Concrete flooring is not so complicated that a simple machine won’t get the job done. At the end of the day, the best floor grinder for you will fit within your budget while providing a quality polish. But that’s not to say you don’t have options – in fact, you have many.
In order to find the best floor grinder for the job, your best bet is to take a look at the scope of your project(s) and the resources available to you and then go from there. Runyon Surface Prep provides a wide selection of grinders and other vital surface equipment for rent or purchase. We’ve put this post together to help you narrow down the right investment for your concrete surface endeavors.
Why So Many Options?
We’ll start with the everyday floor grinder and branch out to more specific-use applications and power options. In your search, you may have noticed a wide spectrum of price differentials and specs – all for a floor grinder with the same general goal in mind. This wide spectrum is a testament to the true complexity of concrete floor grinding and polishing.
Your floor grinder is an investment. For some people, they may simply need to rent a grinder for a season. For others, they’re looking for a long-term solution. The biggest variations you’ll want to consider are between fuel/energy source, current surface elements, and spatial demands.
One grinder, to put it another way, can cover large spaces with an aggressive grind and ensure a level job while another may only get you a good polish on a smaller scale.
Deciding Between Gas, Propane, & Electric Floor Grinders
Fuel efficiency, budget, location – there are several factors to consider when deciding on your grinder’s power type. While it’s not always the case, you can typically associate electric equipment as the preferred indoor option and propane/gas equipment as a solid outdoor option.
Electric equipment tends to run quieter and is, therefore, less intrusive for residents or workers during indoor projects. Propane and gas equipment doesn’t require a cord and are therefore optimal for outdoor spaces (plus, there are the fumes to consider).
That said, not all sites are prepared for an electric machine. Be sure you’re in communication with the property’s electrician—or you do some homework on the building—before you show up with your equipment.
What’s the Purpose of the Grind?
Here we’ll get into the differences in grinder type for certain uses. As you know or likely expect, an edge grinder can help you get to those hard-to-reach places a standard planetary floor grinder can’t adequately cover.
So, some questions to ask yourself before you get started: What’s the scope of the surface? What’s its size and how complex is the floorplan? And then there’s the matter of leveling, which we’ll get into next.
Dual Grinders for Quality Concrete Surface Leveling
With counter-rotating discs, these dual disc grinders help operators keep the machine in one place and prevent unwanted gyration. In other words, with the counter-rotation of the two discs against the surface, the grinder is better able to stay straight and in one area while the operator works to eliminate old concrete and other materials. This feature is especially helpful when leveling a concrete surface before polishing.
Ride-on Grinders to Cover Vast Spaces
Commercial operations that demand extensive grinds and polishing on a large scale may want to consider looking into ride-on floor grinders. Thanks to their size and maneuverability, the type of efficiency achieved by these machines can save surface professionals on labor hours and project time.
Alternatively, if you only need a surface polish, you can use a power trowel. In fact, there’s the magnetic preload system that may be installed on a ride-on power trowel for multi-functionality. This system involves magnetic slots installed onto the machine, which provides an easy grit switch-out for your diamond tooling. If your operations tend to involve heavy troweling and surface polishing, this option gives you the best of both worlds with the same machine.