FEATURE


How do you select the right equipment for your surface preparation project?


By Tracey Glew, Group Managing Director at The Preparation Group


THE fi rst two questions when embarking on any surface preparation project are ‘What is to be removed?’ and ‘What is to be applied?’


For removal, typical problems involve uneven joints, high spots, surface contaminants, worn out coatings, sticky residues, old tiles, vinyl, carpets and friable substrates – all of which need to be addressed for level, clean surfaces.


The specifi cation of the new material to be applied – whether it is a screed, resin decorative fi nish, coating, laminate, wood, ceramic tile, stone, rubber, vinyl or carpet – will dictate the nature and degree of preparation and the surface profi ling required to ensure both adhesion and the aesthetic expectations. This will ultimately determine the methods of preparation and the machines, tools and their accessories matched to suit.


There are four key types of preparation and surface removal, Shotblasters, Planers, Grinders, and Multi-strippers, while the type, size and power of the machine – along with its selected accessories – determine achievable production rates.


Shotblasters


Shotblasting machines are available in walk-behind, single-phase 110 volt and three-phase 415 volt versions. The model number relates to the operating width of the machine. Shot “steel abrasive” is propelled at high velocity onto the background surface with the size of shot


selected. The speed at which the machine is set dictates the level of cleaning and profi ling.


Shotblasting is a cost- eff ective preparation method for cleaning and keying power- fl oated concrete, removing concrete laitance and surface contaminants, and removing coatings from concrete, steel, asphalt, stone, and tiles.


Planers


Planers are available as single-phase 110 volt, three-phase 415 volt, petrol or diesel walk-behind models and ride on versions for large-scale projects and heavy-duty applications. Planing is used to remove screeds, self-levelers and thick coatings, to reduce levels and to provide anti-slip profi ling. Planers are fi tted with a drum with attached fl ails that rotate within the body of the machine to cut the background surface. The process produces a profi led fi nish that varies subject to the fl ail selected and size of machine.


Grinders


Grinding machines include electric single-head, double-head or multi-head models, diesel and petrol-powered and variable-speed models for wet grinding and polishing applications.


Grinding would be selected when a fl at and smooth profi le is required for removal of concrete laitance, surface contaminants, screeds, coatings, and adhesives. A Grinder would also be required for polishing decorative screeds, resin fi nishes and concrete.


Diamond discs or shoes rotate within the body of the machine to produce the desired surface profi le. When selecting accessories, it’s important to examine the type of treated surfaces. A hard composition surface will require a soft- bond diamond and a soft composition


surface will require a hard-bond diamond. Hand grinders are used to prepare small edges – and an 110v walk-behind Grinder has larger grinding capabilities. Additionally, the introduction of PCD technology Polycrystalline Diamond has provided an innovative solution for effi cient removal of adhesives, thermoplastics, bitumen, and elastomeric coatings. It should be noted resin-bonded diamonds polish hard surfaces such as concrete and terrazzo up to a high- gloss fi nish.


Multi-strippers


Multi-stripping or ‘Scraper’ machines are available in small walk-behind models for small projects, while for large projects – large ride-on electric, propane or battery- powered machines are available. Multi- stripping is the method for removal of the following: wood, laminate, vinyl, carpets, rubber, ceramic, stone tiles, underlying levelling compounds, and adhesives. A blade, chisel or shank is fi xed to the front of the selected machine to cut under and remove material. It’s often chosen when there’s no other cost-eff ective option available. Once the material has been removed a further method of surface preparation is required for the application of the new fl ooring material to be cleaned and profi led.


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