Description #
Want to become a surface prep pro? In this episode we will be going through all the things you need to know to make sure your surfaces are prepared correctly so that you set the best base possible for your work!
Transcript #
0:03
hi everyone and Welcome to our second
0:06
video in the prep set go Series in this
0:09
video we'll be discussing how to
0:10
properly assess and prepare substrates
0:13
for the application of various Coatings
0:15
and floor finishes and we'll cover the
0:18
whole process from the initial visual
0:20
inspection and assessment what to look
0:22
for and any specific preparation and
0:25
remedial processes required we'll be
0:27
focusing primarily on concrete surfaces
0:30
as it's one of the most common
0:31
substrates in construction so mastering
0:33
how to prepare concrete correctly will
0:35
provide a good basis for addressing
0:37
alternative substrate types
0:39
now surface assessment and preparation
0:41
represents the first step in any
0:42
application now whether it's resilient
0:45
flooring waterproofing or general
0:46
Coatings the fundamentals of surface
0:49
preparation remain the same and while it
0:51
might not be the most glamorous or
0:52
enjoyable part of the job it's certainly
0:54
one of the most critical
0:55
because the performance and long-term
0:57
Integrity of any flooring system is
0:59
directly related to the suitability
1:00
integrity and level of preparation of
1:03
the surface it's applied to adequate
1:05
surface preparation can determine the
1:07
success or failure of the system
1:09
so it's crucial to invest the time and
1:12
effort in this initial stage and we've
1:13
been in the game for a long time and can
1:15
tell you how many times the lack of
1:17
surface preparation has been the primary
1:19
reason for a system failure
1:21
so in layman terms if you fail to
1:24
prepare you're preparing to fail it's
1:26
that simple there are many
1:27
considerations and factors that
1:29
determine the suitability of a surface
1:31
for product application
1:33
so let's explore some of the more basic
1:35
considerations
1:36
a simple visual inspection will reveal a
1:39
lot on the condition and suitability of
1:41
the substrate so what are these primary
1:43
considerations so one of the first
1:45
things to look at is cleanliness it's
1:48
pretty basic so cleanliness is a very
1:50
generic term for the condition of a
1:52
surface so what do we mean specifically
1:54
well the surface should be free from
1:56
loose material like dirt dust General
1:58
rubbish plasterboard top coat and
2:01
general construction materials to name a
2:04
few generally any objects not integral
2:06
or not bonded to the substrate so we
2:09
always start with the initial sweep of
2:11
the surface to remove all the larger and
2:12
obvious objects which gives us a better
2:15
view of the surface underneath and
2:18
anything further that needs to be
2:19
addressed a thorough vacuum of the
2:21
surface will then remove all the smaller
2:22
particles and smaller dust next we
2:25
ensure the surface is free from bonded
2:27
contaminants meaning any foreign
2:29
material that may be bonded to but not
2:31
actually part of the substrate and this
2:33
includes things like grease oils wax
2:35
residues curing comp rounds existing
2:38
Paint and Coatings adhesives and sealant
2:40
residues Corner cement and other
2:43
compounds to name a few anything that
2:45
can be considered a bond breaker that
2:47
prevents the applied system from
2:48
adhering directly to the surface now
2:51
these contaminants will require a bit
2:52
more effort to clean by either using
2:55
chemicals such as degreasers for grease
2:57
and oils to manual scrapers wire
2:59
brushing and mechanical grinding so
3:01
while cleaning it's also important to
3:03
remove any organic matter things like
3:05
mold mildew fungus Etc because this this
3:09
will require chemical treatment to kill
3:10
the spores and stop it propagating under
3:13
the applied finish so why is this step
3:15
important what's the risk if these
3:17
contaminants aren't removed well the
3:19
primary risk of applying anything over
3:20
surfaces that aren't properly cleaned is
3:23
peeling or delamination now this is
3:25
because there's no meaningful adhesion
3:27
or Bond directly to the substrate which
3:29
is required for the coding or finish to
3:32
perform as intended you're effectively
3:34
bonding to the surface contaminants that
3:36
are not part of the substrate and are
3:38
either loose or are compatible with with
3:41
the overlaid finish our next
3:42
consideration is surface stability and
3:45
integrity
3:46
concrete substrates should be a single
3:48
solid and stable Mass to properly
3:51
support any overlaid finishes there
3:53
shouldn't be any weak or defective
3:55
layers or obvious faults like it's
3:57
extensive cracking or major
3:58
deterioration for new concrete things to
4:01
check for include latents now latents is
4:04
a weak powdery material that forms on
4:06
the surface of concrete typically due to
4:08
an excess of water in the concrete mix
4:09
it rises to the top and creates a slurry
4:12
cement layer that dries on the surface
4:14
and you can tell it's far softer than
4:16
concrete should be
4:18
if you run something sharp over the
4:19
surface and it powders up or makes an
4:21
impression on the surface this is
4:23
generally evidence of latents for older
4:25
concrete surfaces can become brittle and
4:28
friable over time and subject to
4:30
continuous dusting in both instances
4:32
mechanical treatment including grinding
4:35
shot blasting or similar methods to
4:37
remove these defective lasers required
4:39
and as with other surface contaminants
4:41
the defective layers weaken the direct
4:44
bond between the finish and a stable
4:46
base so any further degradation or
4:48
breakdown movement or delamination of
4:51
these layers will transfer to the to the
4:54
surface finish now concrete spooling and
4:56
concrete cancers where the steel
4:58
reinforcement inside the concrete
4:59
corrodes and is typically due to
5:01
moisture exposure and this can cause
5:03
concrete to crack and peel away and
5:05
concrete cancer is the term commonly
5:07
used for the spread of concrete spalling
5:09
and the only way to stop this is to
5:11
expose and treat the affected steel and
5:13
replace the damaged concrete now surface
5:15
cracks all concrete is subject to
5:18
surface cracking and the extent and the
5:20
severity that is determined by a number
5:22
of different factors new concrete will
5:24
typically form micro cracking which is
5:26
usually caused by rapid water
5:27
evaporation but are superficial and
5:30
minor in nature cracking in older
5:33
concrete surfaces can be down to
5:35
excessive structural movement or
5:36
settling of Foundations now live cracks
5:39
are of a particular concern and they are
5:42
cracks that that expand and continue to
5:45
propagate in the concrete surface now
5:47
this can cause cracking through more
5:49
rigid finishes like tiles and cause
5:52
drumminess and delamination liquid
5:54
Coatings and decorative floor finishes
5:56
aren't designed to bridge wider cracks
5:58
so they can transfer through to the
6:00
coating static cracks should be open and
6:03
filled with a suitable repair compound
6:05
while live cracks will need specialist
6:07
treatment for surfaces with extensive
6:09
cracking a structural engineers report
6:12
is always a good idea now on to our
6:14
final consideration as as a general rule
6:17
surfaces should be smooth flat and
6:20
relatively level they should be free
6:22
from heavy undulations pitted areas deep
6:26
recesses and voids it should be one
6:28
continuous plane especially when
6:30
applying finishes directly to the
6:32
surface now how flat a surface needs to
6:35
be is relative to the surface finish for
6:38
example vinyl flooring requires an
6:41
exceptionally smooth level and uniform
6:43
surface as these defects will show
6:46
through to finish now I relay produces a
6:49
number of surface preparation products
6:51
to create smooth surfaces which we'll
6:53
explore in later episodes liquid
6:55
Coatings including waterproof membranes
6:57
and epoxy coatings are not designed to
6:59
span or fill gaps and voids and can
7:01
develop pinholes and other defects when
7:04
applied over heavily undulated and
7:06
pitted surfaces coverage rates and film
7:08
thicknesses of liquid Coatings will also
7:10
be affected more material will be needed
7:12
the rougher the surface is and film
7:14
thickness will also be compromised over
7:16
Sharp protruding objects tolling systems
7:19
are a little bit more forgiven given
7:20
their capacity to build up the adhesive
7:22
bed however the consumption should also
7:25
be considered the use of leveling
7:27
compounds repair mortars and fairing
7:29
coats to ensure a smooth consistent and
7:31
uniform finish across the whole
7:33
substrate is universally accepted and an
7:35
economical way of preparing the surface
7:38
so in summary the importance of a
7:41
thorough inspection assessment and
7:43
preparation of the substrate cannot be
7:44
stressed enough and it's often the
7:46
difference between the success or
7:48
failure of the overlaid system now we're
7:50
all mindful of time constraints and
7:52
deadlines but by investing the time
7:54
early on in the installation the rest of
7:56
the job will work significantly smoother
7:58
and some of those efficiencies will be
8:00
recovered good Surface Prep not only
8:02
simplifies the actual installation but
8:04
also gives you peace of mind and
8:06
confidence of the long-term durability
8:07
of the system now a big thank you to
8:10
everyone who's joined us for this
8:11
episode of prep set go it's great to
8:13
have you along please feel free to send
8:15
us any comments questions or topics
8:17
you'd like us to cover in future
8:18
episodes and we hope to see you in the
8:20
next installment goodbye
8:24
thank you
