Fifteen years ago in 1990, the owners and management of Pittsburgh's Allegheny Center Plaza were concerned about the considerable expense exceeding $500,000 each year in maintaining a 110,000 square foot pedestrian traffic area, as well as the 3,000 car heated parking garage beneath the Plaza. They needed a new, innovative product which could withstand harsh freeze-thaws and heavy snowfalls inherent in Pittsburgh winters, as well as its scorching summer heat. Since then and continuing to today, PERMACRETE® has been the breakthrough solution to their problem.
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The importance of slab preparation cannot be over emphasized. Eighty to ninety (80% - 90%) per cent of the potential for success or failure of an installation is tied to how well the surface is prepared.
Remember that the surface must be free from dust, dirt, oil, grease, and other bond breaking contaminates. A surface can be prepared and cleaned chemically or mechanically. Chemically preparing the surface will require the use of cleaning and degreasing agents, such as Blue Nitro Cleaner or Orange Power Degreaser. An etching agent may be required in some instances to give the surface a slightly rough profile in order to facilitate a stronger bond between the surface and the coating.
Mechanically preparing the surface will require the use of a sand blaster, scarifier, or shot blaster. Determining which one to use will depend on (1) what type of contaminates or surface deterioration is present on the surface, (2) how much of a profile is desired on the surface, and (3) whether the surface is indoors, outdoors, commercial or residential.
Whatever the answers may be to each of those questions, proper surface preparation is THE key to a successful installation!
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