Technical Bulletin: Concrete Surface Preparation

Armor manufactures and sells a variety of corrosion protection technologies to be applied over concrete surfaces such as flooring, tanks, secondary containment, vessels, and chimneys. While we design our products to perform in extreme environments, one key element in their success is proper surface preparation. Most failures are directly related to improper or insufficient surface preparation. This technical bulletin was created to provide you with tools to help identify and recommend proper surface profile levels.

The pictures above are of the Concrete Surface Profile (CSP) placards. These were developed and sold by the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI) to provide a visual and textural guide for identifying and confirming the proper surface profile of your concrete. The 10 classifications (CSP 1-10) of surface texture were determined by the average distance from the peaks of the surface to the valleys. These profiles are accepted industry standards to guide and provide all parties, from the specifier to the installer, with the proper surface texture for a successful bond. A lower profile number is a smoother surface, while a higher profile provides a much rougher texture or “tooth.”

NOTES

Before Surface Profiling

• Clean and decontaminate the concrete, and ensure it’s dry.
• Use mechanical, rather than chemical (acid etch), surface profiling methods for Armor treatments.

After Surface Profiling and Before Application

• Repair of cracks, depressions, bug holes, spalls, etc.
• Address or honor any control or expansion joints.
• Install or create a job standard to serve as the approved acceptable:
  • Surface preparation
  • Surface profile
  • Application