Grind & Seal
- Cost-effective internal concrete finish
- Matte, satin or higher sheen
- Fast turnaround for renovations & make-goods
- Suited to garages, showrooms and storage
Servicing South-East Queensland
Floor Preparation Services - Experts in Concrete Floor Correction
Standards-based floor preparation, dust-controlled prep for coatings, sealers and polished finishes, done right the first time.
Standards-based floor preparation services across Regional & South-East Queensland. Ultimate Floors remove epoxy coatings and flooring glues, improve floor flatness, and achieve the correct Concrete Surface Profile (CSP) for concrete coatings and floor covering glues. Floor preparation for moisture barriers and floor levelling screeds. From grinding a garage floor to large commercial, retail floors, the floor prep method is to enhance floor finish quality.
- Grinding
- Shot Blasting
- Scarifying
- Floor Levelling
- New Builds
- Renovations
What Type of Floor Preparation Do You Need?
Concrete Surface Profile (CSP) is the texture rating that tells you how smooth or rough the slab must be after grinding, shot blasting or scarifying. Every resin coating, floor adhesive and levelling compound is designed around a specific CSP range. Get that surface profile wrong and even the best products will fail before their time.
We use Concrete Surface Profile as the starting point for floor preparation – not the afterthought. Before floor preparation machines touch the slab, we look at the finished system first (epoxy, vinyl, tiles, timber, grind & seal, honed concrete) and work backwards to the profile that system actually needs.
- CSP 1–3 — diamond grinding for concrete sealers, roller coat epoxy, vinyl / carpet floor glues
- CSP 4–6 — shot blasting for high-build epoxy, industrial resin and warehouse floors
- CSP 7–9 — scarifying for overlays, repair mortars and bonded toppings
The CSP isn’t a “nice to have” – it’s the foundation that manufacturers, data sheets and Australian Standards such as AS 1884, AS 3958 and AS/NZS 4586 expect before any flooring system is installed.
Need CSP nailed down for your project?
If you’re a builder, installer or specifier who needs CSP requirements in writing, the guides below pull everything together – CSP ranges by floor type, preparation methods and the questions that separate professionals from “she’ll be right” operators.
Floor Preparation Matters for Every Floor System
Dust controlled concrete floor preparation isn't just a "first step"—it's the decisive factor that gives floor finishes, concrete coatings and flooring glues the ability to bond securely like the manufacturers intended. Every coating, topping and floor-covering system depends on how well the surface preparation is done. The quality of floor preparation and surface correction is what separates durable, Australian Standards-compliant floors from those that fail early and cost more to fix than doing it properly the first time. We're not running a floor grinder over the slab like mowing the grass. We are creating the exact concrete surface texture that supports flooring trades with ready-to-lay, prepared concrete floors.
The Cost of Incorrect Surface Preparation
When concrete surface preparation is done poorly or skipped, flooring systems don't stand a chance. Re-coating over a failed system is not just a shortcut, it simply traps the problem underneath. If a floor coating is peeling, bubbling or lifting, it usually means the concrete never had the texture or profile needed for a proper mechanical bond. For example, how does paint bond to glass?
The final floor's appearance and durability always reflect the slab beneath. Floor flatness is a major factor — large-format tiles require a flat, corrected substrate to avoid tile edge lipping, and LVT planks or hybrid flooring are just as dependent on a well-prepared base to avoid visible ridges and telegraphing.
The Long-Term Reality
Investing in proper floor preparation is an insurance policy for the entire floor. The alternative — premature coating failure, hollow-sounding areas and full removal to start again — is always way more expensive than doing the preparation and installations correctly from the outset.
Quality over shortcuts. If the expectation is a premium finish, then standards-based floor preparation backed by 30+ years of field experience is the only reliable way to achieve long-term results.
See where we work →Floor Preparation For Concrete Coatings
Every resin, polished or tiled floor relies on a correctly prepared concrete base. Our preparation delivers the Concrete Surface Profile (CSP) each finish calls for — so primers, adhesives and sealers bond properly.
Polished Concrete
- Full mechanical refinement (Superfloor-style)
- High durability, low maintenance
- Residential, retail and commercial spaces
- Improves light reflectance and dust control
Epoxy & Flake Systems
- 100% solids, water-based & polyaspartic options
- Slip-resistant textures where required
- Industrial-grade chemical & wear resistance
- Ideal for garages, workshops and food-prep areas
Also prepared for
- Preparing concrete for tiles
- Preparing concrete for floor levelling screeds
- Preparing concrete for vinyl flooring
- Preparing concrete for LVT
- Preparing concrete for engineered timber
- Preparing concrete for carpet
We'll recommend the right floor preparation methods based on the required CSP range, traffic type and environment. All preparation and ready-to-use floor finishes are completed by qualified flooring trades, QBCC-licensed, using H-class dust control and HEPA extraction.
Ready to plan your floor?
Send a quick brief with area size, current surface and desired finish — we'll recommend the right prep and system.
The Floor Preparation Process – Step by Step
Professionally preparing concrete floors follows a defined methodology – assessing the slab, selecting the right equipment and achieving the specified surface texture so the new floor system bonds as intended.
Floor Assessment & Planning
The preparing concrete floor process starts with assessing the existing slab and confirming what is required for the finish you intend to install. This includes checking for contaminants, concrete hardness, required surface profile range, flatness tolerance, moisture risk and practical site constraints.
- Existing condition, coatings and contaminants
- Concrete strength, hardness and flatness requirements
- Required CSP profile to suit the nominated system
- Moisture testing and risk assessment (as applicable)
- Access, power supply and staging for the works
Equipment Selection & Setup
We match machinery, tooling and dust extraction to the required outcome – not the other way around. The objective is to achieve the specified CSP range and flatness while controlling dust and protecting the building.
- Diamond Grinding (CSP 1–3) — grind-and-seal, thin-build epoxies, polish preparation
- Shot Blasting (CSP 4–6) — high-build epoxy, industrial resin systems, contamination removal
- Scarifying (CSP 7–9) — heavy industrial builds, thick coating removal, severe degradation
- Planing — significant height reduction and major level corrections
Progressive Grinding & Profiling
Controlled diamond grinding passes are made using the selected tooling sequence to achieve a uniform profile and flatness. Our focus is presenting the substrate to Australian Standards and the manufacturer’s specification – from super-flat for tiles and LVT through to the correct CSP range for epoxy, flake and industrial resin systems.
Dust Control & Air Quality
Dust controlled H-class HEPA extraction is paired with each grinder based on airflow requirements, not just filter labels. For indoor works we can also deploy portable air cleaners (up to ~2000 m³/h) to manage airborne dust and keep conditions safer for other trades and occupants.
Final Checks & Handover
We verify the profile, visually inspect for remaining defects and confirm flatness where tiles, LVT or resin systems demand tighter tolerances. Any edge-cases are noted so installers understand exactly what they are bonding to.
Typical Timeframes
- Residential: most garages and living areas completed in 2–4 days, depending on size and condition
- Commercial: staged to minimise disruption; 5–10 days is common for larger tenancies and warehouses
From Morayfield homes to Brisbane warehouses and regional QLD facilities, timelines are scoped and agreed before works commence.
Standards-Based Prep
Substrates are prepared to the CSP range your system requires (CSP 1–9), with edge conditions noted in the scope so there are no surprises.
Dust-Controlled Sites
H-class HEPA extractors and optional air cleaners keep indoor works cleaner, safer and easier for other trades to follow.
Finish-Ready Substrates
Flatness is checked for tiles and LVT; bond-critical areas are verified for epoxy, polyurethane and polished concrete systems.
Real Concrete Floor Problems - Our Solutions
A few recent projects that show how we approach difficult concrete slabs, failed coatings and repair-heavy floors across South-East Queensland.
Workshop Floor – Brisbane North - Lawnton
Situation: 435 m² industrial workshop and office with multiple layers of epoxy floor coatings, surface damage and spalled slab joint.
Problem: Epoxy coatings over worn / peeled floor coats. Heavily worn / damaged areas, peaking at slab joint and heavy casting resin build-up that would clog standard grinding tools.
Approach: We started with PCD tooling to strip the bulk of resin build-up, then transitioned to 30-grit metals to normalise the surface profile and flatten joint ridges.
Outcome: Clean and repaired floor with a uniform CSP 3–4 slab ready for our hi-build roll-coat epoxy application system with no telegraphing of damage and repairs.
DIY Epoxy Coating Failure – Moreton Bay Garage
Situation: Double garage floor not prepared correctly, peeling DIY epoxy that started to fail 3 months after being applied .
Problem: Coating was peeling, with contamination and bare patches where hot car tyres had lifted the DIY epoxy film.
Approach: Mechanical removal using PG530 floor grinder, followed surface densification to stabilise weaker garage concrete floor then medium grit diamond grind to CSP 2–3 surface profile.
Outcome: Sound, bondable slab ready to install the new flake flooring system designed to perform, resisitant to UV attack and handle hot tyres and regular vehicle use.
Hollow & Weak Slab Repairs – Sunshine Coast Retail
Situation: Retail refit where sections of the slab sounded hollow and showed signs of floor repair topping failure.
Problem: Localised movement and weak surface meant any new floor system would be at risk of cracking or debonding.
Approach: We marked out and removed loose sections, heavily scarified, primed and back-filled with structural R-4 class repair mortar, then re-ground the entire area back to a consistent level and finish.
Outcome: Stable, repaired surface with verified moisture readings, ready for the new glue down carpet and vinyl plnk flooring system.
Correctly Preparing Concrete Floors is Important!
Every high-performance floor system begins with the same requirement: a concrete slab that has been mechanically prepared to the correct profile. Whether the final finish is epoxy, polished concrete, vinyl, tiles or a resin-based system, diamond grinding creates a clean, flat and open surface that allows primers and adhesives to bond the way they were designed to.
Grinding removes weak laitance, old adhesives, contaminants and high spots, while refining the slab to a uniform Concrete Surface Profile (typically CSP 1–3) for most thin-build systems. When this step is done correctly, coatings sit flatter, wear more evenly and are far less likely to peel, blister or delaminate under normal service conditions.
On every project we combine ICRI CSP guidance with the slip and surface requirements of AS/NZS 4586 and other relevant standards. That means the slab is not over-prepared or under-prepared – it is profiled to suit the system being installed, the environment it will operate in and the life expectancy the client is aiming for.
40+
Years of Flooring Experience
4010
Projects Completed
508.5k+
Sqm Concrete Flooring Worked On
Why Choose Ultimate Floors
Based in the City of Moreton Bay and backed by decades of floor installation and preparation experience, we understand exactly what installers, builders and facility managers need from the substrate. Our work is driven by standards, not shortcuts – getting it right the first time is the expectation, not the exception.
What Sets Us Apart
- Standards-based prep Surface preparation aligned with AS/NZS requirements and ICRI CSP ranges.
- Installer mindset Installers first, grinders second – we prepare floors the way we would want to install over them.
- Fit-for-purpose solutions Preparation tailored to epoxy, flake, tiles, vinyl, polished concrete and industrial systems.
- Trade-qualified Nationally recognised qualifications and extensive on-site experience.
- QBCC licensed Fully licensed and insured under QBCC Floor Finishing – Hard Sector.
- Silica dust control H-class HEPA extraction and dust management on every grinding project.
QBCC (Floor Finishing – Hard Sector) 1115416 • 25+ years in SEQ • Trusted across Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast & Toowoomba.
Specialised Surface Preparation Equipment
Husqvarna and Blastrac grinding, blasting and dust-control systems selected to meet CSP requirements, air quality and site compliance on every project. We rely on Husqvarna construction equipment for consistent, high-spec concrete grinding performance.
Concrete Surface Profiles (CSP) – Get Your Reference Guide
Now that you understand concrete surface profiles, use this quick reference guide to see which Concrete Surface Profile each floor type requires. Profiles are achieved using concrete grinding, shot blasting or scarifying in line with manufacturer specifications and relevant Australian Standards such as AS 1884, AS 3958 and AS/NZS 4586.
Download our comprehensive guides on Concrete Surface Profile requirements. View the low resolution versions online or download the quality, all-in-one guide for your records—perfect for sharing with contractors, flooring installers, and your project team.
CSP Requirements Guide
Understanding CSP 1–9, requirements by floor type, and how to qualify professional floor preparation contractors. Includes Australian Standards references.
- ✓ CSP 1–9 scale explained
- ✓ 6 common floor types covered
- ✓ Professional contractor questions
CSP by Floor Type
Quick reference table showing the range of CSP requirements for residential, commercial, honed, grind & seal finishes and specialty flooring systems for quality outcomes.
- ✓ 15+ floor types listed
- ✓ Preparation methods specified
- ✓ Recommended CSP by floor finish
Get both guides in one comprehensive PDF.
Commercial & Residential Concrete Floor Preparation Across South-East Queensland
Professional concrete grinding across Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay and Toowoomba, with standards-based surface preparation for garages, warehouses and make-good projects across key SEQ regions.
Concrete Floor Preparation Problems We Fix
Before any floor system goes down, Ulimate Floors fix the concrete issues that cause failures. Here's what we handle across Moreton Bay, Brisbane North, Sunshine Coast, and Regional Queensland. Concrete floor levelling, patching and moisture vapour barrier preparation carried out to suit specified coatings and underlayments, using systems compatible with Mapei flooring systems and other leading industrial resin products.
🔧
Grinding Tile Glue From Concrete Floors
Tile glue, vinyl adhesive removal, carpet backing ismechanically stripped from the slab. Diamond grinding removes floor glues completely, leaving concrete ready for AS 3958-compliant tile installation.
⚙️
Strip Existing - Make-good Concrete Floors
Garage floor grinding, warehouse epoxy floor removal, retail flooring systems. With one of our planetary diamond grinders, we remove failed epoxy and polyurethane finishes for 100% tenant ready shop floor.
📏
Fix Uneven Concrete Floors
High spots at joints, dips, rough transitions -trip hazard grinding reduces slab joint lippage in warehouses for forklifts and pallet jack transit. Difficult concrete alterations to get Australian Standards flatness for tiles and vinyl has its challenges.
🧪
Remove Oil Stains & Contaminants
Oil on garage floors, grease in workshops, sealers on driveways — grind deep to expose clean, bondable concrete. FYI - Deep oil contamination requires more intense processes to correct.
🛠️
Coating Removal (All Types)
Coating removal, floor paint, sealers, curing compounds, old membranes. Whatever's on the slab, we remove it. PCD tooling strips thick rooftop waterproofing membranes. Diamond grinding corrects high spots. Scarifying creates CSP 6-8 profiles for heavy-build systems.
🏭
Warehouse Floor Preparation
Floor flattening grinding for forklift traffic areas, expansion joints, industrial coating prep. Heavy-duty commercial floors deserve a heavy duty resin system after repairs and thorough floor preparation.
🏠
Garage Floor Preparation
Epoxy systems, flake flooring, polyaspartic coatings—we prep garage slabs to the right surface profile so our coating installations stay well bonded for years to come.
🏢
Retail & Showroom Floors
Polished concrete prep, grind-and-seal systems. Floor flattening grinding during coating removal.Floor preparation methods adaptive for minimal disruption, keeping your floor upgrade on schedule and within scope.
🧱
Weak Laitance & Dusty Concrete
New slabs with weak top layers—grind off to expose sound, structural concrete. Dusty concrete—we treat with with various densifiers for a permanent solution.
💧
Moisture Barrier Preparation
Damp proof membranes, epoxy moisture barriers, waterproofing systems—surface profile to manufacturer specs for a stick like "ÿou know what" to a blanket adhesion.
📐
Floor Levelling Prep
Install self-levelling screeds, toppings, self-level epoxy— we take care of floor joints and crack stitching repairs, complete the floor machine prep work to various surface profiles.
🪵
Timber, LVT & Vinyl Prep
Prepare concrete, install floor levelling to 3mm x 3m for direct-stick timber (AS 2796), vinyl planks (AS 1884), LVT—smooth, flat, dust-free surfaces to Australian Standards specifications.
Not listed? If it involves one of our floor preparation services, or a complete turn-key, traffic ready floor—optionally, we can handle it. Get a quote or call us to discuss your project.
Preparing Concrete Floors - Project Galleries
Explore residential, commercial, and technical floor preparation work completed across South-East Queensland.
Why Standards & Quality Matter
Good equipment and skill alone aren't enough—floor preparation must follow relevant Australian Standards. Without this, both the installer and the client take on unnecessary risk.
Australian Standards Compliance
All surface preparation is carried out to the requirements of AS 1884 (flooring installation) and AS 3958 (industrial coatings and surface prep). These are not suggestions—they define what an acceptable, fit-for-purpose concrete substrate must look like.
Our experience ensures the prepared floor matched your intended finish, whether polished concrete, epoxy, vinyl, tiles or high-build industrial coatings.
The Professional Difference
With more than 30 years of specialised flooring experience, our concrete grinding and floor alteration methods are proven. We understand how surface contamination, moisture and poor slab quality impact the success of a floor system—and we prevent these issues before they become costly defects.
Transparency About Costs
Proper dust control, professional equipment and standards-based preparation are built into every job. This is why our rates may appear higher compared to operators using low-end gear or cutting corners. We quote for the work required to achieve the agreed outcome—nothing less.
How Work Is Quoted
We're often asked, "How much per square metre to grind concrete?" The truth is that most projects can't be priced by a simple m² rate:
Alterations and height reduction
are charged on a time-plus-materials basis.
Tile glue or adhesive removal
depends on the glue thickness, contamination level and slab condition.
Floor flatness and surface profile
requirements vary between areas and finishes.
The result is a detailed estimate that guarantees an as-agreed outcome. No surprises, no shortcuts, and no excuses—just professional, standards-based concrete preparation delivered by trained flooring specialists.
Ready to Discuss Your Floor Finishes Project?
If you've read this far, you now understand:
- What professional floor preparation involves
- Why proper surface preparation determines installation success
- Our Australian Standards-based processes we developed
- The equipment and expertise required for quality results
- Why professional preparation costs more (and why it's worth it)
You're ready to discuss your project with our floor finishing service team.
We work with informed clients who value the investment for proper floor preparation and understand the difference between professional standards-compliant floor preparation and cheaper alternatives.
Brief us on your proposed floor finish and situation. Select your region below for minimum project requirements, coverage areas, and to book a technical site assessment.
Get Your Floor Preparation Quote
Two easy ways to start: get an instant indicative range with our budget tool, or send us your project details and we’ll come back with a tailored quote and site-assessment booking.
Prefer to talk it through? Call 0449 705 005.
Where We Work
From Brisbane to regional Queensland and commercial projects northern NSW — check if we service your area and see minimum project sizes.
15+
Service Regions
SEQ to Regional Qld
Coverage Area
Project Services
From 15m² minimums
Click to check your region and see eligibility requirements
How to use this map:
- Click any region to see services available and minimum job sizes
- Different colors indicate different service zones and rates
- Hold Alt/Option + Click to zoom into a specific region
FLOOR PREPARATION FAQ'S
Floor Preparation — Frequently Asked Questions
What is floor preparation?
Floor preparation is the process of preparing a concrete substrate before applying coatings, sealers or floor finishes. It involves removing contaminants, coatings and surface defects, then creating the correct Concrete Surface Profile (CSP) for optimal adhesion. Methods include diamond grinding, shot blasting, scarifying and floor levelling.
Why is floor preparation important?
Proper floor preparation is the foundation of any successful flooring system. Without the correct surface profile and clean substrate, coatings fail prematurely — peeling, bubbling or delaminating within months. Professional preparation ensures adhesion, durability and warranty compliance.
What's the difference between grinding, shot blasting and scarifying?
Diamond grinding uses rotating discs with diamond segments to smooth surfaces and achieve CSP 1–3 — ideal for sealers, epoxy primers and thin-film coatings.
Shot blasting propels steel shot at the surface to create CSP 4–6 — suited to high-build industrial coatings and resin systems.
Scarifying uses carbide-tipped cutters to aggressively remove material and achieve CSP 7–9 — used for thick coatings, heavily contaminated or damaged slabs.
Shot blasting propels steel shot at the surface to create CSP 4–6 — suited to high-build industrial coatings and resin systems.
Scarifying uses carbide-tipped cutters to aggressively remove material and achieve CSP 7–9 — used for thick coatings, heavily contaminated or damaged slabs.
Which floor preparation method do I need?
The method depends on your floor's condition and the finish being applied:
• Light coatings, sealers, polished concrete: Diamond grinding (CSP 1–3)
• Epoxy flake, high-build systems: Shot blasting (CSP 4–6)
• Thick industrial coatings, damaged concrete: Scarifying (CSP 7–9)
We assess your slab and recommend the right approach during our site inspection.
• Light coatings, sealers, polished concrete: Diamond grinding (CSP 1–3)
• Epoxy flake, high-build systems: Shot blasting (CSP 4–6)
• Thick industrial coatings, damaged concrete: Scarifying (CSP 7–9)
We assess your slab and recommend the right approach during our site inspection.
What is a Concrete Surface Profile (CSP)?
CSP is a standardised scale (1–9) defined by the flooring industry that measures surface roughness. Each floor finish system requires a specific CSP for proper adhesion. Thin sealers need CSP 1–2, epoxy systems need CSP 2–4, and heavy industrial resin floors need CSP 5+. We verify the profile before installing any floor coatings.
How do you prepare concrete for epoxy flooring?
Preparing concrete for epoxy involves cleaning the surface, removing existing coatings or contaminants, then grinding or shot blasting to achieve the defined surface texture. We test for moisture, repair cracks and ensure the substrate is sound before priming. Proper prep is why epoxy bonds, and why DIY jobs often fail.
How do you prepare concrete for tiles?
Preparing concrete for tiles requires a clean, level surface with adequate profile for adhesive bond. We generally grind to remove high spots and improve floor flatness that larger 600 x 600 tile installers require for better installation results. For uneven slabs, we apply floor levelling compound to meet tile installation tolerances, typically 3mm in 3m for large-format tiles.
Is floor preparation dusty?
Not with proper equipment. Ultimate Floors uses H-class HEPA dust extraction on all grinders, shot blasters and scarifiers — capturing 99.9% of particles down to 0.3 microns. Our dust-controlled systems comply with Australian silica safety standards, keeping your site clean and safe as practically possible.
How long does floor preparation take?
Timeframes depend on floor size, condition and method:
• Single garage (36 m²): 3–6 hours
• Residential interior (100 m²): 1 day
• Commercial space (500 m²): 2–3 days
• Large warehouse (1000+ m²): 3–5 days
Heavy coatings, adhesives or damaged concrete add time.
• Single garage (36 m²): 3–6 hours
• Residential interior (100 m²): 1 day
• Commercial space (500 m²): 2–3 days
• Large warehouse (1000+ m²): 3–5 days
Heavy coatings, adhesives or damaged concrete add time.
How much does floor preparation cost?
Floor preparation pricing depends on floor size, condition, method required and access. Light grinding starts lower; heavy scarifying or coating removal costs more. We provide transparent quotes after inspecting your floor — use our budget estimate tool for an indicative range.
Can you remove old coatings and adhesives?
Yes. We remove epoxy, paint, tile adhesive, carpet glue, vinyl adhesive and failed coatings using diamond grinding or scarifying — depending on coating thickness and bond strength. The goal is clean concrete ready for your new floor system.
Can floor preparation fix uneven concrete?
Grinding removes high spots and smooths variations up to ~3mm. For greater unevenness, we combine scarifying or planing with floor levelling compounds to achieve the flatness your finish requires — essential for tiles, vinyl and polished concrete.
What finishes can be applied after floor preparation?
Once prepared, your floor is ready for:
• Grind & Seal
• Polished Concrete
• Epoxy & Resin Systems
• Tiles, vinyl, LVT, engineered timber or carpet
• Industrial coatings and screeds
• Grind & Seal
• Polished Concrete
• Epoxy & Resin Systems
• Tiles, vinyl, LVT, engineered timber or carpet
• Industrial coatings and screeds
25+ Years in SEQ
QBCC Licensed
H-Class Dust Control
Standards-based CSP