weight of your vehicle or vehicles.
Secondly, it drastically improves the appearance of your concrete by removing inconsistencies, paint, dirt, and other imperfections.
Lastly, concrete grinding is a necessary step in flooring as it creates a clean, usable surface, perfect for, polishing, tiling, epoxies, etc.
Now that you know why concrete grinding is important, here are our tips for doing it yourself!
Invest in Quality Equipment.
This first tip not only applies to grinding your garage floor but any activity that requires the use of power tools.
WARNING!
Exercise extreme caution when working with power tools, as they, when used incorrectly, have to capacity to be very dangerous.
HEPA Vacuum
One of the most important pieces of equipment used in this process is the HEPA Vac as it not only makes the process easier by keeping your work area clean, but it also provides protection for yourself and the rest of your home.
HEPA Vacs are vacuums equipped with high-efficiency particulate air filters which are designed to trap very small particles that would otherwise escape and be circulated into the air in your home.
Concrete grinding creates a significant number of particles that not only cause a mess but, if inhaled, can lead to lung disease and other health complications.
One way to avoid these adverse effects is to attach a HEPA Vacuum to your angle grinder and dust shroud to minimize the amount of concrete and other particles allowed to enter the atmosphere.
Check out the link below for our favourite HEPA Vac.
[amazon box=”B07BNK4RZ1″]
Angle Grinder and Grinding Wheel.
These are the power tools responsible for shearing the concrete to create the smooth, level surface you desire.
Angle grinders can be used for several purposes depending on the disc you attach.
In this case, pairing your angle grinder with a grinding wheel will allow you remove any lumps, residual flooring, dirt, etc. from your garage floor.
Get your very own angle grinder and grinding wheel at the links below!
[amazon box=”B00RVZ7DNO”]
[amazon box=”B003XXE0RA”]
PRO-TIP
When you have ground your concrete floor, attach a polish wheel to your angle grinder to give your surface a finished look.
Dust Shroud.
Dust shrouds attach your angle grinder to your HEPA Vac to prevent the small particles created during the process from circulating in the air.
When buying a dust shroud, make sure that it has a seal which keeps it flush to your surface and is equipped with a vacuum hose that attaches to your HEPA Vac.
Check out our favourite dust shroud, which comes with a universal vacuum hose connection, at the link below.
[amazon box=”B00ZORWING”]
PRO-TIP
The equipment used in this process, and linked above, is relatively inexpensive and a great investment if you have multiple projects. However, if you only need them for one job, try renting.
Personal Protective Equipment.
This is also an extremely important step for any DIY projects you undertake.
As mentioned previously, concrete grinding, when done incorrectly, has the potential to have adverse effects on your health.
Luckily these side effects can be easily avoided, and here’s how.
Get a Pair of Goggles.
The dust created by concrete grinding may irritate your eyes, as such, use goggles, preferably ones with a strap, to protect your eyes from stray particles.
Buy Ear Plugs.
Concrete grinding is a loud process, ear plugs are a cheap and easy way to protect your hearing.
Use a Dust Respirator.
Once again, concrete grinding produces particles which, when inhaled, can lead to lung disease and other complications.
Dust respirators provide protection by filtering the particles that have managed to escape the dust shroud and HEPA Vac.
PRO-TIP
Wetting the floor before grinding helps to reduce the number of particles that are propelled into the air.
Cover your Skin and Hair.
Working with power tools may produce sparks, and in more severe cases, fire.
As a result, we recommend wearing clothing and shoes that provide as much protection as possible.
Protect Your Home.
Like confetti, the fine particles produced when concrete grinding, tend to go everywhere.
As such, seal your garage from the rest of your home using plastic sheeting and duct tape.
You may also want to turn off any air conditioning units to prevent the dust from entering your vents.
PRO-TIP
Vacuuming before, during and after grinding your garage floor is a great way to minimize the mess.
Explore Your Options.
There are a few flooring options available for your garage including polished concrete, rubber tiling and epoxy.
Now that your garage floor is perfectly smooth and even, why not have fun with the next project?
Conclusion.
So, there you have it! Our ground-breaking tips for grinding your garage floor.
Let us know if you use any of the tips or products above and thanks for reading!