How to Drill into Concrete like a Pro

Knowing how to drill a hole in concrete comes in handy. With it you can drill holes into your wall, you will be able to put up shelves, hand paintings and install lights with little trouble.

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Concrete Drilling Melbourne

Contact us today or CALL 1300 920 419 for more info.

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The good news is – you don’t have to be a pro to drill holes in a concrete floor or even the ceiling.

Before we start with the step by step process, it’s important to keep two things in mind;

Concrete is tough

Created by mixing different elements including sand, gravel, and crushed stone that are then bonded together using cement, concrete surfaces can be as hard as stone.

Even if you’ve managed to drill holes in brick walls before, this will be a completely different task.

Safety is key

Being a very hard material, You need to be ultra careful when drilling through a concrete wall. That’s why using a hammer and sharp object is a no-no. The debris coming off the surface could get into your eyes which can be traumatic.

That’s why safety goggles are recommended. If you suspect that there could be a lot of dust, you may also want to wear a dust mask. Ear protection may also be necessary as drilling job tend to be very noisy.

Step by Step Process of Drilling Into Concrete

Step 1: Get the right drill

To put a hole in a concrete wall, you’ll need a drill. It has to either be a hammer drill or a rotary hammer drill. A standard drill might work or the drilling/rotation might not be enough to break the concrete.

concrete drilling

Hammer drills work perfectly because it chisels away the concrete. Its rotary action can punch into the concrete. This double-action allows for faster drilling with minimal effort.

More importantly, the resulting hole is good.  This is in contrast to other drills that make holes that aren’t deep enough or off the mark.
Considering how important a hammer drill, here’s what to look for to get the right one: 

  1. Depth gauge
  2. Variable speed setting
  3. Good handle and grip

Step 2: Get the right drill bits

You need reliable drill bits to get  huge impact on the quality of the resulting hole.

Experts recommend the masonry bit. A masonry bit is specifically designed for rough jobs. The bit is made of stainless steel with the tip made from tungsten carbide to provide an even tougher cutting edge.

When connected to the drill, the hardened head continually bumps against the concrete surface, breaking it down.

The flutes of the drill will help push the masonry dust out and away from the hole. This is different from when using an ordinary drill, when you have to physically blow or push out the dust.

In terms of size, it depends on your project. Anything between 5 to 40 millimeters in diameter and about 39 inches in length will do the job well.

Step 3: Determine how big the hole should be

How big is the hole you need? And, how deep do you want it to be? This will also depend on your project.

A homeowner looking to hang a few art portraits on the wall won’t need overly large holes. The holes also don’t have to be very deep. If the portrait came with plugs, check the length of the plugs by placing the drill head beside the plug and measure the length.

Some machines have a depth setting or depth control bar wherein you can set the needed depth accordingly.

If your machine doesn’t have depth control, just mark the required depth with a pencil or masking tape. Then, attach the drill bit into the chuck and tighten.

Step 4: The Actual Drilling

concrete drilling

Start by marking on the wall where you want to drill. You can use a marker to mark a visible dot or an “X” sign on the spot.

Alternatively, use an old screw to make a dent on the spot. The screwdriver can also help you chip out a bit of concrete to give you the point of the drill when starting the drilling process.

With that done, place the head of the drill bit on the spot and start drilling. The rule of thumb is to start out slowly and maintain the right pressure. You can always increase the speed later. The pressure needs to be just firm enough to avoid slipping while allowing the drill to rotate freely.

Once the hole starts taking shape, you can increase the rotation speed and even apply more pressure. Since it’s concrete, don’t expect to be done within seconds. It will take time depending on the power of your drill and quality of masonry bits. Once you reach the required depth, stop the machine.

Know How to Troubleshoot

Sometimes drilling projects don’t go as smoothly as anticipated. Along the way, you might hit a beam which may be difficult to penetrate.

If this happens, insert a masonry nail into the hole and hammer. This can help break the concrete, making it easier for the drilling to proceed more smoothly.

If you can follow these steps, expect an easy time drilling. And to be more productive, choose the highly effective hammer drills and masonry bits from Megasaw.

Contact us today to learn more.

megasaw
Concrete Drilling Melbourne

Contact us today or CALL 1300 920 419 for more info.

Megasaw has over 20 years of experience in the concrete cutting industry.We offer concrete sawing and concrete drilling services in Melbourne and across Victoria. We deal with both residential and commercial projects, and we use the latest tools for high quality construction work.

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Work Safety Gear for Concrete Cutters and Drillers

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How Much Does Concrete Grinding Cost Per Square Metre

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how to drill into concrete like pro

Know what factors affect the cost of concrete grinding so you could budget accordingly. The numerous steps to achieve a polished surface make it costly.

When thinking about floors in homes, most owners’ options are limited to  floorboards, laminates, and old-fashioned carpets. Recently, the stripped and treated floorboard was the most popular, with homeowners lining up at the stores to purchase them.

wooden slab

They might be a little rough, even noisy, but their versatility is unrivaled.  The boards are tough and give the home a stripped feel of a modern space.

In particular, a number of people are turning to polished concrete. It’s not only good, but also provides clean lines which help with under floor heating.

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polished concrete

Under floor heating foregoes the need for expensive radiators and provides heat across the house instead of just n particular rooms and only a few corners.

During winter, the concrete floor will be warm in the underfoot. Yet during the summer, it will feel cool in the underfoot.

This gives you both worlds.

But the best thing is – concrete floors can last a very long time.

And you can always add colour to the mix when pouring the floor. You could even play around with the texture and introduce a few chips or sparkles.

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Start with a Good Grind

Floor grinding refers to the process of evening out raised areas to make the floor level. A grinding machine is used for this.

A grinding machine can come in many configurations, the most common being the angle grinder. Then, there are also particularly designed grinders meant for special projects.

concrete grinding

This is because concrete is harder than most flooring materials such as marble and granite. As such, more power is needed to even out the surface. Concrete grinders are built exactly for this. They can withstand a greater degree of stress and have more power to cut away even the hardest bumps.

megasaw
Diamond Grinding Service

Contact us today or CALL 1300 920 419 for more info.

We offer professional & reliable diamond grinding service in Melbourne for 20+ years.
We provide best solutions and we use only the best equipment available.

 

The concrete grinding machines mostly use some sort of abrasive such as diamond or silicon tools to grind. Diamond tools used for grinding usually  are usually diamond grinding cup wheels. The machines come in a variety of sizes with quality of finishes determined by the grits in a machine.

RELATED:

Handy Tips for Diamond Grinding Services and Keeping Tools in Top Condition

Selecting The Right Concrete Grinding Equipment and Tools

Types and Uses of Hand-Held Concrete Grinding Tools and its Pros and Cons

Four Key Steps in Concrete Grinding and Polishing

 

grinding disk

Currently, you’ll find anything between six and thousand-grit concrete grinding machines – the higher the grit, the soother the finish. One thousand eight hundred -grit machines are considered the highest shine you can apply on a floor surface.

To be more  convenient, the grinding is usually done when the concrete is dry.

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Why?

Because grinding when wet might require a lot of people. If you’re grinding when dry, you’ll need to use a filter-equipped vacuum to control dust emission.

The fine concrete dusts contain silica which can cause serious damage to the lungs. Inhaling the dust in large amounts has been proven to cause silicosis.

Wet grinding on the other hand, doesn’t require the vacuum machine. Learn the difference between dry and wet concrete grinding.

The actual grinding can be quite demanding.

But your contractor should clean up the mess and polish the floor. A degree of disruption to the home should be expected though it’s usually no more than you’d expect when laying any other floor surface. For safety reasons, keep the pets and kids away.

Once the floor has been poured and leveled, the grinding starts. There will be grinding of the surface as mentioned. Then a densifying material is added to the concrete and a final polish applied to produce a smooth clean final surface. With that done, all that is left is to give it a thorough mop to bring out the shininess.

RELATED:

Polishing Concrete like a Pro Even on a Budget

Four Key Steps in Concrete Grinding and Polishing

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Approximate the potential cost

You’ve probably seen different sources with different quotes on the costs of concrete grinding.  For instance, one reliable source recently mentioned that you could have your concrete floor ground for as little as $2 per square foot which translates to about $21.5 per square metre.

Some have also mentioned $4 per square foot ($43 per square metre) as the minimum grinding cost.

planning potential cost

The truth is that you never really know how much the contractor will charge until they tell you the price. What you can do, however, is to try and approximate the potential cost.

The cost of concrete grinding is affected by five key factors;

  • Size of the floor

As you’d expect, the larger the floor, the less you’ll pay. This is due to the economies of scale. When determining the cost per square metre, the contractor will ask you to pay more for a small floor project (less than 50,000 square feet).

  • Design complexity

Complex projects generally have a higher cost because the technician has to invest more time in the job. A good example is saw cutting.

saw cutting

Saw cuts are highly specialised tasks that take a lot of time and energy and thus cost more. Other designs that might cost you more include stenciling, and installation of metal divider strips. However, the results will look amazing.

  • Current condition of the floor

Grinding a floor that requires a lot of prepping may also cost more per square meter. This is usually the case if the floor has a lot of patches.

Crack repairs, for example, can add as much as $43 per square metre to initial estimates.  Smoother floors with little surface preparation, on the other hand, won’t cost as much.

  • Above–Grade installations

Decorative floors installed on subfloors or raised decks need a cement underlayment before applying the final finish. This involves installing a series of products including a waterproof layer, a concrete overlay, and then a finishing before applying a sealing coat.

finished project

If your flooring contractor has to go through all these processes so that you would have an above-grade concrete floor, be prepared to pay between $43 and $65 more per square metre.

 

Wrap up

In a nutshell, you could end up spending  more than $100 per metre.

At Megasaw, quality concrete grinding is the name of the game. Aside from the competitive prices, our highly experienced company is also known for its cutting edge technology and customer-first approach, making it the go-to concrete cutter in the Melbourne and beyond.

Contact us today to get a quote.

megasaw
CONCRETE GRINDING SOLUTIONS

CONTACT US today or CALL 1300 920 419

Guide to Grinding A Concrete Floor

Grinding A Concrete Floor

Concrete grinding has become a popular activity in construction projects. But what exactly is it and how is concrete actually ground?

In the following section, we discuss the importance of grinding, what it entails, the tools used, safety precautions and everything else you may want to know about the process.

megasaw
Diamond Grinding Service

Contact us today or CALL 1300 920 419 for more info.

We offer professional & reliable diamond grinding service in Melbourne for 20+ years.
We provide best solutions and we use only the best equipment available.

 

What is Concrete Grinding?

Concrete grinding is the process of removing ridges, contaminants, and loose material from the subfloor surface using a special grinding machine. [expand title=”READ MORE”]

Concrete-Grinding.jpg

By removing the imperfections, you can lessen the overall cost in preparing the floor prior to covering. Plus, if you can achieve a smooth enough grind to allow carpet or vinyl to be laid on top, you won’t need to apply a cement-based skim coat. In addition, you can forego of the waiting time needed for the skim coat to dry.[/expand]

 

Types of Grinders

Grinders come in a variety of types and sizes. The choice you make will depend on the size of the job and the type of material you need to remove.

In corners and tight areas, hand held grinders should be used. These specialised grinders, unlike ordinary angle grinders, have a dust shroud and extraction hose. The user should utilise these attachments when there is a lot of dust being generated. [expand title=”READ MORE”]

Builder-worker-with-grinder-machine-cutting-finishing-concrete-wall-at-construction-site.jpg

For the main areas of the floor, walk-behind grinders are preferable. These grinders are driven by mains electricity – mostly 240 volts or sometimes 3-phase power. However, diesel, LP gas, petrol, and compressed air are sometimes used as fuel.

Grinder heads

Grinders can have single, double, or planetary head action. There are even four-head grinders commonly used in large projects.

  1. Single head grinders

A single head grinder has a central shaft that drives just one head. In smaller grinders, the head usually contains one disc measuring 250mm in diameter.

Larger machines can have multiple discs within the same head, some containing up to six discs with varying diameters. In machines with six discs, the diameter of each disc might even be smaller.

With so many discs working on the concrete surface, these grinders produce a very fine finish which explains why they’re mostly used in polishing rather than grinding.

Single-head grinders have a grinding width of approximately 550mm.

  1. Double-head grinders

Double-head grinders have two heads each capable of holding one or more discs. In some machines, the two headers rotate in the same direction.

This usually causes the machine to pull to one side which can make it difficult to pull across the floor. But you can at the same time take advantage of this characteristic when working on walls.

In other machines, the heads rotate in opposite directions to balance the torque and increase machine manoeuvrability. Double head grinders have a grinding width of between 750mm and 1,000mm.

  1. Planetary action grinds

In planetary header grinds, the header moves like a “planet” – independent of the grinding discs (or satellites) mounted onto it.

Planetary grinders are excellent surface preparation tools. The planetary head and the disc rotate in one direction which has the effect of increasing speed.

This usually results in more aggressive cuts especially where the diamonds (more on this shortly) are located closer to the outside of the head.  

Planetary grinders, thanks to their aggressive grinding, can also be used in concrete surface polishing. To achieve clean polishes, the discs are set to rotate counter-clockwise.

For concrete grinding, however, the discs must never be set to rotate counter-clockwise.  

 

RELATED:

Types and Uses of Hand-Held Concrete Grinding Tools and its Pros and Cons

Selecting The Right Concrete Grinding Equipment and Tools

Diamond Grinding Concrete Floors, Tools, Methods and Basic Tips

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Diamond Tooling

Ultimately, the tool that usually comes into contact with the concrete surface is a set of diamond abrasives. Diamond is used because it is the hardest material on earth.

The abrasives are made by mixing synthetic diamond grit with a binding agent of metal or resin to create what is called a metal bond or a resin bond diamond segment. [expand title=”READ MORE”]

The smoothness of the grinding is determined by the fineness or coarseness of the diamond grits. Smaller grit sizes will produce a finer scratch pattern, increasing the life of the segment. Larger grit sizes, on the other hand, produce a rougher scratch pattern  

The life of the segment is also dependent on the strength of the bond. Hard bonds typically take longer to wear and expose the diamond grit. A softer surface, on the other hand, tends to wear away quickly.

The number of diamond segments found on each grinder header will also determine the quality of the finish. Where there are many grinders on the same header, the result is usually smoother.

Moreover, with a higher number of headers, the amount of work for each segment is reduced. This also reduces the load on the grinding machines.

For a finer finish, you can put some extra abrasive material such as sand or silicon carbide on the floor you’re working on. [/expand]

 

Safety in Concrete Grinding

Like most machines, concrete grinders are only safe if you use them correctly. This means you need to follow the manufacturer’s guide at all times. [expand title=”READ MORE”]

A few things to keep in mind include; before you start

  • Familiarise yourself with the equipment. Make sure you know how it works.

  • Check to ensure that the environment is safe. The place should be well lit, clear of clutter, and dry to avoid electric short circuits.

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When setting up the machine

  • Wear appropriate safety gear. Don’t wear loose clothes that could be caught in the moving parts and wear closed boots.

Concrete-road-cutting-machine.jpg

  • You may also need gloves, safety glasses, and a hard hat depending on the job conditions.

When operating the machine

  • Listen for any strange noise or unusual vibrations. If something doesn’t feel right, turn off the machine immediately and troubleshoot the problem.

  • Maintain balance throughout the grinding process, with your hands firmly gripping the machine. Avoid awkward angles.

  • Your hands and feet must be kept away from moving parts at all times.

  • Stay alert.

Turning the machine off

  • Once you’re done, unplug the machine. For diesel o petrol powered machines, turn off the fuel line.

  • Inspect the machine for any damage before putting it away.

RELATED:

Work Safety Gear for Concrete Cutters and Drillers

How to Prevent Accidents at the Workplace

A Step By Step Approach in Concrete Cutting Leads to Greater Safety

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Wrap up!

As you can see, the grinding process isn’t all bread and butter. You need the right tools and the right techniques for best results.

Megasaw can help you acquire the best machine and tools for the job. Contact us today to learn about the different grinders, diamond tools, grit sizes, and anything related to diamond grinding services.

megasaw
CONCRETE GRINDING SOLUTIONS

CONTACT US today or CALL 1300 920 419