Monday, May 10, 2010

Tips for Making your Concrete Repair Last Longer

Just like with your teeth, prevention is the best way to extend the life of your concrete. Concrete gets dirty, cracked and needs repair. With a long-lasting concrete repair you can postpone replacement for quite some time. Modern concrete repair products may even extend the life of your concrete beyond that of your own.

Begin by inspecting your concrete floors. Check for cracks and stains that make it look dirty and worn out. If it is not bad enough to have to replace the floor, then it is best to start your restoration.

If there are stains use power cleaning tools to make the process easier. This will regenerate the life and color of the concrete. If there are no cracks or crumbling, the next step is to put on a sealant because this will prevent water damage as well as further oil and dirt stains.
Homeowners can also try surface restorers. You can use a brush to give the concrete floor a fresh new look once again. Taking care of your concrete floor through occasional cleaning will make sure it will last longer and at the same time look nice all the time. Avoid the hassle of replacing the whole thing by making sure these floors are part of home cleaning all the time.
Many concrete floors develop cracks. If you have cracks, make sure you deal with them before you wash and seal the concrete. Make sure that you follow all the suggested safety procedures listed on your concrete repair products while repairing them. Cracks are caused by a variety of different things so always address the situation before it gets worse. Concrete repair left unmanaged only means you will have to spend more. Many concrete repair product will halt the progress of damage. Cracks can lead into pitting which can be a larger repair project. Limit your need for concrete repair my tackling cracks as soon as they occur.

To repair cracks, use a polyurethane repair products. They are available in cartridges and can be used to quickly fill cracks. These repairs are stronger and last longer than other available. If you have pitting or even a pothole, use a similar product called FlexSet. By mixed up two materials and a special sand in a provided bucket you can have a quick and solid repair that matches nicely with surrounding concrete.

The best way to prevent dirt and cracks is by using sealants. This will enable the concrete floor to be cleaner and sturdier. Sealants tend to keep dirt away from the surface and even below it. This should be applied every once in a while as it also protects the concrete floor from weather damage and cracking.

Concrete floors are often the last thing homeowners think to clean. Simple prevention will do more for the life of your concrete than anything. Keep your concrete clean and watch for cracks. Using resurfacers is definitely cheaper than getting the floors done all over again and filling cracks before they grow makes good sense. Make it a priority to be sure that your concrete floors are always in good shape.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Repairing Cracks in Concrete Foundation & Basements

There are four main causes for cracks in concrete foundations and basements-- shrinkage, settlement, frost heaves and expansive soil. Shrinkage cracks in a slab are rarely a structural concern but if left untreated, can allow in water or radon and may form a tripping hazard. Settlement cracks in a foundation indicate a failure to compact the fill on which the slab was poured. When caught early the damage can be easily halted by filling the cracks with a polyurethane repair material. Both frost heaves and expansive soil damage can cause substantial damage to basement, crawl space, or garage floor slabs in some conditions if the cracks are not dealt with swiftly.

Whatever the cause of the cracks are in your basement or foundation, polyurethane crack repair products are is the simplest and fastest materials available for concrete crack repair. Concrete Welder can be used for concrete foundation crack repair and concrete basement crack repair.

Standard crack repair methods may require digging out, chiseling, keying, priming and sealing but with Concrete Welder you simply clean up the damaged concrete floor to ensure that there are no loose pieces, snap the Concrete Welder cartridge into the gun and apply. Sprinkle the filled crack with topping sand and your concrete foundation crack repair or concrete basement crack repair can be back to use in under an hour.

Even if you plan to cover over your concrete floor, it must be smooth and free from damage if you want your surface materials to look good. Concrete cracks can grow into larger damage that can cause bumps in your carpet, trouble interlocking hardwood floors and even collect moisture.

For a simple and long-lasting crack repair, use polyurethane repair products.
To get started on your concrete crack repair, here are the tools needed:
• Concrete Welder Cartridge
• A broom or blower
• Dual-cartridge gun
• Scraper or straight-edge

Cracks in your concrete floor can be filled simply using Concrete Welder, available in a cartridge format. Once the crack is clean and free of moisture, open cartridge and snap into dual-cartridge gun. Next, squeeze Concrete Welder directly into the crack. Use a scraper or straight-edge to smooth the material out. Sprinkle topping sand on top of the crack repair. Wipe up any excess material and allow to dry for 30 minutes. Now the concrete crack repair is complete and your concrete floor is ready for use. With the cracks in your concrete basement filled and smooth, your floor will look better and last longer.

Concrete Welder is available for purchase through the Roklin web site at www.roklinsystems.com or call 1-888-FlexSet. Other concrete and asphalt repair materials are also available.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Top Concrete Repair Products for Commercial Use

Concrete damage can come in many forms, but with polyurethanes, repair products are a simple choice. Polyurethane Concrete damage can come in many forms, but with polyurethanes, repair products are a simple choice. Polyurethane Concrete Repair products can be used for concrete repair of most any size or shape - hairline cracks, sidewalks, potholes and spalls.

Standard concrete repair products are time-consuming, require significant labor and can take many steps and a lot of time to complete. Besides being time-consuming, using resins, epoxies, patches and caulking may last in the short term, but the repair is not long-lasting. Roklin's concrete repair products provide several options, ready for use on most any concrete repair and restoration projects. Using Roklin's simple methods, there is no need to grind, drill out, pressure wash or saw-cut cracked or damaged concrete. Simply sweep or blow out the damaged area, mix your materials and apply.

Hairline Cracks: Hairline Cracks can be filled simply using Concrete Welder, available in a cartridge format. Make sure the crack is clean and free of moisture. Open cartridge and squeeze Concrete Welder directly into the crack. Use a scraper or straight-edge to smooth the material out. Wipe up any excess material and allow to dry for 30 minutes. Now the crack is filled and ready for use.

Larger Cracks: To repair a large crack in concrete, use Roklin's FlexSet for Concrete Repair Product. FlexSet provides a fast-setting repair with almost no interruption of service. With FlexSet, your business need not be shut down with costly and confusing methods.

First ensure that the damaged area is clean and dry. Sweep or blow out cracks so there is no loose debris. Place the aggregate provided in the FlexSet package to fill in some of the crack, without going above the damaged area. Using FlexSet, carefully pour contents of bottle "a" into provided 5-gallon bucket then add special sand. Next, shake bottle "b" thoroughly and pour into sand mixture. Mix with a paddle-mixer, using a drill. When mixture is completely wet, pour FlexSet onto damaged area and use a trowel or lute to smooth material into cracks. When damaged area becomes sufficiently smooth, toss topping sand by hand over repaired area to create a uniform look and feel. The new repair can be ready for traffic in less than an hour.

Spalls: For a concrete spall repair, use FlexSet with a bucket mixer. The polymer-based repair works in areas where there is a lot of movement, damaged base or where other concrete repairs materials have failed. With no saw-cut or demolition required, the preparation is quick and easy.

Sweep or blow out damaged area. Place the 5-gallon pail on the Roklin Motorized Pail Mixer, ensuring the pail is secure in the correct slots. Pour the contents of bottle "A" into the 5-gallon pail, making sure it doesn't splash out. Pour the supplied 30 pounds of specially-coated aggregate into the pail, covering the "A" side. After shaking the contents of bottle "B" for 20 seconds, pour the contents into the 5 gallon pail.

On cold days or when there is little time for the repair, catalyst can be included to speed the reaction. Spray a light coat of vegetable oil on the paddle in order to keep the paddle clean. Place the paddle in the pail, turn on and mix for one minute before adding aggregate.

Next, add 25 pounds of Roklin Black Diamonds 3/8" aggregate and mix for one minute. Pour into spall which can be filled to grade as material is free-flowing and self-leveling. The polymer slurry can now be feathered into the existing concrete, ensuring a smooth ride. Broadcast the supplied 12-pounds of topping sand over the area to create a high traction surface. Once fully cured, the area can then be returned to traffic, sometimes in less than 30 minutes.

FlexSet is available for purchase through the Roklin web site at www.roklinsystems.com or call 1-888-FlexSet. Other concrete and asphalt repair materials for large and small repairs are also available.
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Author: John Wentz
About the Author:
The author has an experience of 25 years working as a construction contractor and is presently using his experience to help people make the right choice of products. Author recommends FlexSet for Concrete Repair .
Article Source: http://www.articleblast.com/Home_Improvement/General/Top_Concrete_Repair_Products_for_Commercial_Use/

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Best Concrete Repair products for Floor Repair

Concrete floors are utilitarian, easy to maintain and can even be hip and modern. Whether in your warehouse, garage, freezer or living room, polyurethane repair products are is the simplest and fastest materials available for concrete repair. FlexSet and Concrete Welder can be used to fix concrete damage large and small.

Standard methods may require digging out, chiseling, keying, priming and sealing but with FlexSet you simply clean up the damaged concrete floor to ensure that there are no loose pieces, mix your materials and apply. Your floor can be back to use in under an hour.

Even if you plan to cover over your concrete floor, it must be smooth and free from damage if you want your surface materials to look good. Concrete damage can cause bumps in your carpet, trouble interlocking hardwood floors and even collect moisture. For a simple and long-lasting repair, use polyurethane repair products.

For small cracks, use Concrete Welder in cartridges and for more extensive concrete repairs, use FlexSet. To get started, here are the tools needed:

FlexSet Kit
  • A push broom or blower
  • Drill
  • Egg-beater style mixer
  • Trowel or Lute
Concrete Welder Cartridge
  • A broom or blower
  • Scraper or straight-edge
First ensure that the damaged area is clean and dry. Sweep or blow out cracks so there is no loose debris. When using FlexSet concrete repair product, carefully pour contents of bottle “a” into provided 5-gallon bucket then add special coated sand. Next, shake thoroughly and pour bottle “b” into sand mixture. Mix with a paddle-mixer, using a drill. When mixture is completely wet, pour FlexSet onto damaged concrete floor and use a trowel or lute to smooth material into cracks. When damage is smooth, toss topping sand by hand over repaired area to create a uniform look and feel. Your concrete floor can be ready for use in about an hour.

Smaller or hairline cracks in your concrete floor can be filled simply using Concrete Welder, available in a cartridge format. Once the crack is clean and free of moisture, open cartridge and squeeze Concrete Welder directly into the crack. Use a scraper or straight-edge to smooth the material out. Wipe up any excess material and allow to dry for 30 minutes. Now the crack is filled and your concrete floor is ready for use.

With the cracks in your concrete floor filled and smooth, your floor will look better and last longer.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Road Repair & Maintenance Demand for Cement & Concrete Additives

Concrete can’t tell time and it can’t take a temperature. It will fail when the circumstances are right for failure, and wrong for the user. Trouble never hits at the right time or the right season, thus the demand for cement and concrete additives in Road Repair and Maintenance. In order to strengthen, hasten or alter concrete and asphalt to meet the needs presented by cold or damp weather, there are a variety of cement and concrete additives.

There is no changing the fact that climate and weather changes affect road repair and maintenance. With polyurethane products, road maintenance options are greatly expanded without the use of cement and concrete additives. Rather than deciding amongst the many cement and concrete additives, chemical and fiber—calcium chloride, calcium hydroxide and calcium aluminum hydroxide, fibermesh and wiremesh to name a few, FlexSet provides a simpler stronger road repair.

With polyurethane road maintenance products, concrete repair can be done with no dig-out. Concrete cracks can be fixed whenever needed, ideally when traffic is at its lowest. Doing road maintenance quickly and with minimal manpower means less traffic exposure to employees or if it’s a do-it-yourself project, it can be handled in your free time. Sweep or blow out the damaged area, mix your materials and apply to create a simple concrete repair. When the weather is really cold, add the catalyst and your set up time will be quick and easy.

FlexSet 5-gallon kits will cover approximately 50 square feet of concrete repair. With this kit, you will also need a drill, a pail mixer, a lute or trowel and a broom or leaf blower.

Prep the Surface
Make sure area is clean and dry. Clean out with a broom, brush or blow out any concrete cracks or potholes with a leaf blower or compressed air to remove any debris or loose material.

Mix the Material
Open the FlexSet bucket and remove 12-pound bag of topping sand and both “A” and “B” bottles of polymer and shake both bottles, mixing well before use. Add the “A” bottle of polymer to the 5 gallon container of treated sand and mix with a pail mixer for 1 minute or until sand mixture is completely wet. Next, add contents of the “B” bottle and mix thoroughly until mixture is combined well. The material is now ready to be applied.

Apply the Product
Using a trowel or lute, spread the mixture over the concrete repair area. The outer areas of the repair can be feathered into the existing surface for a smooth finish. Next broadcast the included topping sand evenly over the repair area. For potholes or deep cracks, an aggregate can be pre-placed, and can be added to your FlexSet kit at no extra charge.

Cure
Cure for about an hour in warm climates. In colder areas a catalyst can be supplied (free upon request) to speed up the cure time.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

How to Repair Cracks in Concrete

Concrete cracks are caused by many things-- earthquakes, water, tree roots, frost heaves, poor placement of seams between concrete slabs, even cement mixed with too much water. Whatever the cause of your concrete cracks, polyurethane repair product can give you a stronger faster concrete repair than anything else available.
It is essential to deal with concrete crack repair as soon as you notice a crack appear. Concrete cracks may start small, but if left unrepaired, are guaranteed to grow larger. If cracks become too large, or there are too many, the concrete may need to be replaced rather than repaired.

Standard concrete repair methods are time-consuming, require many tools and sometimes significant labor and can take a long time complete. Roklin's concrete repair products provide several options, ready for use on most any concrete repair project. Using Roklin’s simple methods, there is no need for major preparation—no grinding, drilling, pressure washing or saw-cutting cracks. Simply sweep or blow out the damaged area, mix your materials and apply for solid concrete crack repair.

Whether you have basement concrete cracks, concrete foundation cracks, concrete slab cracks or cracks in concrete walls the process is basically the same. See below for recommendations

Hairline Cracks
Sealing concrete cracks can be done simply using Concrete Welder, available in a cartridge format. Make sure the crack is clean and free of moisture. Open cartridge and squeeze Concrete Welder directly into the crack. Use a scraper or straight-edge to smooth the material out. Wipe up any excess material and allow to dry for 30 minutes. Now the crack is filled and ready for use. Note: cracks in concrete walls are better handled with the standard dry-wall patch.

Concrete Crack Patch
To repair a crack in concrete that is quickly widening, use Roklin’s FlexSet Concrete Repair Product. FlexSet provides a fast-setting repair that will be a stronger concrete crack patch with almost no interruption of service.

First ensure that the damaged area is clean and dry. Sweep or blow out cracks so there is no loose debris. Place the aggregate provided in the FlexSet package to fill in the deeper area of the crack, without going above the damaged area. Using FlexSet, carefully pour contents of bottle “a” into provided 5-gallon bucket then add special sand. Next, shake bottle “b” thoroughly and pour into sand mixture. Mix with a paddle-mixer, using a drill. When mixture is completely wet, pour FlexSet onto damaged area and use a trowel or lute to smooth material into cracks. When damaged area becomes sufficiently smooth, toss topping sand by hand over repaired area to create a uniform look and feel. The new repair can be ready in less than an hour.

Concrete Foundation Cracks, or Concrete Slab Cracks

For concrete foundation cracks or concrete slab cracks, use FlexSet to stabilize and fill any voids. The polymer-based repair works in areas where the cracks are deeper and wider, the material flowing down to fill the entire space. With no saw-cut or demolition required, the preparation is quick and easy.

Make sure that the damaged area is clean and dry, with no loose debris. Place the aggregate provided in the FlexSet package to fill in the deeper area of the crack, without going above the damaged area. Using FlexSet bottle "a", carefully pour contents into provided 5-gallon bucket then add special sand. Next, shake bottle "b" thoroughly and pour into sand mixture. Mix with a paddle-mixer, using a drill. When mixture is completely wet, pour FlexSet onto cracks and use a trowel or lute to smooth material into cracks. When cracks are smoothed out, toss topping sand by hand over repaired area to create a smooth surface. In colder months or when there is little time for the repair, catalyst can be supplied as an additive to speed the reaction. The newly-filled cracks can be ready in less than an hour.

Concrete Welder and FlexSet are available for purchase through the Roklin web site at www.roklinsystems.com or call 1-888-FlexSet. Other concrete and asphalt repair materials for large and small repairs are also available.