Repairing full-depth cracks in warehouse floors typically requires cutting open the cracks with dry diamond saws. This process tends to be slow and produces a significant amount of hazardous silica dust that must be managed carefully. However, repair contractors working on an Amazon Warehouse project have adopted an innovative method to address cracks in the floor without relying on traditional cut-and-fill techniques.
The problem:
Some people wonder why it’s important to repair cracked floors. In industrial and commercial environments, these cracks can become a liability. As wheeled traffic moves over them, the cracks will continue to expand, causing further damage. Additionally, cracks can accumulate dirt and debris, making the surface difficult to clean. The Roadware 10 Minute Concrete Mender™ is a structural polyurethane designed to restore load transfer and can help bring the floor back to its original condition.
This three level Amazon Warehouse developed thousands of linear feet of shrinkage cracks prior to being places into service. Roadware 10 Minute Concrete Mender will be used to repair them.
The Plan:
To repair the cracks, we will use sacrificial vinyl weatherstrip to create a dam alongside the cracks. This will hold the Roadware 10 Minute Concrete Mender™ in place while it seeps down into the cracks. When mixed, Concrete Mender™ has a water-thin consistency, allowing it to flow easily into open cracks. Since it begins to gel within 5 to 7 minutes, it will naturally seal the bottom of the crack as it cures. It may require three or four light applications, but this will fill the crack completely and initiate the structural Microdoweling™ process. Microdoweling™ is a method by which Concrete Mender™ utilizes low surface tension and molecular attraction to penetrate concrete surfaces, locking into the aggregate and rock matrix.
Application:
With Concrete Mender™, there’s no need for expensive pumps and equipment. First, vacuum the cracks and clean the surface. Then, you can apply the weatherstrip dam. Roadware 10 Minute Concrete Mender™ can be mixed by hand in one-gallon batches using a bucket, and it can be poured directly into the cracks. While additional manufactured sand can be added for larger cracks, it is not recommended for this type of repair. For more details, see the Concrete Mender Bulk Application Instructions.
When the Concrete Mender™ cures in about 10 Minutes at 72 degrees F (21C) , the weather stripping and excess material can be shaved clear or ground smooth with standard equipment.
After buffing and clearing excess material, floors can be returned to service immediately.
Finished concrete crack repair blend in nicely at an Amazon warehouse using full depth Roadware 10 Minute Concrete Mender™.
Additional buffing and service traffic will blend the repairs even more into the surrounding concrete.
Roadware 10 Minute Concrete Mender Technical Data Sheet
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Concrete Mender™ TDSProduct used in the project:
