Preparing concrete surfaces for coatings, overlays, stains or repair materials is a time-consuming task that many contractors perform begrudgingly or are tempted to overlook altogether. However, surface preparation is the most critical step when working with concrete surfaces and preparing for further jobs.
For proper bonding of concrete overlays and coatings, we assess the surface—cleaning it of all residual chemicals, oils and grease— and give it the correct concrete surface profile (or CSP). This measures the average distance from the peaks of the surface to the valleys. Every job is different, but as a rule of thumb, the thicker the overlay or topping, the more aggressive the profile needs to be. The surface preparation is completed by shot blasting, scarifying or using other engineer-approved methods on the surface to level out any imperfections.

All underlayments, toppings and coatings require surface preparation to ensure compatibility, bondability and durability.