System Expansion
How to Fill Expansion Joints in Concrete Floors for a Smooth Easy-to-clean Surface
Expansion joints are put in floors to prevent cracks that might develop as a result of the shrinkage which occurs as concrete cures. The joints are trawled into the floor or sometimes cut after the floor is hard enough to walk on. As the concrete shrinks, these joints themselves often develop cracks that go clear through to the sand or gravel base below. Attempting to fill these cracks with a liquid can result in the liquid leaking out the bottom leaving the joint open again.
In some cases, where temperature changes are severe, it is best to leave expansion joints unfilled. Joints cut in sidewalks are designed to allow for expansion and contraction without cracking. For most interior uses, however, expansion and contraction is not extreme. The covered areas allow for slower temperature changes and most interior spaces are climate controlled to some degree. Food processors and other interior operations that have health concerns, therefore, usually fill expansion joints to avoid having cleanliness problems with mold, mildew, insects, and the like.
Durall Manufacturing has developed an epoxy expansion joint grout that can quickly fill these joints without the danger of the filler leaking out the bottom. The Durall grout is very hard, cures quickly, and has great adhesion properties when applied to cleaned and prepped floor joints.
Here are the steps that will produce a successful joint fill. First, clean the floor using an aggressive brush with a rotary scrubber and high-alkaline cleaner to bring the pH up to about 12. Then follow the alkaline cleaning with an acidic cleaner pulling the pH down to near 4. Next scrub rinse once or twice with water. Be sure to clean the joints as you go. Using the pressure from a water hose during each phase will blast dirt out of your joints.
Next mix up Durall’s grout and (wearing gloves) scrub a handful of it into the joints at a 45-degree angle. Use a putty knife to remove excess and smooth the top of the grout level with the floor. Allow the grout to harden for at least two hours, after which it is often helpful to scrub the joints again with fresh water to remove any residue left from the previous scrubbing process. The joints will still be visible but they will be smooth, hard, and level. With a nice coat of epoxy or urethane coating over them, they will look and wear great.
Durall Industrial Flooring supplies kits of materials that are customized to owner specification and delivered directly to the job site. Kits include full directions and 24/7 help lines staffed by seasoned flooring experts, so professionals and amateurs alike can successfully install a quality floor.
Web visitors can obtain free, job-specific quotes on materials or nationwide turnkey installations by completing a simple questionnaire at http://www.concrete-floor-coatings.com.
For high-resolution photo examples, visit http://www.concrete-floor-coatings.com/photos/bubbles
For more information, contact Harvey Chichester at: harvey@concrete-floor-coatings.com
Phone: 1-800-466-8910 or 952-888-1488 (24/7)
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About the Author
Durall Industial Flooring, has over 40 years of flow coated flooring experience. With over 500 specialty chemical products Durall Industial Flooring, provides 24/7 service hand help. Free cost analysis for each flooring project is available at www.concrete-floor-coatings.com
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