option for Epoxy or how to properly do garage floors
When I put down the phone, it felt as if I had just been through a nightmare. Not mine, mind you, the customers. In just a few minutes, an $80,000 floor was about to be destroyed due to yet another low bidders shortcuts. The reason... slurry.
Let me explain....
OSHA has mandated... from this point forward... grinding concrete must be done 'wet'. The reason? Prolonged exposure to the dust generated by grinding concrete can lead to cancer. Thanks OSHA for looking out for us professionals who grind concrete floors. We now pass this detail to our contractors who need to have a place for us to put the slurry created in our wet grinding process. Of course, we are expecting hiccups in this new process to show up. Of course, we have been expecting to hear about those who think they can outsmart this added cost of installation. One such "smart" grinding contractor has gotten our attention.
Friday afternoon at 3;18pm the call came in.
A frantic woman's voice desperate to find "concrete epoxy floors dissolver" came across my line. Luckily, I knew the local manufacturer, even more lucky for her, I was able to lead her to them. I did not know if they connected. All I kept thinking about all weekend was how horrible this situation was for the end user and how this reflects on all of us who do the "right thing".
The low bid contractor simply swept all of his concrete slurry down their drain. In the past it would have been concrete dust, collected by vacuum & placed into a dumpster. He did not even use a hose to try and flush the slurry out of their drain system. This low bidder "hoped" the slurry would have no affect on the drain. We all know that "hope" is not a strategy for success. The drain filled, the slurry hardened, more was deposited and suddenly, the drain would not function. Unless enough dissolver could be immediately sourced and used, it would harden and well, "that's all she wrote". Time for the concrete saws and professional plumbers to replace the now solidified drain pipes. The floor ruined.
Be aware of this new OSHA mandate and THINK about how this concrete slurry will be managed. There are products which almost magically separate the water from the slurry. Use them or be sure a lined dumpster will be on site for placement of the slurry. Do not allow your contractor to take this short cut. In the end..... it can be a very costly decision. Ask questions about slurry removal with your floor professional. If the answers you get are not in line with this article, don't walk away from that contractor..... RUN !
Gary Damm is a concrete floor finishes expert from the Metro Atlanta region. He leads teams of concrete floor professionals who focus on the Southeastern US. Be it consulting, installation or maintenance, companies count on Gary for their best practices. He can be reached directly by voice or text at 404-433-0195.