I had a 16x36 slab poured awhile ago. It took them all day and the concrete didn't set up as fast as they would have liked. The used the motorized skimmer/smoother. They lost daylight and couldn't see what they were doing. The next day I noticed some light swirl marks and roughness from the machine. WIll this afffect the Armstrong VHT tile or can it be ground down?
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Rough slab...Tile ok?
- Thread starter Bruthish
- Start date
boiler7904
Well-known member
This will most likely affect the VCT. Vinyl tile is fairly flxible and will telegraph substrate imperfections. If the surface is rough enough, the tiles may actually crack when heavy loads roll over them. I had a project last summer where VCT acutally split within one week of installation because the installer tried to bridge over a control joint in the slab.
The good news is that the concrete can be ground smooth. The question is who does the remedial work and who pays to do the work. Those two questions can be answered by answering these.
1. Have you paid for the concrete slab 100%? By saying the slab was poured awhile ago, I'm assuming that you paid the total invoice. If not, hold back any additional payments until you know the cost of the additional prep work for the finish flooring.
2. Who is installing the VCT? If you have a professional installer, they usually assume and include a certain amount of prep work before installing tile. Your slab may fall under this. It may also require additional work that the floor contractor would charge on a time and material basis. If you're installing the finish floor, what is your time worth? Do you have the tools to grind concrete? Do you feel comfortable grinding a new slab?
I would go back to the concrete contractor and have someone high up in the company (owner, superintendent, etc.) meet you at the site. Unless they have no pride in what they do, the company will most likely be willing to work with you to some degree for the simple fact that an unhappy customer is the worst kind of advertising that they can have.
The good news is that the concrete can be ground smooth. The question is who does the remedial work and who pays to do the work. Those two questions can be answered by answering these.
1. Have you paid for the concrete slab 100%? By saying the slab was poured awhile ago, I'm assuming that you paid the total invoice. If not, hold back any additional payments until you know the cost of the additional prep work for the finish flooring.
2. Who is installing the VCT? If you have a professional installer, they usually assume and include a certain amount of prep work before installing tile. Your slab may fall under this. It may also require additional work that the floor contractor would charge on a time and material basis. If you're installing the finish floor, what is your time worth? Do you have the tools to grind concrete? Do you feel comfortable grinding a new slab?
I would go back to the concrete contractor and have someone high up in the company (owner, superintendent, etc.) meet you at the site. Unless they have no pride in what they do, the company will most likely be willing to work with you to some degree for the simple fact that an unhappy customer is the worst kind of advertising that they can have.
Thanks for the reply. It was poured approx 1 month ago and it was done by a friends company who is "just getting started" but have some experienced workers. I still owe them $300 but I am not going to let it come between our friendship.
What is the process of smoothing concrete and is it expensive? If that does not work, I will just go with a rubber material because I don't think painting it will look to good either.
What is the process of smoothing concrete and is it expensive? If that does not work, I will just go with a rubber material because I don't think painting it will look to good either.
boiler7904
Well-known member
In order to smooth the concrete, it is physically ground. The size of the grinder depends on the amount of material to be removed. It can be anything from a regular 4 1/2" angle grinder with a masonry wheel up to a walk-behind planer with a few steps in between. The planer will remove up to 1/8" per pass. This machine would be the last resort. Things can get real ugly real fast if you don't know what you're doing. If you just have little ridges from where the edge of the trowel ran over the floor, I would start in a corner with the angle grinder and a masonry/concrete wheel to see how effective you can be and go from there.
As to the cost, I have no idea. The only project I worked on where we had to grind a slab, the work was done by the contractor that placed the slab because it was way out of tolerance for the finish flooring that was going on top of it. My guess is that it can get very expensive depending on how bad the slab is to start with. Talk to your friend. He might have contacts that could do the work cheaper than you can rent the equipment for. If not, they would at least be able to point you in the right direction. It's worth a shot.
The most important thing to think about is the dust. No matter how you grind concrete, it will create a very thick, choking, fine dust that covers anything in it's path. Wear a face mask, goggles, etc. I would also keep the surface damp to try to knock some of the dust down. I have a picture on my computer at work from the same project I mentioned in my first post where a slab was being ground. It doesn't even begin to show what that is really like. I'll try to remember to post it tomorrow. I've heard stories of the fire department being called to sites where concrete was being ground because the dust looked like smoke.
I would consider warning the neighbors (if you have any) that you'll be grinding concrete and that there will be dust. Pissed off neighbors and a possible visit from police will only add to your current frustration.
As to the cost, I have no idea. The only project I worked on where we had to grind a slab, the work was done by the contractor that placed the slab because it was way out of tolerance for the finish flooring that was going on top of it. My guess is that it can get very expensive depending on how bad the slab is to start with. Talk to your friend. He might have contacts that could do the work cheaper than you can rent the equipment for. If not, they would at least be able to point you in the right direction. It's worth a shot.
The most important thing to think about is the dust. No matter how you grind concrete, it will create a very thick, choking, fine dust that covers anything in it's path. Wear a face mask, goggles, etc. I would also keep the surface damp to try to knock some of the dust down. I have a picture on my computer at work from the same project I mentioned in my first post where a slab was being ground. It doesn't even begin to show what that is really like. I'll try to remember to post it tomorrow. I've heard stories of the fire department being called to sites where concrete was being ground because the dust looked like smoke.
I would consider warning the neighbors (if you have any) that you'll be grinding concrete and that there will be dust. Pissed off neighbors and a possible visit from police will only add to your current frustration.
Winmon
Well-known member
What about renting a Edco grinder?
See this post for more info...
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4472
See this post for more info...
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4472
Last edited:
indyjps
Well-known member
depending on how deep the swirls are could you just skim coat the edges with something like durhams water putty or a light cement to smooth out the surface enough to lay the tile. the tile will cover it so chipping shouldnt be an issue if cement is used, might expand @ different rates though. i believe the durhams water putty would work for you. could even use bondo, i had an old garage with a cracked floor that kept catching the wheels of the creeper used bondo in the cracks, 8 years and its still holding up well.