Concrete Grinders
Concrete Grinders for Sidewalk Levelling
Whether you're buying a cement grinding machine to remove trip hazards on sidewalks or to grind out old line markings in parking lots and on roadways, you'll find the high-quality equipment you need right here.
What Is A Cement Grinding Machine?
Looking to remove old lines or get rid of coatings and concrete toppings on asphalt or concrete? You'll need to use a machine that literally scars the pavement beneath in order to remove the old coatings. These machines have variable depths to allow you to smooth out uneven surfaces.
The process uses a machine that’s called a scarifier. This process is also called milling or planing.
What Do I Use Concrete Surface Grinding Machines For?
You can use a concrete scarifier machine for surface preparation before you add a new overlay or coating to concrete slabs.
You can also use these walk-behind cement grinding machines to remove trip hazards. Uneven surfaces on sidewalks or walkways create a liability risk for owners and municipalities. If someone trips over lips on concrete, they could get injured, so addressing shifts in concrete or asphalt due to tree roots or the freeze-thaw cycle can help you mitigate that.
Areas like swimming pool decks or other areas where water pools on polished concrete, can lead to slippery situations that also put pedestrians at risk. Using a grinder or scarifier to rough up the concrete surfaces can aid in traction control and help to prevent slip and fall accidents.
Finally, use a cement grinding machine to remove road markings such as directional arrows, stop bars or parking lot lines. This allows you to remove the marking and leaves a smooth surface that is ready for new line striping.
How Do I Choose the Best Machine To Grind Surface Concrete?
There are lots of ways to rough up pavement. For most of our contractors, a walk-behind push model will be the best choice for concrete grinding. We recommend you use drum-style scarifiers for day-to-day work. They're ideal for removing coatings, concrete toppings and asphalt.
They're called drum models because they have a round drum that has teeth on it. The belt drive rotates the drum and the cutters chip at the concrete, roughening up the surface.
To choose the best model for your needs, consider the amount of production you will need:
If you're only doing occasional work as an add-on to your existing asphalt business, you can look at a smaller 5-HP machine like the standard Graco DC 89 LineLazer. A beginner will be able to do 20-25 grinds a day with this machine.
If you're intending to make grinding concrete a full-time job, you'll want to choose a higher-output machine like the Graco D89 HP Gas Powered Scarifier. It will allow you to do up to 40 grinds per day once you have some experience under your belt.
Also, make sure to consider the weight of the cement grinding machine: if you're working alone, you won't be able to lift a heavier machine into a truck or push it up a trailer ramp. The larger 9HP units cannot be lifted by one person.
Ultimately, you'll need to consider how much time you will spend using the machine, how much money you have to invest into it and how easy it is to move around. Our Graco DC89 Pro can attach to a Line Striper, making it possible to sit and steer instead of pushing.
Most of our contractors start with a smaller model, learn the business, then upgrade to a larger scarification machine as they become more proficient. The smaller concrete surface grinding machines can still be used as backups on the job site.
Questions about how to pick the right scarifying machine for your needs? Call our friendly experts at 1-866-399-5562. We're always happy to hear from you!
FAQs
Safety is the #1 priority for any grinding work. Always use the correct PPE. Think safety goggles, earplugs, dust masks and heavy-duty work gloves. Limit work to spaces that are well-ventilated. Remove any obstructions. Get familiar with the machine's operating manual. Do not bypass any included safety features.
It depends on the machine. We advise you to consult the specs for any equipment you use. Attempting to grind materials other than concrete could shorten the lifespan of your machine. Some hard surfaces may be compatible as long as the correct abrasive discs are in use.
The simple answer is that it depends. Several factors will be critical, including concrete hardness and the type of abrasive used. Operator technique also matters here. You'll want to monitor your equipment's wear and tear to make replacements before there's a problem.