Tools of the trade – concrete restoration

 What does it take to restore your concrete? If your concrete is spalling or cracking, or if you’ve been having issues with structural integrity, it’s time to give it some TLC. To do that, though, you need the right tools for the job. Here are a few common tools used in concrete restoration.

Pressure washer or sandblaster

For surface-level work or refinishing of concrete, the first step is to make sure that it’s clean and clear of debris. This is where a pressure washer comes in, which allows you to clean off debris and surface stains. For very tough stains or paint removal, you might need a sandblaster or bead blaster that uses a fine abrasive spray.

If you’re dealing with spalling concrete where only the top layer needs work, this may be all that’s needed to get you back to a workable surface. If it goes deeper, though, you’ll have to dig deeper in your toolbox.

Grinder

If you’re doing some deeper work, you may need to remove larger chunks of concrete. In that case, a grinder becomes extremely important. Diamond-tipped grinding wheels help you grind off layers of concrete that are cracked or too high, while cutting wheels allow you to cut out sections that are too damaged to be repaired. These may also come in handy if you need to do work on the rebar, which is usually too far in to be reached without cutting out large chunks.

Hammer drill

A hammer drill is really important for the work of removing broken concrete. It helps you carve away the damaged parts and leave new surfaces ready for restoration. Having a couple of different sizes of hammer drills will allow you to use the right one for the job. With the hammer drill, grinder, and enough bits to help you take up your cracked concrete, you can remove anything in your way.

Hand tools

Once you’ve taken away all the debris and concrete that needs to be removed, it’s time for resurfacing. A regular trowel will suffice for smaller jobs, while bigger once might require floats. Depending on the surface finish, you might need a finishing broom too.

No matter what your concrete restoration task, these tools are enough to get the job started. There are more specialized tools and some that don’t apply in every situation, but with all of these you’ll be well on your way to a job well done.

Have a job that’s bigger than you can handle? Contact us today for more information about our concrete restoration services.