When it comes to budgeting for surface preparation equipment, resin diamonds are one of the most important investments you can make. However, going by just the price of the pad is not 100 percent accurate to the actual cost, after all, an inexpensive pad isn’t that cheap if it only lasts half the time of a pad that’s a few dollars more. To help you understand resin diamond pad pricing, we’re going to break down what to look at and how to do the math so you can price your equipment and get great results.
Two Types of Resin Diamond Pads
The range of pricing varies so much in resin diamonds because there are two main types of resin pads used in concrete polishing: hybrid and polishing.
Hybrid pads are made out of a compound that have a more aggressive cut, similar to a metal pad but leave a smoother scratch pattern. They’re primarily used to transition from a metal scratch to a polishing pad, and how you can tell is they are usually between six and eight mms thick (around 1/4″ to 3/8″ ), rigid, and range from 50 grit to 200. Good quality hybrid pads have a life span of between 15,000 and 20,000 square feet.
Polishing pads are made of resin and appear to have a plastic-like appearance. They are typically thinner than hybrids, ranging from two to four mms thick (3/32″ to 3/16″), more flexible, and range in grits from 50 to 5000. A good quality polishing pad will cover 10,000 to 15,000 square feet.
Breaking Down the Cost of Diamond Pads
Resin diamond pads should cost between $0.24 and $0.40 USD per square foot. Let’s do the fast math for a hybrid tool, figuring on the low end of cost and square feet:
If 15,000 square feet x $.24 per square foot equals $360, and you’re running a 12-tool concrete grinder, the cost is around $30 per resin diamond pad. Of course, there may be some variety in price and life span, but the benchmark is around $30 for a hybrid tool.
Considering the same fast math for a polishing pad and figuring the low end, 10,000 square feet x $0.30 equals $300. Dividing that for a 12 tool machine, and the cost is around $25 per tool.
It’s important to note that these are just benchmarks, but as you set out your budget, you’ll have a better idea of what kind of pricing to look at in order to get the high-quality performance you need.
Shop Our Selection of Diamond Tooling
At Buy Manufacturers Direct, we have a wide variety of resin diamond pads from brands you know and trust. If you’re not sure what style is right for your next project, reach out to our customer service team today at 815-472-9754 or fill out our contact form.