Learn about when concrete grinding makes the most sense and the potential damage it can cause.
If your concrete is uneven and causing dangerous trip hazards, you may be wondering whether or not you can just grind down the raised section.
While concrete grinding can be a cost-effective way to eliminate trip hazards, it’s usually not the best option for getting even, safe concrete.
In fact, grinding your concrete can cause it to break down prematurely. However, there are some instances where the risk of damage is worth it.
In this article, we’re shedding some light on how grinding down the concrete around your home or business can cause irreversible damage and sharing three cases where concrete grinding makes the most sense.
Want even concrete without the risk of damage that comes with grinding? Learn more about lifting your sunken slabs from the bottom up here.
Potential Damage Due to Concrete Grinding
Here at A-1 Concrete Leveling, we’ve been in the concrete repair and maintenance industry for over 30 years. Throughout this time, we’ve seen ground-down concrete suffer from damage due to the following reasons:
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Grinding Exposes Concrete to Worse Freeze-Thaw Cycles
Because concrete is porous, it absorbs water which expands when frozen. The expansion when frozen and contraction when thawed can cause the concrete to break and crack.
Grinding the concrete can make this process worse, as it opens the pores of the concrete, allowing it to absorb water and become damaged with freeze-thaw cycles more easily.
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Grinding Causes Concrete To Become Thinner and Weaker
Concrete grinding works by removing material from the concrete slab, which causes the slab to become thinner. The more material that is removed, the weaker the slab can become.
This is a problem because thinner slabs of concrete can be more susceptible to breaking or crumbling, meaning replacement will likely become necessary down the line.
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Grinding Doesn’t Address Why the Concrete Has Settled
Concrete settles for a reason, and grinding the concrete does nothing to actually solve that problem. Instead, it only takes material away from the surface.
If you have trip hazards due to settling concrete, eliminating the source of the settling (voids, pests, erosion, etc.) is the best way to get a more permanent solution.
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Grinding Typically Can’t Be Done More Than Once
Grinding is usually a short-sighted solution as it typically can't be done more than
once. By contrast, the concrete could be leveled multiple times, even if a
tree continues to grow and push it up.
Grinding could box you into a corner of needing to replace vs. giving you more options as the situation changes and evolves.
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Ground Concrete Looks Worse Aesthetically
Grinding leaves behind big patches of mismatched concrete and is often the biggest concern for most people considering concrete grinding.
It is very obvious when concrete has been ground down, and it’s not the look most people would like around their home or business long-term.
When To Grind Concrete
Even though grinding your concrete increases the risk of damage to the slabs, here are some cases where it makes sense:
1. You Plan on Replacing Your Concrete Anyways
If you already plan on replacing your concrete in the near future and don’t mind the idea of potential damage, grinding down trip hazards can make it safer in the meantime.
2. Tree Roots Will Cause Your Concrete To Keep Lifting
If you have tree roots raising your concrete and you’d like to keep the tree, concrete grinding can be a good repair method, especially if the slab is too far raised for concrete leveling to be effective.
In this case, the tree’s roots can continue to grow and cause the slab to become unlevel again in the future, but grinding it down will at least make it safer in the short term.
Pro Tip: Concrete leveling often can be a better solution for tree roots because it can be done multiple times as the tree roots keep growing. Grinding is usually a one-time solution.
3. Budget Is a Big Concern
Grinding down your concrete is very cost-effective and can even be free if you already have the tools handy. Concrete grinding can also be a temporary fix to hold you over until you can budget for a more permanent solution, like replacement.
For commercial applications or property management groups with large quantities of uneven concrete, grinding can be far more budget-friendly upfront. However, the potential long-term damage can end up costing more over time.
Alternatives to Concrete Grinding
Concrete Leveling
Concrete leveling is a process that lifts sunken concrete from the bottom up, and it's generally a more permanent solution than grinding as it has less potential to damage the concrete.
Concrete leveling can last for the life of the concrete itself and can save up to 70% off the cost of replacement.
Replacement
Depending on the severity of the trip hazards and the budget for the project, replacement may be a better option.
It’s important to note that new concrete often still settles, leaving you back at square one with uneven concrete and trip hazards.
Patching Compounds
Creating a more gradual transition by adding mortar and extra concrete to the area can help eliminate the trip hazard.
However, similarly to grinding down the concrete, this is usually only a temporary fix as the rigid patching compounds do not expand and contract with the existing concrete, causing them to quickly crack and chip away.
Should You Grind Your Concrete?
Here at A-1, we generally recommend against grinding your concrete unless one of the cases mentioned above applies to you.
Overall, concrete grinding can be a good option if you plan on replacing your concrete in the near future.
However, if you’d like a more permanent solution that doesn’t involve tearing out the concrete and replacing it entirely, check out our guide on all things concrete leveling.
If you’re interested in seeing what A-1's repair and maintenance services can do for the concrete around your home, property, or business, find your location to request a free onsite estimate!
