Epoxy Floors · Across Victoria
Concrete Grinding & Surface Preparation in Melbourne
The floor under the floor: grinding, repairs, moisture testing and primers.
Concrete grinding and surface preparation is the work that turns a bare or failed slab into a sound base for epoxy and seamless coatings, and it suits any garage, workshop, shop or outdoor area in Melbourne about to be coated. Peak Surfaces diamond-grinds the concrete to open its pores and strip old sealers, fills cracks and spalled joint edges, tests for moisture, then primes to suit the result.
Most coating failures start before the first coat goes on: a smooth, dusty, oily or damp slab will not hold epoxy. So prep is quoted as its own stage under our Garage & Workshop Epoxy Floors, Commercial & Retail Epoxy Floors and Patio & Outdoor Walkway Coatings.
When you need it
- A new epoxy floor is booked on bare concrete that needs a grind profile and primer first.
- An old garage coating is peeling in patches and must be ground off rather than painted over.
- Cracks, chipped joint edges or spalled patches would show through a seamless finish.
- Oil, tyre rubber or old adhesive has soaked into the concrete, or the floor sits on damp ground and needs testing first.
What is included
- Diamond grinding of the whole slab, edges included, under dust extraction to strip laitance, old coatings and adhesive.
- A consistent profile that gives the primer an open, textured face to key into.
- Cracks routed and filled, and spalled joint edges rebuilt with rigid or flexible filler.
- Moisture testing at several points, with the readings explained in plain terms.
- A primer matched to the slab, moisture-tolerant where the readings call for it.
Our preparation and application process
Step 1: Inspect and test
We note cracks, spalls and old coatings, and take moisture readings before choosing a primer.
Step 2: Protect the space
Walls, door frames and fixed cabinets are masked; the grinder runs on a fine-filtration vacuum.
Step 3: Grind and repair
Diamond grinding opens the concrete to a uniform profile; cracks are filled, spalled edges rebuilt and ground flush.
Step 4: Prime
The slab is vacuumed twice, wiped and primed so the coating bonds into the open pores.
Step 5: Cure and hand over
The primer cures, the area is tidied and we confirm the slab is ready for topcoats.
Materials and systems
Diamond grinding tooling
Diamond segments in a range of grits, chosen for the concrete and how much must come off.
Crack and spall fillers
Two-pack epoxy fillers for static cracks and chipped joint edges; flexible filler where a joint still moves.
Slab moisture testing
Surface and in-slab readings across the floor, so the primer suits the slab in front of us.
Primers
A standard epoxy primer for dry, sound slabs, or a moisture-tolerant primer where readings run high.
What affects the cost
- Floor area, and how much of it needs slower hand grinding at edges.
- What is on the slab: bare concrete grinds quickly, thick old epoxy or tile adhesive takes longer and wears tooling.
- The number and size of cracks and spalled joints to fill and grind flush.
- Moisture readings, which decide whether a standard or moisture-tolerant primer is needed.
- Access for the equipment: stairs, tight doorways or fixed racking.
We do not publish prices because every surface is different. Get a free quote with the scope written down.
How long it takes
A single garage slab typically takes a day to grind, repair and prime, depending on size, what has to come off and the number of repairs. Larger workshop and retail floors typically run two or more days, as fillers must harden before being ground flush.
Moisture tests are read over several hours or overnight, and primer needs its own cure before topcoats, so allow for a second visit.
How to prepare
- Clear the floor completely, including shelving, bikes and bins.
- Tell us about known leaks, past flooding, or any coating or sealer the slab has had.
- Keep pets and children away on grinding day: the machine is loud and the door stays open for the vacuum hose.
- Show us a power outlet we can use, or tell us if there is none.
FAQ
Concrete Grinding & Prep: questions people ask.
Why does concrete need grinding before epoxy?
Because epoxy bonds to concrete mechanically, and a smooth, sealed or dusty slab gives it nothing to grip. Grinding removes laitance, the weak milky layer left from finishing, and opens the pores so the primer can soak in.
How much does concrete grinding and preparation cost in Melbourne?
It depends on the floor area, what is on the slab now, how many cracks and joints need filling, and whether the moisture readings call for a moisture-tolerant primer. We inspect the slab and give you a free, no-obligation quote with prep listed as its own line.
How long does concrete grinding and prep take?
A standard garage typically takes a day; larger floors run two or more days depending on repairs and the state of the slab. Because primer typically cures overnight, the colour coats go on at a later visit.
What is moisture testing and why does it matter?
Moisture testing measures the water vapour rising through the slab, and high readings are a leading reason floor coatings bubble and peel from below, because the vapour pushes up under the film. If readings are high, a moisture-tolerant primer is used or the slab is left to dry before coating.
Often booked together
Related services
Garage & Workshop Epoxy Floors
Heavy-duty two-pack epoxy that shrugs off hot tyres, oil and brake dust.
Learn moreCommercial & Retail Epoxy Floors
Seamless, easy-clean floors for shops, showrooms, cafes and offices.
Learn more
Patio & Outdoor Walkway Coatings
Slip-resistant, colourfast coatings for patios, paths and pool walkways.
Learn moreFree quotes
Get a free concrete preparation quote
One enquiry can cover several jobs: a repaint and a roof clean, a pool recoat and the surrounds, a bathroom refresh before sale.
- Step 1: We read your request and look at any photos
- Step 2: We call, text or email you (your choice) to talk it through
- Step 3: Site visit if the surface needs a closer look
- Step 4: A free, no-obligation quote with the scope written down
Get a free concrete preparation quote
Tell us about the surface and how you would like to hear back. Photos help us quote faster.
Concrete Grinding & Prep, done properly.
Get a free concrete preparation quote. Free, no-obligation, across Melbourne and Victoria.