If you’re seeing issues with your concrete surfaces, whether it’s sidewalks, driveways, patios or numerous other areas, you have a few options at your disposal. The first is to replace the surface completely, which generally isn’t cost-effective unless there are major issues with the existing concrete.
At Lift-Up Concrete, we’re proud to offer commercial and residential concrete lifting and leveling services as a practical, and more cost-effective solution. Another option potentially available to you is known as concrete grinding – how does this compare to concrete lifting and leveling in terms of cost-benefit analysis and overall impact? Here’s a look at everything you need to know in this area.
Leveling Versus Grinding
Concrete leveling, as the name suggests, involves getting to the roof of the concrete and filling the voids that may have led to settlement or other damage. The process includes assessing and filling the foundation of the concrete area, as well as cracked or otherwise damaged areas, plus proper sealing from moisture and other contaminants.
Concrete grinding, on the other hand, involves manually grinding damaged or rough concrete using an abrasive tool. The goal is to eventually grind the damaged concrete down to the point where it reveals the smoother material underneath, ostensibly solving the surface damage issue.
Issues With Concrete Grinding
Here’s the primary issue with concrete grinding: It’s really more of a Band-Aid than anything else, and certainly not a long-term solution.
For starters, the result you achieve even during successful concrete grinding does not look the same as your original concrete. The concrete you grind down to will be a different, brighter color, and it will never match your previous materials.
Beyond this, concrete grinding doesn’t assess any of the root issues that might be causing this damage. If your foundation has settled, for instance, concrete grinding won’t do anything about this at all. The same goes for if cracks or other damage are caused by moisture invading the concrete.
Benefits of Concrete Leveling
In comparison, concrete leveling can address all the issues we just laid out above. Instead of simply addressing cosmetic areas at the surface of your concrete, it covers the entire slab, including the foundation and interior areas.
Not only this, but concrete leveling is far more affordable than simply replacing your concrete, and saves you time. It creates no major damage or other issues to nearby landscaping, something you risk with grinding, and leaves your final product looking exactly like it did when you installed it. If you’re looking for long-term solutions to cracked or otherwise damaged concrete, leveling is the way to go.
For more on why concrete leveling is preferable to concrete grinding, or for information on any of our concrete raising or leveling services, speak to the pros at Lift-Up Concrete today.
