Do I need grinding if my floor has never been coated?

Usually yes. Even bare concrete has a hardened top layer (laitance) that needs to be opened up mechanically for a coating to bond properly.

Can prep work be done separately from the coating installation?

Yes, some contractors offer grinding and shot-blasting as a standalone service, which is useful if you're sourcing the coating installer separately or need an assessment first.

How much dust does grinding create indoors?

Professional equipment uses vacuum containment to control dust, which matters for occupied commercial spaces or homes where airborne dust isn't acceptable.

Concrete grinding and surface prep before epoxy coating

Every epoxy or polyaspartic coating job depends on proper surface prep, and some buyers specifically need this step done as its own job, for example when a contractor supplies the coating but not the prep, or when a slab needs grinding to assess damage before deciding on a coating system.

Diamond grinding to remove old paint, sealer, or laitance and open up the concrete pore structure
Shot-blasting for larger commercial or industrial floors
Crack and joint assessment done during prep, before any coating goes down
Dust containment for indoor or occupied spaces

This is distinct from decorative polished concrete work: the goal here is a properly profiled surface ready for a coating to bond to, not a finished polished floor on its own.

What it costs

Pricing depends on square footage, how much old coating or contamination has to be removed, and whether shot-blasting or finer diamond grinding is needed. Floors with multiple layers of old paint or heavy oil staining take longer to prep than bare, clean concrete.

Top 3 by our score

Ranked from our published scoring of public Google reviews for concrete polishing & resurfacing.

1. XPS Xpress Toronto
5.0★ · 175 reviews

94
2. Alanis Epoxy Flooring
5.0★ · 133 reviews

93
3. Garage Floors 4 Less HQ
4.9★ · 313 reviews

93

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FAQ

Do I need grinding if my floor has never been coated?: Usually yes. Even bare concrete has a hardened top layer (laitance) that needs to be opened up mechanically for a coating to bond properly.
Can prep work be done separately from the coating installation?: Yes, some contractors offer grinding and shot-blasting as a standalone service, which is useful if you're sourcing the coating installer separately or need an assessment first.
How much dust does grinding create indoors?: Professional equipment uses vacuum containment to control dust, which matters for occupied commercial spaces or homes where airborne dust isn't acceptable.

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