Concrete polishing requires honed skills and quality tools for professional results. It’s not something you can leap into without expertise. Some might even call it an art; we certainly would.
Today, we’re talking tools—and why you should invest and buy high-quality diamond tooling over lesser products. Here’s what you need to know about this essential concrete polishing consumable.
Surface Preparation with Diamond Tooling
Concrete as a flooring material was once relegated to garages and warehouses. Today, polished concrete is common in businesses, retail stores, and homes. These floors are beautifully reflective, durable, and relatively easy to maintain.
Getting them into this state requires intense labor, expert knowledge of the proper tools, and a good understanding of the client’s final vision.
For example, the amount of aggregate you want to expose will determine how much grinding you need. It will also affect how many diamond tooling products you need to achieve the desired finish.
The Long-Term Cost Savings of Ownership
Many contractors rent diamond tooling, believing it to be the more cost-effective option. However, ownership has several advantages. High-quality diamond tooling is built to last when properly maintained, making it a sound investment that pays for itself over multiple projects.
Owning your tools allows you to work at your own pace without worrying about rental deadlines or wear-and-tear fees. Plus, rented tools often have unknown wear levels, which could compromise performance and lead to inconsistent results.
Do you frequently take on concrete polishing projects? Investing in diamond tooling for surface preparation means you’ll always have the right tools without additional rental costs cutting your profits.
Where Does Cost Come In?
Once you’ve purchased diamond tooling for your concrete polishing project or business, you’ll need to treat it well and use it only for the correct applications. If you use soft-bond diamonds on soft concrete, for example, you’ll wear out your diamond tooling much faster than is normal.
This happens because soft concrete is already easy to grind, causing the soft bond to release diamonds too quickly. This will lead you to spend more money replacing your tools when those diamonds should have lasted you throughout the job.
Ultimately, you should invest in diamond tooling from a reliable manufacturer for your surface preparation needs. You’ll save money on concrete polishing consumables in the long run, and your work will exhibit continued quality and integrity.
Types of Diamond Tooling
Here’s a quick look at some different types of diamond tooling used to tackle tasks like concrete grinding and surface preparation. Selecting the proper tools for the task ensures you get the job done efficiently.
Metal Bond
This type of diamond tooling is used in concrete grinding under a variety of conditions. Metal bond diamond tooling can be soft, medium, or hard. While there isn’t an exact standard breaking down these various bond strengths, it’s essential that you choose the correct bond for your purpose. Soft concrete, for example, requires a hard-bonded diamond.
Resin Bond
Resin bond diamond tooling is used primarily for concrete polishing and light grinding. This category of tooling can be split into wet and dry resin tools, which are made by mixing resin powder with diamond grit.
Transitional
Traditionally, metal bond and resin bond diamond tooling were the only available options for concrete polishing and grinding. In recent years, we’ve seen the advent of transitional or hybrid diamond tooling. This alternative provides the best of both worlds: the cutting and grinding functionality of metal tooling along with the gentler polishing action of resin tooling.
Polycrystalline Diamond
Polycrystalline diamond (PCD) tooling is fabricated with synthetic diamonds, offering consistency, affordability, and extended tool life. This type of diamond tooling is used in concrete surface preparation to remove mastic, glue, and other thick or thin coatings.
Grits
The grit of a diamond tool refers to the size of the individual diamonds used in that tool. Lower numbers indicate larger diamonds, while higher numbers indicate smaller diamonds and finer grit. But while grit will tell you about the size of the diamonds in your tooling, it won’t tell you about the concentration.
One manufacturer might sell tooling that holds half as many diamonds as another. This tooling will cost less, but it won’t do the job nearly as well. To protect the quality of your work, be sure that you’re purchasing diamond tooling from a manufacturer or supplier you trust.
How Much Does It Cost to Diamond Grind Concrete?
On average, concrete polishing professionals charge anywhere from $3 to $12 per square foot for a complete grind-and-polish service. However, pricing can fluctuate depending on regional labor rates, material costs, and project complexity.
Furthermore, the cost of diamond grinding and polishing concrete varies based on several factors, including the area’s size, the surface’s condition, and the level of polish desired.
Many polishing contractors work directly with property owners or facility managers. General contractors overseeing larger construction projects may also subcontract these services as part of their budget.
One way to control costs is by investing in diamond tooling instead of renting. While the upfront cost of high-quality diamond tools may seem steep, long-term savings quickly add up when factoring in rental fees, tool longevity, and the ability to complete projects more efficiently. If you take on polishing projects frequently, owning the right tools leads to better control over costs and performance.
Get the Right Diamond Tooling for the Job
If you find yourself going through polishing pads and other diamond tooling too quickly for comfort, it’s time to invest in a high-quality option that will serve you well on job after job.
Whether you’re a seasoned contractor or an advanced DIY enthusiast, owning the right diamond tooling is a game-changer for your concrete polishing projects.