facebook
twitter
linkedin
 
Home › Newsletters › August 2013 › Making Concrete Repairs That Last
Seal the Deal is intended to be an informative and educational publication for ChemMasters’ network of independent manufacturer’s representatives, distributors and contractors. We don’t want to make you chemical engineers, but we do want to help you feel better informed and more comfortable discussing construction chemicals. If there are specific products or topics you would like to see addressed in a future issue, please contact John Fauth.

Making Concrete Repairs That Last


Most people have had some experience making repairs to concrete. Repair enough concrete and you’re bound to have a project that didn’t result in an acceptable outcome. What are some of the elements that can help assure your repair is successful?

Product Selection

Choose the right product for the job.
  • Understand the demands of the environment in which the repair will take place, and choose a repair mortar suitable for that purpose. Consult the Product Data Sheet and/or call ChemMasters Technical Service for assistance. Some considerations include:
    • Freeze/thaw exposure
    • Compressive or tensile forces
    • Flexural forces
    • Impact
    • Chemical exposure
    • Environmental conditions (installation temperature, humidity, forecast, etc)
  • Repair mortars are not skim coats! Do not attempt to use repair mortars as thin resurfacers.
  • Always use a structural repair mortar for load bearing applications.
  • Use a repair mortar whose properties match the intended repair depth.
  • Use a repair mortar whose performance characteristics closely match the surrounding concrete. Stronger is not better if it results in dissimilarities between the repair mortar and concrete when subjected to temperature changes, flexural stresses, impact, etc.

Planning

Plan the logistics of your repair around the needs and limitations of the product that will do the job as needed. Do not attempt to modify the use of a product to suit your logistical needs.

Realistic Expectations

You’re more likely to be satisfied with the outcome of a repair if you understand its limitations at the outset.

Have realistic expectations about how a functional concrete repair may look.

  • No repair mortar can be installed to a feather edge and then subjected to demanding environments that include wheeled traffic, shovels or plows, thermal expansion and contraction, freeze/thaw damage, etc.
  • Most repairs are highly visible. Subsequent use of an opaque pigmented sealer can help hide repairs.
  • Repair mortars are not skim coats! Do not attempt to use repair mortars as thin resurfacers.

Surface Preparation

Surface preparation is by far the most important element to a satisfactory outcome. Preparing any surface for a concrete repair should include:

Proper surface preparation is essential to long lasting repairs.

  • Remove any loose or unsoundly bonded concrete.
  • Remove any grease, oil, dirt or dust that may impede adhesion.
  • Define the perimeter with saw cut or chisel.
  • Clean any exposed rebar to NACE 3, SSPC SP6 standards. Then coat with ChemMasters Duraguard 100 epoxy primer.
  • Consider use of a bonding agent.
  • Saturate the repair area with clean, potable water. Leave ponded for up to 24 hours, removing any puddles or standing water immediately prior to installation leaving an SSD condition (saturated, surface dry). This will prevent water loss from the mortar, preventing a desicated bond line.

Installation

Successful concrete repairs require careful observance of product installation instructions.

  • Read and understand Product Data Sheet instructions.
  • Remove the load from structural components prior to making a structural repair, and for the duration of mortar cure.
  • Mix repair mortar according to Product Data Sheet instructions. Do not over water.
  • Apply a “scrub coat” prior to mortar installation, ensuring maximum mortar contact in all recessed areas.
  • Do not apply a watered down “slurry coat” with an elevated water to cement ratio, creating a weakened bond line.
  • Follow ACI 305 “Moist Cure Procedure for Hot Weather Concreting Standards” for installations over 85° F (29.4° C).
  • Follow ACI 306 “Cold Weather Concreting Standards” for installations below 50° F (10° C).
  • Finish to desired surface texture.
  • Apply a curing compound if instructed to do so.

ChemMasters Repair Mortars Include

SpeedPatchSpeedPatch

Fast Setting Repair Mortar
SpeedPatch is a cementitious mortar for repairs of holes, voids and cracks in concrete and masonry surfaces. This proprietary blend of unique cements and admixtures produces a light concrete colored mortar with accelerated set and high early strength.

FeatherPatch™FeatherPatch™

Concrete Patching Mortar for Thin Repairs
FeatherPatch is a blend of graded quartz, silica sand, cements and proprietary additives. It is a single component, polymer modified mortar, requiring only water for mixing.

ChemSpeed 65ChemSpeed 65

Rapid Setting, High Strength Structural Concrete Repair Mortar
ChemSpeed 65 is a high strength, very rapid setting, structural concrete repair mortar. It is a portland cement based material and requires only water for mixing.

ChemSpeed 75ChemSpeed 75

Rapid Setting, Low Temperature High Strength Structural Concrete Repair Mortar
ChemSpeed 75 is a one component, high performance structural repair mortar. It produces high early strengths at a wide range of temperatures.

ChemPatch VO1ChemPatch VO1

Single Component Polymer Modified Non-shrink Structural Repair Mortar for Vertical and Overhead Use
ChemPatch VO1 represents a breakthrough in concrete repair technology. It is a one component, polymer modified, fast setting, non-shrink structural repair mortar.

Durapatch EPXDurapatch EPX

High Strength Epoxy Resurface and Repair System — Quartz Aggregate
DuraPatch EPX is a specially formulated, three-component, l00% solids epoxy systems for resurfacing and repair of concrete substrates. DuraPatch EPX contains a quartz aggregate blend for heavy duty, industrial floors.

Durapatch mMaDurapatch mMa

High Strength Methyl Methacylate Cold Concrete Patch
Durapatch mMa is a two component, methyl methacrylate based concrete patching material. Durapatch mMa sets very rapidly to minimize downtime or traffic disruption.

ChemPlugChemPlug

Expansive Hydraulic Cement
ChemPlug is a fast-setting, expansive hydraulic cement and is compounded to withstand continual exposure to water, even under pressure. It is cement based, fills and seals the pores and voids of the concrete or masonry surface.

Seal the Deal is intended to be an informative and educational publication for ChemMasters’ network of independent manufacturer’s representatives, distributors and contractors. We don’t want to make you chemical engineers, but we do want to help you feel better informed and more comfortable discussing construction chemicals. If there are specific products or topics you would like to see addressed in a future issue, please contact John Fauth.
© 2024 ChemMasters, Inc.
Silencure, Polyseal, Traz, Aquanil, Spall Guard, Chemisil, EZ Strip Cure, SafeSeal, Spray Film, DuraShield SRT, Slip Stop and Exposee are trademarks of ChemMasters, Inc. ChemMasters and Safe-Cure are registered trademarks of ChemMasters, Inc.


300 Edwards Street, Madison, Ohio 44057
Phone 440.428.2105 - 800.486.7866
Fax 440.428.7091
 
 
© 2024 ChemMasters, Inc.
Silencure, Polyseal, Traz, Aquanil, Spall Guard, Chemisil, EZ Strip Cure, SafeSeal, Spray Film, DuraShield SRT, Slip Stop and Exposee are trademarks of ChemMasters, Inc. ChemMasters and Safe-Cure are registered trademarks of ChemMasters, Inc.
300 Edwards Street, Madison, Ohio 44057
Phone 440.428.2105 - 800.486.7866
Fax 440.428.7091

ERISA Documents for Welfare Benefit Plan