The decorative overlay industry has grown exponentially over the last 10 years, and so has the number of failures and problems related to overlay installations.
Surface Preparation
When staining, installing an overlay, repairing or recoating a concrete slab, surface prep is a critical step in the process to ensure the material successfully bonds to the surface. Skipping this time-consuming essential first step usually spells disaster.
Carefully Removing Glues and Epoxies Before Polishing
Prepping a concrete floor for polishing is one of the most difficult tasks we face in this industry. We cannot be aggressive like we can when prepping for a coating system, because there will be no coating to cover up the deep scratch patterns. We must take care to remove the surface materials while causing as little damage as possible to the concrete. We must be aggressive while being cautious.
Building the Perfect Pool Deck Starting with the Subgrade
Unstable subgrade is the primary culprit in cracking, shifting and settling in concrete around pools. We can all agree that concrete is only as good as what you put it on top of.
How to Protect Your Concrete Work Surface on the Job Site
Each job your company completes is a billboard. Each project says, “Yes, my company is good and worthy of your next decorative project,” or it says, “I’m a work in progress that right now, unfortunately, is not worth the chance.” Few billboards imply anything in between. At the end of […]
Skudo to Offer Educational Course at 2015 World of Concrete
Skudo is a supplier of a variety of temporary surface protection products. The company commits itself to protecting contractors’ work at the highest level of reliability. An educational course, “Protecting Your Work – Finding the Right Surface Protection,” will be presented by Brendon Smith, President of Skudo USA. The 45-minute […]
Complying with OSHA’s Dust Control Regulation
Still struggling with how to meet the federal OSHA’s requirements on protecting your employees from silica dust? You certainly aren’t alone. If you’re waiting for your favorite manufacturer to bail you out with new equipment, it may take a while. Many of them have new products in the works that […]
Cleaning Concrete Correctly is Critical Before Applying Coatings
Preparing concrete correctly before applying a coating helps to ensure the coating’s success. Contractors must carefully evaluate the substrate and its condition to determine what cleaner or degreaser is needed for cleaning concrete. They must also take care in how to properly apply it. “The objective in preparation is to […]
Repair Concrete Cracks in the Substrate to Avoid Cracks in your Overlay
Most cracks in a substrate will telegraph through overlays if not prepared properly, so spend the extra time and dollars to prep the area correctly. If you repair problem areas prior to installing an overlay you will minimize the chances of cracks in your overlay.
Prepping Your Finished Concrete Surface for a Sealer
Surface preparation is a commonly used term in the decorative concrete industry. An argument can be made that it might even just be the most used term in the industry. We hear or read about it most often when dealing with overlays and stains. Grind, scarify, acid etch, etc.
Warm Water Pressure Washing Used to Remove Concrete Sealer
Dive deeper into the use of the warm-water pressure washing method of removing old concrete sealer.
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