I'm working on my basement where the exposed concrete foundation is a bit stained and rough. I'm planning to grind down just a little to make it look better while I renovate the entire space. I've heard that using a hand grinder with a cup wheel and a shroud is the way to go. I'll definitely be wearing a respirator with a purple filter, eye protection, and ear protection. I also have a Miele C1 vacuum with a true HEPA filter. Is that sufficient to handle the concrete dust, or should I rent a more specialized setup from Lowe's? I want to make sure I'm being safe for myself and my family. I've done a bit with a hand scraper, but it takes forever, and I'm really concerned about the dust. Any tips? Thanks!
3 Answers
It's best not to use your Miele for this; you might damage it. You’ll need a shop vacuum that's suitable for concrete dust. Make sure to wear either a full or half-face respirator too. That should keep you safe!
Another tip: keeping the area moist while you grind will greatly reduce the amount of dust that flies around. If possible, try to create negative air pressure in the room to help push dust out too.
To avoid taking off too much concrete, I’d recommend using wire cup or wheel attachments instead of a concrete cup grinder. It’ll do a better job with less risk of over-grinding!
Cool, thanks!
I have a solid DeWalt shop vac. Should I get a HEPA filter for it? Or is the standard filter OK?