Side by side
| Factor | Diamond grinding | Acid etching |
|---|---|---|
| Achieves a measurable CSP profile | Yes, CSP 2-5 | Barely CSP 1 |
| Removes laitance | Yes | No |
| Removes oil and contamination | Yes | No |
| Removes old coatings | Yes | No |
| Flattens high spots | Yes | No |
| Leaves residual salts | No | If the rinse is imperfect |
| Equipment needed | Planetary grinder and HEPA extraction | A jug of acid |
| Time on a two-car garage | 2-4 hours | Under an hour |
| Meets manufacturer warranty terms | Yes | No |
Gold marks the stronger option for that factor. A tie is shown in neutral text.
Diamond grinding, always
There is no coating good enough to compensate for an unopened slab. Resin bonds mechanically into a profile; without one it bonds to the closed surface film and lifts in large clean sheets, typically within a year. Every failed floor we have been called to remove was etched rather than ground.
Acid etching exists because
It is fast and needs no equipment, which makes it the cheapest substitution available to a contractor and the largest single saving in an underpriced quote. That is the whole explanation. It is not a legitimate alternative preparation method for a coating you intend to keep.
How to verify it happened
A ground slab looks and feels obviously different: uniformly matte, slightly rough to the palm, with aggregate faintly visible where the cut went deeper. If your floor was prepped in under an hour with no grinder on site, no extraction hoses and no dust containment, it was not ground, whatever the invoice says.
Not sure which applies to your slab?
The site visit includes a moisture reading and an honest look at the concrete, then a written fixed price. We will tell you when the cheaper option is the right one.