Optimizing Pavement Grinding for Cost and Performance

Across the country, departments of transportation are employing diamond grinding to enhance pavement performance and often take a targeted approach to smooth out uneven spots in a pavement in an effort to minimize costs. This practice, called bump grinding, is designed to address only troublesome locations and thereby conserve resources while meeting smoothness requirements. While bump grinding may appear to conserve resources, in some situations this selective approach can result in higher expenses and less effective outcomes. Leaving short sections of unground pavement between bump-ground segments can increase costs. Frequent stops and starts require operators to lift and reset the grinding head, consuming additional time, fuel and effort.

On the other hand, production grinding, i.e., grinding the pavement’s full lane width and length, improves ride quality, friction, sound reduction, fuel emissions and aesthetics—often at a lower cost per square yard. This is because bump grinding is typically priced hourly, while production grinding is based on square yard pricing. By combining smaller patches into a continuous grind, costs can be reduced and a better product can result.

When designing heavily phased paving projects, it is essential to anticipate the need for diamond grinding and consider incorporating continuous grinding across the entire project. This ensures the best value and performance from the grinding process.

Each project should be carefully evaluated before work begins to determine where diamond grinding is required and how to approach the task to achieve a smooth, safe and economical pavement surface. The best results are achieved by laying out a plan in advance, hiring a reputable contractor and trusting the advice of experienced grinder operators.



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