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Surface Gel Tek has developed a new product that literally take the guess work out of concrete surface preparation. "The Profiler™" (formerly Tek Gel) is a patented gel formula that is environmentally safe and a cost effective alternative to conventional methods of concrete surface preparation such a muriatic acid and bead blasting. The gel formulation ñopens-upî hard, dense concrete surfaces (often the result of steel trowelled concrete) and provides a consistent 3 mil profile after each use. The result is an excellent bonding surface for coatings and other floor treatments. The Profiler™ has an extraordinary coverage rate of 300+ sq. ft. gallon and can be sprayed, brushed or rolled.
How It Works
The acid remains in the gel and does not penetrate into the concrete, but reacts only at the surface. The chemical reaction of lime with hydrochloric acid occurs at the interface of the gel and concrete. This reaction produces a metal salt and water, while the remainder of the acid is retained in the gel and is flushed away with rinsing. Test results have substantiated that the pH of the concrete has not changed after flushing the gel from the surface and the additional step of neutralizing the concrete is not required after treatment.
New Markets
The Profiler's™ versatility spans several different markets. It has been proven to be very effective for surface preparation in the decorative coating business. The gel serves as both a cleaner and profiler in one easy application. The Profiler™ can be used to remove curing compounds and bondbreakers from dense concrete surfaces leaving a clean, porous concrete surface ready for final treatment.
The concrete tilt-up industry is another viable market where the gel has a place. The Profiler's™ gel formulation allows it to cling to vertical and inverted surfaces, which provides a means for removing bondbreakers immediately after wall panels have been erected. The Profiler™ is sprayed onto the exterior wall panel agitated with a nylon bristle brush, approximately 3 minutes later it is ready to be rinsed thoroughly with water. In the past, painters would normally wait 45-60 days for the bondbreaker to oxidize before accessing the building for surface preparation. The Profiler™ can be used as a viable option to speed up the painting process on a fast-track tilt-up project.
Other markets where The Profiler™ has been well received.
- the restoration of Historic Buildings where the original concrete may be considered a significant feature of the design.
- removal of old sealers, mold, efflorescence and other coatings from vertical masonry and concrete walls and surfaces in lieu of light sandblasting or water blasting.
- a way to save both time and money by eliminating the precautionary measures of sandblasting and protection from runoff of harsh cleaning chemicals.
The Future
The Profiler™ is not meant to replace beadblasting, but is used as an alternative in areas where it is not cost effective or in situations where beadblasting is not permissible. The gel is an ideal product for situations concerning the environment, it is easy to apply, it saves on labor costs, it is a controlled application and for less than 10 cents a square foot makes it very affordable. The Profiler™ is the "Number 1 choice" and the future in concrete surface preparation.
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