Best for slabs being prepped for any coating or polish
CONCRETE REPAIR & GRINDING KELOWNA
Every coating failure we are called to fix traces back to prep. Not product, not weather, not luck. Apex runs dust-extracted diamond grinders, shot blasters and full repair systems as standard practice on every floor, and we also take on prep as standalone work for builders and contractors who want it done properly.
- Indicative cost
- $2–$6/sq ft
- Typical installation
- 1-2 days
- Lifespan
- Permanent
Concrete Surface Profile, Explained
CSP is the industry scale for how open a concrete surface is, running from CSP 1 (acid-etched, barely textured) to CSP 9 (scarified). Thin coatings need CSP 2-3. Thick broadcast systems need CSP 4-5. Manufacturers void warranties when the profile is wrong, and the coating tells on you anyway. It lifts. We grind or blast to the profile the specified product actually requires.
Why We Never Acid Etch
Acid etching is the cheap alternative to grinding: pour muriatic acid, scrub, rinse, coat. It produces an inconsistent profile, leaves salts behind if the rinse is imperfect, does nothing about contamination in the slab, and cannot flatten anything. It exists because it is fast and requires no equipment. Every coating we have removed early was etched, not ground.
Moisture Is the Silent Killer
Concrete on grade without a functioning vapour barrier moves water upward continuously. Trap that under a coating and hydrostatic pressure will push the film off the slab, usually in year two, usually in big sheets. We test with calcium chloride or in-situ relative humidity probes before quoting. Where readings are high, a moisture-mitigation primer goes down first. It is an added cost, and it is not optional.
Repair Before Coating, Always
Cracks get chased into a V and filled with a rigid polyurea that cures harder than the slab so it will not telegraph. Spalls and pop-outs are rebuilt with a resin-and-sand mortar, then ground flush. Control joints are either filled flush for a seamless look or honoured through the coating if the slab is still moving. Coating over unrepaired damage just prints the damage in a new colour.
System specification
| Grinding | Planetary grinders, HEPA dust extraction |
|---|---|
| Profile | CSP 1-5 to product requirement |
| Removal | Epoxy, urethane, paint, carpet glue, mastic |
| Crack repair | Chased and filled with rigid polyurea |
| Moisture testing | Calcium chloride and in-situ RH probe |
| Mitigation | Epoxy moisture-vapour barrier primer |
Concrete Repair & Surface Prep. FAQ
Why does concrete need diamond grinding before coating?
Grinding opens the closed surface layer of the slab so the resin can mechanically key into it, removes contamination and old coatings, and flattens high spots. Coatings applied to unground concrete bond to the surface film rather than the slab, and lift under hot tires or point loads, usually within a year.
How much does concrete grinding cost in Kelowna?
Standalone grinding and prep runs $2-$6 per square foot in the Kelowna area depending on what is on the slab. A clean bare slab needing profile only is at the bottom; removing thick failed epoxy or carpet mastic, plus crack and spall repair, is at the top. Prep is always included in our coating quotes.
Can you remove an old epoxy floor?
Yes. Thin or already-failing coatings come off with diamond grinding; thick, well-bonded or multi-layer coatings need shot blasting. Either way the slab comes back to bare concrete, gets repaired, and is re-profiled for the new system. Removal typically adds $1-$3 per square foot.
Is grinding dusty?
Not the way we do it. Our grinders run to HEPA dust extractors, which captures the silica dust at the tool. Interior work is contained with poly and negative-air where needed. You will not find a grey film on everything you own when we leave.