THE REPAIR PROCESS
For all of our applications (residential, commercial, outdoor) the installation process always starts with a full evaluation of your existing concrete surface. We investigate structural condition, harness and moisture content. Then we use this analysis to determine how we approach the most important step — concrete preparation.
GARAGE FLOOR PREPARATION
Our first step and main form of preparation is shot blasting, which extends the life of your floor by giving you the greatest adhesion possible. We use Blastrac Walk-Behind Shot Blasting Systems which use a high performance, airless, centrifugal wheel for propelling blast media at a high velocity, in a controlled pattern and direction.
Metal abrasives, thrown by the rapidly rotating blast wheel, are accelerated toward the surface being prepared. The media strikes the surface and rebounds, along with the removed contaminants, into a recovery chamber or separator. The dust collector removes pulverized abrasives, dust, and contaminants. Very little abrasive is lost and the usable media is returned to the storage hopper for recirculation by the blast wheel.
Different surface profiles can be achieved by varying the shot size, shot flow rate, and machine travel speed. Shot blasting produces the most course profile while removing any deteriorated or weak concrete, leaving the surface immediately ready for coating. This is the number one form of preparation used in the coatings industry today.
In applications where a shot blaster is not preferred we use a diamond grinding process. Typically this process is used when you have soft deteriorated concrete or a thick preexisting coating. The use of course grit diamonds or polycrystalin diamonds help us achieve the required profile. Our diamond grinders consist of eight rotating heads. By varying the grits and bonds used, diamond grinders can be affective on differing concrete types. Diamond grinders are especially helpful when cracks or joints are at different profiles and need to be leveled.
CONCRETE RESTORATION
CRACKS
The repair process is followed by vacuuming the floor and using a leaf blower to flush out any remaining debris. The surface is now ready for coating.
GARAGE FLOOR PREPARATION
Our first step and main form of preparation is shot blasting, which extends the life of your floor by giving you the greatest adhesion possible. We use Blastrac Walk-Behind Shot Blasting Systems which use a high performance, airless, centrifugal wheel for propelling blast media at a high velocity, in a controlled pattern and direction.
Metal abrasives, thrown by the rapidly rotating blast wheel, are accelerated toward the surface being prepared. The media strikes the surface and rebounds, along with the removed contaminants, into a recovery chamber or separator. The dust collector removes pulverized abrasives, dust, and contaminants. Very little abrasive is lost and the usable media is returned to the storage hopper for recirculation by the blast wheel.
Different surface profiles can be achieved by varying the shot size, shot flow rate, and machine travel speed. Shot blasting produces the most course profile while removing any deteriorated or weak concrete, leaving the surface immediately ready for coating. This is the number one form of preparation used in the coatings industry today.
In applications where a shot blaster is not preferred we use a diamond grinding process. Typically this process is used when you have soft deteriorated concrete or a thick preexisting coating. The use of course grit diamonds or polycrystalin diamonds help us achieve the required profile. Our diamond grinders consist of eight rotating heads. By varying the grits and bonds used, diamond grinders can be affective on differing concrete types. Diamond grinders are especially helpful when cracks or joints are at different profiles and need to be leveled.
CONCRETE RESTORATION
CRACKS
- First, we use a diamond grinder with a V-blade to open up and abrade both sides of the crack. By doing this, we gain additional surface area for better product adhesion.
- Next, we mix our mender material and overfill the crack.
- When the material is fully cured (typically only seven to ten minutes!) we grind the overfilled material flush with the concrete surface. This leaves the floor smooth and level.
- All floor pits are then prepped using the shot blaster to clean and remove weak concrete. This gives the damaged area a course profile for our repair material to bond to. Next, just like repairing a crack, we mix our mender material and overfill the pit.
- When the material is fully cured (typically seven to ten minutes!) we grind the overfilled material flush with the concrete surface. This leaves the floor smooth, level and ready for coating.
- We prepare all spalled areas just like we repair pits. We use the shot blaster to remove all the deteriorated concrete. The remaining concrete is strong and ready for our repair material to bond to it.
- Next, depending on the severity of the spalling, we mix up a small to large batch of mender material and use a trowel/squeegee to pull the material into the spalled areas. Again, we over fill these areas to be able to grind them back down. This step may be repeated on floors with severe spalling.
- When our material is fully cured (typically seven to ten minutes) we grind the overfilled material flush with the concrete surface.
The repair process is followed by vacuuming the floor and using a leaf blower to flush out any remaining debris. The surface is now ready for coating.