Grinding screed with an angle grinder is extremely effective and inexpensive for smaller areas.
Difficulty: Easy | Costs for 1m²: from 15€ | Workload for 1m²: approx. 20 minutes
Screed sanding is an important step in preparing floors for laying tiles, parquet or other floor coverings.
In this article we will show you how you can use an angle grinder effectively and safely to grind screed inexpensively and achieve a perfect result.
1. Why grind screed?
Screed grinding has several advantages:
- Improved adhesion: Sanding roughens the surface of the screed, which improves the adhesion of adhesives and fillers.
- Leveling: Unevenness and height differences in the screed are eliminated by grinding, resulting in an even surface.
- Removal of contaminants: Sanding removes dirt, dust and other contaminants from the screed surface.
1.1 Materials and Tools Required
- angle grinder
- Diamond grinding disc for concrete or screed
- Vacuum cleaner
- respirator
- safety goggles
- ear protection
- working gloves
2. Step-by-step instructions for grinding screed
Step 1: Preparation
- Make sure the screed is completely dry.
- Remove loose parts and dirt from the surface with a broom.
- Clear the work area and protect adjacent walls and furniture from dust.
Step 2: Safety Precautions
- Wear a respirator, safety goggles, hearing protection, and work gloves.
- Close doors and windows to avoid dust pollution in other rooms.
Our tip: Use a dust protection door to ensure that dust does not escape from the room.
Step 3: Sand the screed
- Attach the extraction hood to your angle grinder (if available)
- Attach the sanding pad to the angle grinder.
- Turn on the vacuum cleaner and connect it to the angle grinder to suck up the dust.
- Start in a corner of the room and work your way up systematically.
- Guide the angle grinder evenly and without pressure over the screed surface.
- Sand in a circular motion for an even result.
Step 4: Post-Processing
- Remove the dust from the screed surface with the vacuum cleaner.
- Check the surface for bumps and repeat the sanding process if necessary.
3. Tips for an optimal result
- Use a sanding disc with the right grit for the screed.
- Work in small sections to get an even result.
Our tip: Avoid applying too much pressure to the angle grinder in order to extend the service life of the sanding disc and to obtain an even sanding pattern.
Other helpful guides for screed processing
- cutting screed
- Remove screed
- milling screed
- Screed Grinding - All Methods
- Rent a screed grinding machine
4. Common problems when grinding screed
Problem 1: Overheating of the angle grinder
Solution: Be careful not to overload the angle grinder by guiding it over the screed surface without applying pressure. If the device gets too hot, switch it off and let it cool down before you continue working.
Problem 2: Insufficient dust extraction
Solution: Use a suction hood for the angle grinder that converts it into a professional concrete grinder with dust extraction.
Make sure that the vacuum cleaner is correctly connected to the angle grinder and has sufficient suction power. Check the vacuum cleaner bag regularly and empty or change it if necessary.
Problem 3: Unevenness and scratches in the screed
Solution: Make sure to guide the angle grinder evenly and without pressure over the surface. Loop crosswise for an even result. If necessary, repeat the grinding process.
5. Alternatives to the angle grinder when grinding screed
If you don't have access to an angle grinder or prefer another method of sanding screed, there are other tools you can use:
5.1 Floor grinder
Floor sanders are specially designed for sanding large areas and offer efficient and even sanding performance. However, they are more expensive and bulkier than angle grinders.
5.2 Concrete grinder
Concrete grinders are similar to angle grinders but have a larger grinding wheel and are specifically designed for grinding concrete and screed. They are also effective but can be less flexible than angle grinders.
5.3 Sandpaper or sanding grid
For smaller areas or touch-ups, you can also use sandpaper or sanding mesh in combination with a hand sander. However, this requires more manual work and is less effective than using power tools.
6. Summary - The angle grinder is a very good machine for grinding screed.
Grinding screed with an angle grinder is an important step in preparing floors for laying tiles, parquet or other floor coverings. This project can be implemented cost-effectively in combination with a diamond cup wheel .
Sanding roughens and smoothes the surface, which improves the adhesion of adhesives and fillers. Make sure to use the right tools and safety precautions to get the best result.
