Do You Need To Fix A Trip Hazard?

Trip hazards on concrete aren’t only a pain, they can be downright dangerous. This applies for both private property and areas where members of the public have access. But thankfully it’s possible to get rid of them using a concrete grinder. And, even better, it’s something that can be done by anyone who fancies turning their hand to it – as long as you use the correct equipment.

But first of all, let’s understand how such a concrete trip hazard occurs in the first place. They tend to rear their ugly heads in places where concrete slabs have been laid, or in older eroded concrete, because of the following reasons:

·        Tree roots: These growing below concrete can break existing concrete or move slabs so they become misaligned.

·        Movement of the earth beneath: Over time the surface below the concrete can sink, so making the concrete above crack or slabs to move.

·        Newly sited slabs: Or newly poured that adjoins older slabs can contract or expand during curing. This then can cause a trip hazard between the old and new surfaces.

Of course, one way to remove such a trip hazard is to simply replace the section. However, this is often expensive, time consuming or, in some cases, not even possible if the slab or section is connected to some larger structure. So grinding the trip hazard back to a flush surface is often the best solution.

The workings of a concrete grinder

Concrete grinders do exactly as the name suggests – they grind down and smooth out concrete. They do this thanks to super-tough tungsten cutting plates (called scarifiers) that rotate at speed and grind away an even layer of concrete as they pass over it.  They can be handheld or push-along, and come in a variety of sizes depending on the extent of the trip hazard and hardness of the concrete to be smoothed.

Reasons to consider fixing a trip hazard

·        Safety: This is the most important, because such a hazard doesn’t just mean a stubbed toe. In the case of a fall it can lead to broken bones or worse. If it’s located in a place of business then should someone trip and have an accident the legal implications can be severe.

·        Aesthetics: A misaligned concrete slab or raised piece of concrete certainly isn’t attractive to look at. Be it in your garden, on your driveway, at a place of work or in any other location, it’s amazing the difference fixing trip hazard can make to the look of a place.

·        Low cost: As opposed to replacing a section of pathway, using a concrete grinder to smooth out the irregularity is a much less expensive option.

There are many different types of grinders, some more heavy duty than others, that can be used for fixing such a problem. You also need to be aware that such a task will generate concrete dust, so it’s essential that this is appropriately extracted, as well as the use of personal protective equipment when using such equipment.

Concrete Hire provide a wide range of different grinders to suit all types of job, and these are available for both hire and purchase. They can provide advice as to the best tool for the task, as well as instruction as to how to use it. For more information and a no-obligation chat, get in contact on 1300 048 521