Concrete surfaces are prepared before laying down a topcoat not only for superficial reasons but also for mechanical reasons.  Construction work requires surface preparation prior to installing floor coating in industrial and commercial applications in order to create long-lasting hold and durability.  The texture of the existing concrete is an important consideration when laying down floor coating or resurfacing materials.

Concrete overlays and coatings need proper bonding. Construction professionals see to it that the surface has the right concrete surface profile or CSP.  The International Concrete Repair institute has developed benchmark guidelines to help contractors.   CSP is a measure of average distance from the peaks of the surface to the valleys. The peak ranges from CSP 1 – nearly flat – to CSP 9 – very rough.  The ruling states that the thicker the overlay or topping, the higher the CSP should be. To achieve higher ranges the substrate often needs roughening by shotblasting or scarifying.

Planning stage

Here, contractors and the property owners get together to determine the sope of work.  The following needs to be determined:

• timetable
• work schedule
• clean up process
• safety measures
• acceptable noise levels

Job specifications

The general job specification for surface preparation is that the surface should be “sound, free from surface defects, dry and clean.”  It is important that everyone concerned with the general construction work aligns all requisites so there are no expensive errors.  Specifications should clearly state how uniform, clean and at what strength the substrate should be prior to a coating or overlay installation.

Survey the current state of the concrete surface

The contractor must conduct an assessment of the concrete surface. The assessment should include a check on the top layer of the cement and whatever needs to be removed from the concrete surface.  The surface should also be checked for existing sealers, curing materials, grease, oil or dirt that has to be removed.

Cleaning the concrete surface

Chemicals, oil and grease should be removed from the concrete surface. Everything that is on the surface should be taken off. Chemicals can be removed using high-pressure washing. Oil and grease needs heavy-duty degreasers and scrubbers. Shotblasting and scarifying can be utilized on floors to take a layer off the top.

Roughen or “profile” the surface

The texture or “profile” of the concrete is a very important characteristic to acheive.  Depending on the scope of the project, roughening the concrete by mechanical profiling works but for some acid etching is also convenient.  Mechanical profiling is usually for large areas of floor coatings in industrial or commercial applications.

Surface defects should be repaired

The contractor, having evaluated everything, should now know what repair materials to have on hand.  Chips and protrusions found in the concrete greater than 1/16” should be ground down and refinished to match the rest.  Unstable concrete, bubbles and holes should be assessed and filled up with epoxy or other filling agents and refinished to match the rest.

Resurface the concrete

Having done all preparations, the concrete is now ready for resurfacing.

The above is just a simple overview of the techniques used when doing surface preparation.  The process is best left to a professional like Champion Coatings who will assess the situation of existing concrete and determine the scope of work to ensure good overlay, bonding, longevity and performance.

When concrete cracks a typical remedy is an epoxy injection. Most concrete services companies would recommend the treatment, but not all epoxies can be used for injection. The ones referred to here are the high-performance epoxies that are intended for structural concrete bonding and crack repair.

An example of an appropriate epoxy injection application is the mending of cracks that appeared in a cooling tower at a synthetic fuel plant.  The cracks were found at the ends of prestressed concrete beams.  The company was not ready to demolish the structure and construct a new one so they called in concrete services professionals who recommended epoxy injections and load tested the beams for structural capacity. The treatment was much less expensive and easier to implement than demolition and reconstruction.  They had found the cracks before the structural components became too unstable.

Another practical use of epoxy injections would be in reinforcing pile caps on top of concrete pile foundations.  Epoxy can be injected to reconnect the fragmented caps.

There are epoxies that can withstand water.  This used to be a challenge to concrete services companies before, but nowadays cracks that are filled with water can be remedied easily.

Epoxy injection can solve problems including water filled cracks, locations in cold temperature and wide cracks that need customized solutions.  Concrete services professionals can address the situation and deduce what epoxy product to apply.  While there are many different types of epoxy are available, one size does not fit all. It requires the right combination of materials, chemistry, and expertise.

Basement walls and floors trap moisture which in turns accumulates and causes mold and mildew.  This is apparent from the musty smell of basements – a tell-tale sign that there is mold growing.   This is a normal occurance as the building ages and the basement starts allowing the seepage of water through cracks in the concrete after a downpour or as snow melts. If you are using the basement as a storage place then this can prove disastrous when mold grows on furniture, carpet, paperwork and other storage items. Your first order of business is to schedule waterproofing for your basement. By sealing the basement against moisture you are protecting your investments of the property, furniture, archived paperwork, and your staff's health.

It is likely for basements to have water seepage.  The initial seepage would be intermittent after heavy rain or snow melt down which raises the groundwater level.  Over time, the water seepage becomes obbvious even if there is no apparent reason.

Water seepage is caused by cracks in the concrete. Stress cracks occur in all concrete structures. The floor to wall joints open up and floor cracks appear.  There is also a possibility that the exterior waterproofing done when the house was constructed has deteriorated and the drainage system has failed.  The hydrostatic pressure then pushes water through the cracks.

Thus, the basement can be the source of moisture in in your building, as these rooms have been known to let in over 15 gallons each day in the event of serious seepage - a problem, that if untreated, can cause structural damage to your property.

A wise property owner should be aware of this moisture problem. Having concrete as a foundation is not an assurance that you will be problem-free.  Concrete is porous and deteriorates as the years pass by.  Just like wood, it needs protection from water.

Waterproofing should be considered before finishing a building's construction.  Particularly, the basement should be sealed, including the walls and the slab.  It is crucial to protect what is most prone to water seepage.

For a project like waterproofing,  seeking professional services will prove to be most advantageous. Professionals can assess the issues and determine the best action to be taken, where to seal and what chemicals to seal it with.

Contact Champion Coatings for your waterproofing needs.

The foundation of a property must be kept as dry as possible. When moisture content is high, cracks, mildew, wet basements, and rot are the result and this can mean significant damage to the foundation, ultimately affecting the well-being of the rest of the structure.  There are various different foundation waterproofing options that can be implemented in order to protect your property from costly problems.

Advances in technology have made waterproofing methods more effective and less expensive.  There is no reason not to have protection - especially if there is any intention of selling the building in the future.  Foundation problems will force the asking price downward.

Chemicals can be sprayed or painted on the walls to completely seal your foundation from water. There are professional foundation waterproofing specialists who can do this work for you properly.

The leading causes of foundation damage are condensation and leakage.  Once the cause is determined it is best to implement the proper solution quickly, saving time and money.

When the problem is due to condensation, a simple option is to purchase a system that removes moisture from the air.  There are whole house dehumidifiers and other equipment that can aid in remedying the situation.  But if the moisture is significant, steps must be taken by a professional to seal the foundation.

Foundation waterproofing for leakage or seepage of water can get tricky.  Be sure to be aware of the direction and flow of water during heavy downpours.  If the flow is towards your foundation it should be redirected. If the water does not flow and just sits near the foundation  it can seep through the soil and get into the foundation.  Part of waterproofing is about redirecting water away from the property.  Sometimes this means changes must happen to the sloping and landscaping around the property, and sometimes modifications must happen to the edges of the structure itself to redirect the flow.  Once the water has been redirected, oftentimes the next step is to spray a sealant. This is not always the only prevention method needed, however, so it is best to have a professional assess the situation - they may be able to suggest additional methods that would more adequately lock out the moisture.

Prevention is always better than having to mend the whole foundation.  Even if a problem is not apparent, it pays to protect your structure with foundation waterproofing.