The 3rd story of a parking garage in Florida was causing issues with the owners of the property. The completed level had a uneven and poorly finished concrete surface. There desire was to have a new broom finish applied to the existing floor. They called in the team from Baker Concrete to aid in the process of correcting the aesthetic look of this facility. Lets take a look at how they accomplished this feat.

Project Profile:

• Parking Garage – 3rd Level
• 98,000 sq ft
• Level the floor
• Grind the high spots
• Newly Broomed Concrete Finish
• 7 Days to complete job
• 8 – Individuals worked on the site

After 3 months of research the best process and products to use on this project, Baker Concrete choose SureCrete’s SureBroom as their concrete restoration solution. Some of the reasons behind their choice were: coverage rates, single component (just add water mix design), cure rate and track record on other job sites.

They began with a crew of 8 members and average 6-8 working per day. As the looked over the site the started by applying a scratch coat of SureBroom, via a stand up metal squeegee, to help in leveling out the floor. Once dry they began grinding off all high spots. The next step required them to clean the 3rd level floor with a product called SCR (Super Concrete Renovator). This Eco-Friendly concrete cleaner helped clean off any dirt, grease or other materials that would inhibit the proper bonding of the new surface coat, in addition the SCR aiding in profiling the concrete for extra adhesion.

Now that the surface was level and clean they began the resurfacing stage. Here they used Graco RTX machines to spray out the SureBroom material, a product designed to give a new broomed surface,  at a rate of 35,000 sq ft of coverage per day. Once the base coat was down, they changed the spray tip on the machine to create a cementitious non-slip accent coat to the floor. This whole process did not take a trowel or the need to kneel down, total job time was 3 1/4 days to finish.

The last stage was to seal the floor, once again Baker Concrete went with SureCrete and used their Pigmented Sealer to protect the newly broomed concrete surface. The applied 2 coats across the 98,000 sq ft via an airless sprayer, total time elapsed on this stage was 3 1/2 days.

The end result was a job well done and a happy ownership of this Parking Garage.

For more information on this job profile of to learn more about the products used please contact SureCrete Design at whatsnew@surecretedesign.com

Our team took the time to speak with many contractors and understand their concerns in repairing the spalled concrete versus tearing the damaged slab out and pouring a new slab. In doing so we noticed a technique that addressed the contractors fears while delivering a sound and consistent repair and resurfacing solution to spalled concrete. Below are the top concerns that guided the development of their technique and the products they used for application.

How do we remove the loose spalling concrete?

Most contractors will begin with an aggressive pressure washing or scarifying of the concrete surface. The goal of this process is to remove all lose concrete and create a sound surface. A turbo tip and a pressure washer of 3,500 psi or greater will generally be sufficient.

How do you control or stop the current spalled damage to the concrete?

Prevention of further damage to the spalling concrete is not an exact science. A sound option for prevention is the use of a Lithium densifier. The use of a Lithium Densifier will harden and increase the surface PSI and increase the durability. Use of conventional sodium or potassium sodium hardeners are not recommended as they may leave a high concentration of salts deposited on the surface of the concrete and may add to surface cracks.

What material should we patch the spalled concrete areas with?

With Freeze-Thaw an important part of the equation in deciding upon a material, Flash Patch is an ideal material choice that delivers a hard surface while giving you a chemical and mechanical bond to the concrete slab. In addition to those attributes this material allows you to patch all areas of the spalled concrete surface. Once applied your down time is  a matter of 15-30 minutes, then you can begin applying  your resurfacing topcoat material.  Flash Patch is a single component (just add water), cement based concrete patching compound. With a quick set time, this product allows you to stay on the job site and delivers a compressive strength of over 6200 PSI.

How do we create a freshly broomed surface over the spalled concrete?

If the desire is to provide a fresh broomed concrete surface, a product like SureBroom is a smart choice. This product is a single component (just add water) mix that delivers a fast cure time and a compressive strength of 6100 PSI. With two coat process the only tools you need is a metal squeegee and a horse hair or nylon horse hair concrete broom. This system delivers simplicity of technique and  a low material cost.

What can be done to delay or prevent deicing chemicals from affecting the new surface?

Use of a solvent acrylic sealer provides deep penetration capabilities and the ability to minimize the slick surface texture. A product with 20% solids delivers the needed attributes which aids in repelling deicing agents and preserving the renewed surface from Spalling and other causes which deteriorate and the surface. A common question after application is how often should we reapply sealer? We would love to give a solid time table like 2-5 years but the simple fact is many factors come into play that decrease the life span of a sealer.

How can you tell if your sealant is weakening? Try a water test. When water is applied to the surface it should bead up as water would on a waxed surface. If the water beads your protection is still sound. With regards to the sheen or gloss look of the surface, that is determined by the individual and their desired look.

To see a live video of this resurfacing material, please visit www.SureCrete.TV
If you would like to know more about the products mentioned in this article please contact SureCrete Design:

Toll Free 1-800-544-8488
Email: Whatsnew@SureCreteDesign.com