Before initial surface preparation, contractors should assess the concrete they’re due to prepare before choosing a grinding tool. If you’re working on concrete that’s never been touched before, you don’t need polycrystalline diamond (PCD). You can use diamond tooling to get the required concrete surface profile (CSP) that you’re looking for. If you’re on a job where there is a coating, adhesive or thin set mortar that is well bonded to the ground, you should consider using less aggressive PCDs remove the material. Typically, if you’ve just got sealer on the concrete, a metal bond diamond will work. PCDs are more expensive, so if you’re finding that the metal bond diamond is removing material, it is the more cost-effective option.
Dave Bigham, global director of training