The adhesive used with carpet and vinyl tile flooring systems has a level of flexibility. There will be small or even substantial amounts of adhesive/mastic remaining once these flooring systems have been removed. The mastic/adhesive has to be removed completely before any other system is applied. T …

During the installation of a flooring system on an already-covered floor, the original system will need to be removed. It might be ceramic tile, wood plank, carpet, or gypsum-based underlayment. Whatever the system, it will need to be removed without destroying the substrate.   Floor scrapers c …

Removing persistent stains from grease, oil, and pollutants that can change the appearance of a concrete slab can pose obstacles. Pollution will stain concrete. Airborne dirt can collect on a concrete surface, forming a dark, oily buildup or stain. Grease can leave a nasty, slippery stain. The numbe …

Prosoco has been manufacturing chemicals for the construction industry for over 80 years and Niagara Machine is one of their largest, fully stocked distributors. This has been made possible through a combination of chemistry, and the right, like-minded distributors they have partnered with. We …

The first major step in any concrete coating or polishing project is surface preparation, but there is one step prior that will help develop a game plan. Evaluating what you will be working with will help minimize potential issues that you might encounter.  During the evaluation process, the ar …

Polished concrete has become the choice of flooring for interior designers. It is attractive and extremely durable. We are repeatedly asked about polishing steps and stairs or treads and risers. Primarily, there are two types of stairs: cast-in-place and pans. Cast-in-place steps and stairs are form …

Before we can compare these two types of grinders, we must figure out the condition of the concrete project we are working on. All floor grinders will grind. If they can grind, they will also hone and polish. So, if you are removing tile adhesive or a resinous floor coating, either type will work. B …

On almost every project that entails surface preparation or polishing, there will be areas that a large grinder or shot blaster will not reach. Edges, inside corners, and recessed toe kicks are all areas that need to be ground with a smaller piece of equipment. When polishing a countertop, the small …

With all projects, selecting the most efficient piece of equipment to perform the work increases not only production but also provides a safe work environment for you, your employees, and others in the work area. When selecting a method of surface prep, having a goal will guide you through the selec …

Surface preparation is a crucial step toward a successful outcome when applying a coating system, cement-based self-leveling mortar, resinous slurry, or repair mortar to a concrete substrate. The problem occurs when the installer must interpret the written word describing the surface profile nee …