Concrete Surface Preparation: The Key To Long Lasting Floors

With the possibility of lasting centuries, the importance of proper concrete floor surfacing cannot be overstated. Concrete Fusion offers the latest techniques, best tools, and years of experience to ensure your surfaces are ready for new flooring or any plan you have.

Top Surface Prep Methods

The three main methods—scarifying, shot blasting, and grinding—each serve a specific purpose and are not interchangeable. Here’s an overview of how we employ each technique:

Scarifying

Scarifiers are ideal for removing resin-based finishes, preparing very rough surfaces, or eliminating high spots. 

A scarifier machine cuts into the concrete surface with a high-speed, rotating cutting tool, removing the top layer. Some models can take off up to a quarter-inch of concrete in a single pass. 

Due to their aggressive nature, we often follow scarifying with another finishing method, such as shot blasting, to clear chips and cracks and create a smoother final surface.

Shot Blasting

Our shot blaster shoots a high-speed stream of fine abrasive material onto the concrete surface, wearing it down to even out rough areas or remove coatings. Shot blasting is generally more cost-effective and quicker than other methods, producing a dry, clean surface that is immediately ready for coating. 

However, it can leave a relatively rough finish compared to grinding and is less aggressive than scarifying. Shot blasting is ideal for preparing rough surfaces that will receive a thick coating, although improper use can cause lines or cracks.

Grinding

Grinders are machines that use diamond tooling spinning at high speeds to smooth concrete surfaces. Heavy-duty grinders can level high spots and even out floors, while finer grinders can polish surfaces to a smooth finish. 

Although grinding is more time-consuming and costlier than shot blasting due to the expense of diamond tooling, it produces a smoother finish suitable for interior spaces. Ground concrete can be left unfinished or given a coating. Grinders are also effective for removing coatings without the risk of damaging the concrete beneath.

Why Invest In Concrete Surface Preparation?

Your new, expensive flooring is only as good as the work you put into preparing the underlying concrete surface. A poorly prepped surface could lead to cracks, bumps, delamination, or total flooring failure long before it should happen.

With concrete surface preparation by Concrete Fusion, your surface will be in pristine condition to accept new flooring, or for whatever plan you have for it. Our skilled technicians ensure each step is completed to perfection with high-tech tools and up to date methods.

Proper concrete surface preparation increases the chances that your flooring will last for decades and you comply with warranty requirements. Turning your back on this deal is like wishing for flooring problems down the road.