How to Grind Cement Floors
Grinding your cement floors will polish them to a high shine and turn them from boring and dull concrete into designer-inspired flooring. Polished concrete is durable and attractive flooring, making it perfect for a finished basement, a playroom or a garage. Grinding cement floors produces attractive results, but the process is time-consuming and labor-intensive. You can do this work yourself if you are willing to put in the time to get it right. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Vacuum
- Dishwashing soap
- Water
- Sponge
- Scissors
- Low-tack painter's tape
- Plastic sheeting
- Hand-held grinder
- Diamond polishing pads
- Concrete sealant
- Paint roller
- Paint pan
Instructions
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1
Vacuum the floors to remove all dust and debris. Fill a bucket with dishwashing soap and water. Dip a sponge into the mixture and scrub the concrete. Rinse the sponge and wipe away the soap residue. Allow the concrete to dry.
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2
Cut plastic sheeting to fit over the vents and doorways in the room, using scissors. Tape the plastic over the openings with low-tack painter's tape to prevent dust from traveling all over your house. Open windows and doors to provide ventilation to the outside.
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3
Attach a diamond sanding pad to the hand-held sander.
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Turn the hand-held grinder. Slowly lower the grinder and press firmly into the concrete. Move the grinder in a back-and-forth and an up-and-down motion. Continue polishing until it begins to shine. Continue across the entire floor.
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Vacuum the area to remove the majority of the sanding dust. Wet a towel and wipe the floors to remove small particles that couldn't be picked up by the vacuum.
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6
Pour concrete sealer into a paint pan. Roll a ¼-inch-nap roller in the sealer and apply the concrete sealant to your floors. Apply two coats of sealer.
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Tips & Warnings
Before sealing your floors, you can stain them. Apply stain in an inconspicuous location to test the color. Grinding floors can occasionally cause a swirl pattern in the concrete that isn't visible until the stain is applied.
Wear protective eyewear, knee pads and gloves when working with the grinder.
References
- Photo Credit Goudron image by Loïc Francois from Fotolia.com
