Grind a bad floor to level it?

[imagineer]

Has anyone used a cement grinder to level an uneven concrete floor?

Like I don’t already have enough projects on the list…I’m thinking of renting something to try and improve the floor in my pole barn workshop. The floor is already in bad shape, so I doubt I can make it any worse.

The pole barn doesn’t have a gutter on the back roof, and over the decades, water pooled, got under the floor, froze and caused the floor to lift and break into several large sections. The floor surface height between some of the worse areas is probably close to ¾”. Whereas it appears to move a little each season (~1/8” both up and down), I don’t think it’s going to get a whole lot worse.

I’ll estimate, I’ll need to grind on about 40 square feet total, and remove about 300 cubic inches of material. I’m not looking for pool table smooth, just want to try and minimize the raised edges I keep tripping on.

I can’t justify the expense of blasting out and replacing the floor (I got a quote from my driveway guy for $9k), but I can cough up $200 to rent a grinder for a day and make some dust.

FWIW, on the “to be done before winter” list is to add a gutter along the south roof, to try and direct the water downhill, away from the building.

 

[rjacobs]

3/4".... LOL... NEVERGONNAHAPPEN...

The concrete floor grinders you can rent might remove, in an 8 hour day, the thickness of a piece of paper...

 

[BrandonV]

Sounds like you need serious concrete work but I'd try adding self leveling concrete which can go up to an inch usually before trying to remove 3/4".

 

[The Cobbler]

a sidewalk scarifier might be an option, but it will be dusty unless you can keep it wet

 

[djbmw]

I also vote for self levelling. It can be expensive though... as can the concrete primer.. but it works and is easier to apply (just gotta work fast!)

 

[nadogail]

My city uses a grinder to level sidewalks, it is a noisy dust process, in fact they tow a dust catching vacuum behind it.

It might be acceptable for a Pole Barn Workshop, the scarified surface could be covered with an epoxy.

 

[imagineer]

I'm going to rent one of these...

 

[LWB]

I'd like to see a before and after and your thoughts on the process. I'm in the same situation and am not replacing a slab.

I've used the ones with the rolling carbide cutters. It's hard work and they throw you around. The vertical cutters shown would be better IMO.

 

[geneg]

Has anyone used a cement grinder to level an uneven concrete floor?

Like I don’t already have enough projects on the list…I’m thinking of renting something to try and improve the floor in my pole barn workshop. The floor is already in bad shape, so I doubt I can make it any worse.

The pole barn doesn’t have a gutter on the back roof, and over the decades, water pooled, got under the floor, froze and caused the floor to lift and break into several large sections. The floor surface height between some of the worse areas is probably close to ¾”. Whereas it appears to move a little each season (~1/8” both up and down), I don’t think it’s going to get a whole lot worse.

I’ll estimate, I’ll need to grind on about 40 square feet total, and remove about 300 cubic inches of material. I’m not looking for pool table smooth, just want to try and minimize the raised edges I keep tripping on.

I can’t justify the expense of blasting out and replacing the floor (I got a quote from my driveway guy for $9k), but I can cough up $200 to rent a grinder for a day and make some dust.

FWIW, on the “to be done before winter” list is to add a gutter along the south roof, to try and direct the water downhill, away from the building.

Once hired a terrazzo subcontractor for a project that converted factory space into office space. They wet grind & are used to leaving a smooth & level surface. They were working with me on some school projects at the time and may have just done the project as a favor. I wouldn't even attempt to grind a floor level myself. I'd use a self levelling overlayment like Ardox if you don't need to meet many edges.

 

[ybnormal]

had professional company installed wood flooring in the 22'x20' living room 25 yrs ago. they attempted to make floor level using grinder...they gave up after a day and a half. ended up pouring about (9) 5-gal buckets of leveler to get it done. and then we charged them to clean the house after all that dust they generated.

 

[Dig Doug]

Has anyone used a cement grinder to level an uneven concrete floor?

Like I don’t already have enough projects on the list…I’m thinking of renting something to try and improve the floor in my pole barn workshop. The floor is already in bad shape, so I doubt I can make it any worse.

The pole barn doesn’t have a gutter on the back roof, and over the decades, water pooled, got under the floor, froze and caused the floor to lift and break into several large sections. The floor surface height between some of the worse areas is probably close to ¾”. Whereas it appears to move a little each season (~1/8” both up and down), I don’t think it’s going to get a whole lot worse.

I’ll estimate, I’ll need to grind on about 40 square feet total, and remove about 300 cubic inches of material. I’m not looking for pool table smooth, just want to try and minimize the raised edges I keep tripping on.

I can’t justify the expense of blasting out and replacing the floor (I got a quote from my driveway guy for $9k), but I can cough up $200 to rent a grinder for a day and make some dust.

FWIW, on the “to be done before winter” list is to add a gutter along the south roof, to try and direct the water downhill, away from the building.

1-
You can ramp the lifted area with a grinder so it’s not a trip.

2-
if your only dealing w/ 40 SF get a concrete blade on a skill saw and cut it, then break it out and repour
drill dowels into existing slab so it won’t continue to lift.


3-
if it’s in a fairly straight line you could also get a self leveling compound and pour a ramp say 0 to 3/4 inch in 36-40 inch wide


NOTE - most important part is to fix the water run off issue