Surface Preparation

Summary

Surface Preparation - is the cleaning of a concrete floor surface prior to applying a new industrial floor system or repair material, by either mechanical or liquid process.

Technical Information

The primary reason to carry out surface preparation is to mechanically clean a concrete substrate to provide an adequate key on which to apply a new industrial floor system or repair material. The surface preparation method should remove all residues, laitance, debris, contaminants, loose or friable materials, such as flaking floor paint or even old resin floor systems from the concrete substrate. Failure to remove all residues/contaminants from the substrate will affect the bonding, durability and aesthetics of the new flooring system being applied.

A concrete substrate can be prepared either acid etching, high pressure water jet or mechanical means. Mechanical surface preparation methods are generally more readily available and more widely used.

Examples of mechanical preparation methods:

Scabbling or Planing;
Shot-blasting;
Diamond Grinding;
Multi-stripping;

All surface preparation methods will texture the concrete surface and the degree of texture can range from a light texture to a very rough texture, to cater for the technical requirements of the new industrial floor system that is to be laid on the floor. Serious consideration should always be given to the most suitable method to prepare the substrate as selecting the wrong method could have serious implications on the performance or visual appearance of any new industrial floor system. For example, it would be considered more appropriate to apply a thin floor paint or coating on to a diamond ground surface than on to a rough texture floor from shot-blasting.

Care should be taken when considering Acid Etching for surface preparation because of the associated health and safety implications and also because the substrate will be left saturated with water and calcareous salts which have the potential to lead to the de-bonding or blistering of the flooring system. Carrying out the correct level of surface preparation is critical to the success of any new industrial floor system that is applied on top of the floor slab. Failure to prepare the substrate properly could lead to premature failure of the new floor finish.