Tile Removal and Concrete Polishing Made Easy with the Right Tools
When you have made the decision to remove old tile flooring in your place of business so that the concrete underneath can be polished, it is important that you use the right equipment so that the job goes as smoothly as possible. While a top quality floor grinder and polisher is expensive to buy, you should know that this machinery can be rented.
Tile removal can be a messy and laborious affair but if you use a top-rated machine that has the power needed to get the job done thoroughly and as quickly as possible, the task becomes much more manageable. The Terminator floor scraping machine is one to consider using. This piece of machinery has a legacy as it was used to remove the wood floors inside the famed Boston Garden and the tiles from the Space Needle Restaurant in Seattle.
The Terminator is available in different models with the first being a battery powered tile removal machine that does not emit any fumes, making it the machine to use if you are working in a smaller room with inadequate ventilation. This machine can run for a full eight hours between battery re-charges and has the power to get the job done in a fraction of the time and expense associated with more conventional tile removal methods. The next step up is a sixty horsepower machine that can easily tackle most any sized job. The Terminator has proven itself more than capable of removing all types of floor coverings ranging from tiles to sports courts.
Once the tile has been removed it is time to get to work grinding the floor. A good concrete grinder will remove pits, tile adhesive dust and imperfections. A concrete grinder can also be used to for concrete polishing as you simply need to change the grinding pads that attach to the machine. A concrete grinder can be a bit tricky to learn how to operate efficiently but with a few minute’s practice you should be able to pick up the proper technique. The best grinders are powered by gas or propane, meaning there are no cords getting in the way.
To begin using the grinder you have to attach the grinding pad securely to the bottom of the machine. Select a hard pad if you want to grind more material with each pass of the machine. There is a vacuum attachment on the best grinders such as those made by Predator and HTC – you need to hook up this attachment so that it that collects the dust. When you begin to grind it is important that you move the grinder in a side to side motion to make sure you are grinding evenly. This also prevents swirl marks from showing up on the concrete surface. You can expect to remove approximately one-eighth of an inch of the concrete surface when grinding.
Once the grinding is done and you are satisfied with the smoothness factor, it is time to vacuum and mop the floor. Use an industrial strength de-greaser to remove any stains. Once the floor is dried, pour some floor polish in front of the machine and commence with concrete polishing. Run the machine on the slowest available speed so that the polish is evenly distributed and continue with more polish and polishing until you have applied an even thin layer of polish.
Polished concrete floors offer a brilliant shine. They are also hygienic floors and are quite easy to care for. Be sure to buy or rent the best quality machinery as it will make the task run smoothly.
Processing your request, Please wait....
