The world's foremost magazine on decorative concrete
When it comes to grinders, 30 inches rule. “Thirty-inch grinders are the highest-producing, most versatile grinders that you can buy,” says Garrett Lassiter, owner of Flagship Commercial Flooring in Lubbock, Texas. “You can take them with you on nearly any job and accomplish your goals with a high production rate.” […]
Whether you use a rotary (left) or a planetary (right) grinder to get the job done largely relies on personal preference. Both types of machines can handle light and heavy-duty grinding jobs of any size. Photos courtesy of Zanchettin Brothers Terrazzo & Tile Co. (left) and Superabrasive (right). Jobs always […]
Propane-powered burnishers, grinders, trowels, saws and generators are becoming more popular with contractors looking for better results in less time. Propane equipment provides increased power, endless runtime and portability. But carbon monoxide on propane equipment can cause issues. If contractors follow proper safety procedures, however, they can effectively use this […]
Proper diamond tools for polishing concrete is essential to getting it right. Choose the starting diamond grit and tooling segment configuration based on what’s best to achieve the job’s appearance objective. If there wasn’t one given, go with the random aggregate configuration. Objective # 1 Random aggregate (doesn’t matter what […]
The new SG7 SurfacePro edge grinder from General Equipment Company is an ideal edge grinder for everyone from do-it-yourselfers to commercial contractors. Intended for smaller areas, it can accommodate a wide variety of surface preparation applications, such as leveling concrete and asphalt, with unmatched productivity and versatility. The heavy-gauge steel […]
Before purchasing a grinding/polishing machine, polished concrete contractors must determine what types of jobs they are seeking — smaller custom-design projects or larger-volume ones.
There’s a grinder/polisher model available for just about every task, whether it’s prepping the floor of a big-box store or finishing a basement or small office. Finding the right tool for the job can make a big difference in speed and efficiency, so know what you want before you go shopping.
A dissipating cure is exactly the right compound to use on a polished concrete floor. Generally, these types of curing compounds break down from traffic and exposure to sunlight and are mostly gone within a few weeks.
This is very similar to the story told in the old children’s tale, “The Tortoise and the Hare.” If you remember, the slow-footed tortoise won a race against the faster hare by keeping a slow, steady pace while his faster counterpart sprinted, tired and lost concentration.
Surface preparation is the crucial beginning stage of any concrete polishing process. It is especially important in old office buildings, warehouses or department stores where tile or carpeting once covered the flooring, leaving behind residue that must be removed before applying an overlay or polishing. Photo courtesy of Stoops Freightliner
