Method and apparatus for leveling and grinding surfaces

A floor leveling apparatus for cutting a plurality of grooves having a bottom surface into a hardened body, the bottom surface of the grooves collectively defining a benchmark plane, the apparatus comprising:

• a) a first and second rails configured for being mounted spaced apart from and parallel to the other;
• b) a support beam for supporting the masonry saw above the hardened body having a first end and a second end, the support beam configured for mounting between the rails and for being movable along a length the rails;
• c) a plurality of support stands operably configured for mounting the first and second rails above the hardened body, the support stands having an adjustable length for adjusting a height position of the first and second rails such that the rails define a simulated plane above the hardened body;
• and
• d) a masonry saw assembly having a masonry disc blade operably configured for mounting to the support beam and for being movable along a length of the support beam.

A method for producing a planar finished floor surface by cutting a plurality of grooves, each having a bottom surface, into a hardened body formed by concrete or other material, the bottom surface of the grooves collectively forming a level finished benchmark plane, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing an apparatus comprising:
• i) a first and second rails configured for being mounted spaced apart from and parallel to the other;
• ii) a support beam having a first end and a second end, the support beam configured for mounting between the rails and for being movable along a length the rails;
• iii) a plurality of support stands operably configured for mounting the first and second rails above the hardened body, the support stands having an adjustable length for adjusting a height position of the first and second rails such that the rails define a simulated plane above the hardened body;
• and
• iv) a masonry saw assembly comprising:
• a masonry disc blade operably configured for mounting to the support beam and for being movable along a length of the support beam;
• and a blade position adjustment mechanism for adjusting the respective distance between the simulated plane and the finished benchmark plane formed by the collective bottom surfaces of the plurality of grooves;
• b) positioning the apparatus over a location of a desired portion of the hardened body to be finished;
• c) adjusting lengths of the one or more of the plurality of support stands defining the simulated plane above of the hardened body;
• d) positioning the support beam at a first position along the length of the rails;
• e) defining a depth of the bottom surface of the grooves forming the benchmark plane by adjusting the blade position adjustment mechanism;
• f) defining a first groove by operating the masonry saw along the beam at the first position;
• g) positioning the beam at a second position along a length of the rails;
• h) defining at least a second groove by operating the masonry saw along the length of the beam at the second position;
• and
• i) wherein the bottom surface of each of the plurality of grooves collectively form the benchmark plane of a finished surface.