Grinding, Prep and Moisture Testing
The work under every coating: grinding or blasting, crack and joint repair, old-coating removal and slab moisture tests before a system is chosen.
2025-2026 Ontario and Canadian published contractor ranges (RESEARCH §9), read in September 2026; your quote will differ.
Get Floor QuotesAbout Grinding, Prep and Moisture Testing
Before any coating system goes down, the slab is ground or shot-blasted to a surface profile the product asks for, cracks and joints are repaired, and old coatings or adhesives come off.
Surface profiles are described on the ICRI concrete surface profile scale (CSP 1 to 10). The data sheets we read ask for about CSP 2 to CSP 5 depending on the system, so the product decides the prep, not the other way round.
Moisture is tested, not guessed. ASTM F2170 measures relative humidity inside the slab with in-situ probes; ASTM F1869 measures the vapour emission rate at the surface with calcium chloride. ASTM notes a result shows the slab's condition "only at the time of the test and in the specific locations tested". When results come back high, a moisture-tolerant primer is an extra line item.
Grinding old concrete creates silica dust, and old tile or mastic can contain asbestos. Silica, isocyanates and asbestos are designated substances in Ontario; the owner's list under OHSA s.30 comes before the contract is signed.
Published 2025-2026 contractor ranges add about $1 to $3 per square foot for standard prep when it is not already included. Heavy resurfacing of damaged concrete costs more. Some quotes include prep: check the line.
What This Work Covers
- Grinding or shot blasting to the product's CSP
- Crack, joint and spall repair
- Old coating and adhesive removal
- In-situ RH testing (ASTM F2170)
- Moisture-mitigation primer when tests come back high
Popular For
Common questions about grinding, prep and moisture testing
- Before signing, which prep questions should I ask in Ottawa?
- Does grinding and prep add much to an Ottawa floor quote?
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- How much does a commercial epoxy floor cost in Ottawa?
- Can a contractor quote my Ottawa floor price without seeing the slab?
- What should a warehouse epoxy floor cost per square foot in Kanata?
- Why do two epoxy quotes for my Gloucester shop differ so much?
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Ready to Get Started?
Tell us about your grinding, prep and moisture testing job and we'll send it to local floor coating contractors in Ottawa. They reply by email.