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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Harvey M. Chichester
Durall Industrial Flooring
7723 Pillsbury Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55423
Phone: 1-800-466-8910 or 952-888-1488 (24/7)
www.concrete-floor-coatings.com
harvey@concrete-floor-coatings.com
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 that 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, insect s, and the like.
Durall Manufacturing has developed an 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 even 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,
Minneapolis, Minnesota, is the only industrial flooring manufacturer that also makes
over 500 specialty cleaners. Durall’s 40 years of chemical manufacturing
experience has produced a special preparation of cleaners and an application
system assuring optimum flooring adhesion and wear results. Durall provides
factory-direct support for these new products.
Durall has recognized that
customers, whether professionals or amateurs, want to buy solutions - not
products. As a result, Durall provides a Web-based, free, cost analysis at
www.concrete-floor- oatings.com. Durall field technicians use the deck
condition, existing resources, and desired outcome provided by the customer to
prepare a recommended kit of materials and step-by-step instructions for taking
the project from beginning to end. These customized kits are delivered directly
to the job site.
To address those unexpected
questions and problems, Durall also provides a 24/7 help line during the
project.
For photo examples, visit:
www.concrete-floor-coatings.com/photos/joints
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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