In order to have a successful and beautiful resinous floor, preparation is key. Any good contractor will tell you that you what needs to be done for this preparation, but here are a few key points. With some disreputable contractors, the surface preparation isn’t done correctly which can lead to things like chipping and breaking within just a few months of installation.
In order to have a beautiful floor, your base concrete needs to be prepped using a few different methods. These methods increase in intensity. From sanding the floor, to the much harsher scarifying. Depending on what your floor needs, your contractor will recommend the proper solution.
Sanding is the gentlest solution for surface prep. It’s usually done with a floor sander or angle grinder and is done with varying degrees of sanding paper attached to a disc. This a great option if you just need a little surface scratch, like for re-coat projects or a paint job.
Stone grinding is one that isn’t used very much since diamond grinders became available. It’s basically a heavy floor grinder with stone grinding wheels attached to the bottom. It works well on soft, or not-quite cured concrete, but not so well with hardened concrete or epoxy.
Diamond grinding is very versatile because they allow easy switching out of diamond pads. Because of this they can handle every type of floor, from soft cement to hard concrete. They will strip paint layers and clean oily patches from the floor. It does leave a much deeper scratch profile on the floor compared to sanding which allows for a better bonding of the material to the floor.
Shot-Blasting is a much more aggressive type of surface prep than sanding. It makes for a deep profile that makes conditions for bonding ideal for thicker floors. However, a good, high quality concrete is required for it to work properly.
Scarifying is the final option and is the option of last resort because it is the most aggressive form of preparation. This allows for surfaces with contaminates, digs or scratches to bond well with the resinous material.
Which choice made depends on a lot of factors. From the thickness of the system to the condition of the concrete slab. Make sure that you work with your contractor to find the best option for you.