Quick Answer

Grinding pads (coarse, metal or aggressive resin bond) remove material, level floors and strip coatings; polishing pads (fine resin bond) refine the surface and build gloss. Use grinding pads for the early stages (50–200 grit) and polishing pads from 400 grit upward — they are different jobs in the same sequence.

Key Differences

Factor	Grinding Pads	Polishing Pads
Purpose	Stock removal, levelling	Refining, gloss
Grit	Coarse: 25–200	Fine: 400–3000
Bond	Metal or coarse resin	Resin, often flexible
Result	Flat, scratched surface	Smooth, glossy finish
Water/dust	Often dry or wet	Usually with dust control

How to Choose

• Uneven slab or old coating → start with grinding pads (metal bond).
• Surface is flat but rough → refine with medium resin pads (200–400).
• Ready for gloss → switch to polishing pads (800–3000).
• Maintenance shine → polishing pads only, plus burnishing.

How to Use Them Together

1. Grind with coarse pads until the floor is flat and uniform.
2. Clean thoroughly — coarse dust ruins fine pads.
3. Step through 400, 800, 1500, 3000 with polishing pads.
4. Finish with a burnishing pad for the final gloss.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I polish with a grinding pad?

A:No. Grinding pads are too aggressive and leave deep scratches. Switch to resin polishing pads for gloss.

Q: Do I always need grinding pads first?

A:Only if the floor needs levelling or coating removal. A smooth, clean floor can start directly at the polishing stage.

Q: How do I know when to switch from grinding to polishing?

A:When the surface is flat and the previous grit's scratches are uniform, move to the next finer grit.

Conclusion

Grinding levels, polishing refines. Use metal-bond grinding pads for the heavy work and resin polishing pads for the finish. For a smooth transition, try pads like the Diamond Resin Floor Polishing Pads (JOY-RFP-02) and the Diamond Resin Polishing Pads for Concrete & Terrazzo Floor (JOY-RFP-01), with the 3'' Diamond Resin Floor Polishing Pads (JOY-RFP-05) for lighter jobs.