The difference between shot blasting and grinding
In the construction industry there are those that believe that shot blasting is going to be the best option for surface preparation; and others that believe that grinding is the best option for surface preparation. The truth of the matter is, it depends on what end result you’re looking for. Here we’ll discuss the differences between the two so that you may make an informed decision.
Grinding is a great option that has many benefits to being chosen.
A great option when looking to get rid of elastomeric, or rubbery coatings is grinding. Because of the type of coating, if you tried to blast it, the steel bb’s would bounce right off! A grinding blade will heat up the coating and remove it. Also, a PCD blade can scrape and grind at the same time and is the number one choice for thicker paint and/or glue because of its scraping ability.
Polishing is impossible with a shot-blaster and must be done with a grinder because it leaves tracks or impressions that can be difficult to grind out evenly.
For preparing a floor for things like VCT or carpet, a grinder is best. Shot blasting is slightly too abrasive for these types of flooring. An example would be the VCT tile would settle in and you would notice through the flooring. With a grinder you can produce a more level floor, grinding high spots flat.
Grinders are a great option for different situations. Our goal in this blog is to show you the difference between grinding and shot blasting.
Shot blasting also has many options that will be best choice for many flooring options.
Shot blasting is an affordable option, but it’s not the best choice for every circumstance.
When shot blasting, overlap is required by the machine, which can result in blast lines. Shot blasting can result in valleys, pits, or even fractures in floor, even if the contractor is extremely careful.
Shot blasting is not going to be the best option when you want to apply thin coatings like urethane or epoxy over the concrete. The rough profile and imperfections will show through the floor.
As you can see, both these options have their uses, and both are integral in different types of flooring. Whether you decide to go with tile or epoxy, carpet or a urethane coating, make sure you work with your contractor or flooring technician to decide the best option for you.