Is there anything better than the glossy sheen of a freshly finished concrete floor, or perhaps the luxurious softness of brand new shag carpet on your bare feet? unfortunately, overtime, these wonderful features, much like that new car smell, deteriorate, eventually requiring replacement.  Surface prep is a labor-intensive project.  While significant time is spent discussing methods for surface prep finishing, we also need to explore the beginning side of preparing surfaces for remediation or refinishing.  The first step in starting this project is to ensure that all residue from the removed flooring or concrete has been properly and thoroughly removed and the floor is prepped for new sealants.  This includes the removal of any carpet glue left behind after the removal process and the sanding or removal of old epoxy coatings to ensure a solid bond.  Every contractor knows proper prep is crucial to creating a perfect final product.

Why Is It Important?

Preparation is key!  The purpose of refinishing the floor is to create a surface that is better and more appealing than the one being removed.  Industrial adhesives and sealers used by contractors for construction projects are made to be long lasting and resist deterioration.  Foregoing the proper removal process of these adhesives and sealers during the remediation and refinishing process will provide a substandard finished product.  When removing old carpet, for example, it is common for carpet glue to be left behind.  Removing this adhesive is important for the quality of the newly upgraded flooring has any leftover residue will cause issues with a newly applied sealant.  The sealant will not be able to penetrate the adhesive residue it will leave a portion of your new flooring exposed, allowing for more rapid deterioration.  For flooring that already has an epoxy coating, it is important to either fully remove or at least sand down the current epoxy finish in oreder for the new coating to adhere to the surface.

Grind Residue Quickly with Zecs!

While there are multiple products and methods but may be used to remove industrial adhesives and sealants, the goal of most contractors is to use the method that gets it done the fastest and provides the most reliable results.  That’s where Zec’s abrasive discs come in.  These discs work in conjunction with industrial grinders to take down any industrial adhesive or sealant standing in the way of a newly finished floor.  Originating in Italy, the Zec discs are equipped with multiple layers of long-lasting silicon carbide grains.  These long lasting and easy to use discs are more efficient than diamond cup wheels because they resist residue buildup that typically occurs with diamond cup wheels.  These versatile discs make quick work of epoxies, urethane, rubber coatings, and even paint and rust.  They may be used on concrete, wood, and metal surfaces and may be used in wet or dry locations.  being able to use these disks in what locations or what surfaces drastically reduces any sanded particulates in the air, which is a great safety feature for all workers.

U.S. Saws is a proud supplier of Zec’s products.  They offer multipacks of discs in a variety of grit ratings to ensure contractors have the right tools for the job.  No residual adhesive or sealant will stand in the way of the perfectly finished floor when a Zec’s abrasive disc coupled with a U.S. Saws grinder is used for the job!

Don’t let residual debris stand in the way of perfect flooring. Contact U.S. SAWS today discuss all of the things you will do in your free time now that you’ve chosen Zec’s abrasive discs to take over your floor prep.

Concrete cracks are a natural part of handling concrete, but they can be a nightmare for contractors.  Fortunately there are ways to get ahead of the cracks and reduce the potential for unsightly cracks.  Predetermining the location of intentional cracks, or control joints is the best method to ensure the crack is managed and aesthetically pleasing for the project owner.  It is crucial that these control joints are placed before the concrete is fully hardened.  While a contractor may saw through hardened concrete, cutting a straight line may prove difficult, and as time passes, unintentional cracks may also form.  Many contractors choose to cut control joints within the first six to eighteen hours, but early entry saws allow contractors to get an early jump on control joint cutting as these saws allow the cuts to occur just a couple of hours after the concrete has been placed.

Early Entry Saw Cutting

Early entry saws are a game changer in the concrete industry, and U.S. SAWS is a leader in the industry.  The U.S. SAWS SRX-2000 Early Entry Saw is a top choice for cutting control joints in freshly placed concrete.  After letting the concrete cure for a few hours, use this saw to place predetermined control joints to ensure the inevitable concrete cracking is under control and precisely where you want it to occur.   Once the control joint is cut, the crack will follow along that line.  One great feature provided by U.S. SAWS for their early entry saws is a skid plate.  The skid plate attaches to the saw and helps produce a smooth, straight, clean cut without any spalling.  The SRX-2000 is equipped with upcut blade rotation.  This rotation pushes the debris out of the joint a it cuts.  In order to ensure the saw does not leave any marks on the green concrete, this saw has 4-inch wide polyurethane wheels.  Easily transportable and quickly stored, this saw is a great addition to every concrete contractor’s warehouse.

Dry Cut with the Right Early Entry Saw Vacuum System

While the goal with early entry saws is to cut the control joints while the concrete is still “fresh,” sometimes the concrete has dried more than expected.  When dry concrete is cut with a saw, debris is expelled in the form of silica particulates.  These particulates are not only time consuming to clean up after dry cutting, they also, when inhaled, may cause grave damage to the lungs of anyone who has inhaled the debris.   Keeping the debris from dry cutting under control and protecting workers handling the saws is a crucial final touch in cutting control joints.  Thankfully the U.S. SAWS has developed the Ultra Vac 1250-G, a heavy duty vacuum that works well with early entry saws to ensure all of the dust and debris created by the dry cutting of concrete control joints is collected before it can cause any messes or health problems for the saw users.  This vacuum will attach to early entry saws near the blade guard for efficient collection of debris.  It is even equipped with wide tires to reduce any marks on the fresh concrete and has front and rear handles for easy stowing.

Control joints are a necessary component of concrete work and U.S. SAWS is an industry leader in providing all of your concrete finishing needs. Contact U.S. SAWS today to add an early entry saw to your workspace and to not only ensure you have the right vacuum system for your saw, but that it is also OSHA certified.

Diamond blades.  Doesn’t the name sound luxurious? In the world of tile cutting, there is nothing stronger than a diamond blade.  These blades are perfect for cutting tile, glass, concrete and porcelain and have the capability to do so in wet or dry conditions.  They are usually made of stainless steel and have diamond chips adhered to the blade.  Typically a cleaner cut is made with a diamond blade when the diamond fragments are more exposed.  As the blade use wears down the fragments, the cuts become less clean and precise.

When cutting tiles, no matter the material, the key to the perfect fit is a clean, precise cut.  An experienced contractor will have a sound understanding of when to use and when not to use diamond blades.  Let’s explore some of those dos and don’ts for wet-cutting.

Wet Cutting Diamond Blade Dos

Diamond blade water cutters are a must have for every contractor’s tool box.  These saws can be your best friend for wet cutting tile if used properly.  One would assume the first DO for wet cutting tile would be water, but it isn’t.  The first DO of properly using these diamond blade water cutters is pre-inspecting the blade before use.  You want that diamond blade to complete fast, precision cuts.  You are able to ensure that precision and smoothness by inspecting your blade for any cracks or obvious wear and tear.  Not only will a worn blade ruin a perfect cut, it can also be dangerous.  It is important for everyone that you have a smooth, precise cut and finish that cut with all of your digits intact.  So take a minute and inspect your blade before every use.

The second big DO of wet cutting tile is the use of water while cutting.  Ensuring there is a steady supply of water for the blade is crucial to the blade’s performance.  Water is such a vital component to the process because it reduced friction during the use of the blade, which ensures the blade is operating optimally during the entire cut.   The goal is a fast, clean cut with perfect precision.  That can be achieved by using properly prepared diamond blade combined with a continuous stream of water.

The third key DO of wet cutting with diamond blades is ensuring you are wearing all of the proper safety gear.  Don’t let the glitz of that diamond blade cloud your common sense.  Safety gear is the key to protecting your eyes, fingers, feet, and other body parts from serious harm.  That includes eye protection, gloves, steel toed shoes, and ear protection.

Wet Cutting Diamond Blade Don’ts

The DON’TS are just as important as the DOS when using a diamond blade.  First, DON’T operate your diamond blade saw without reading the manufacturer’s operating manual.  It is imperative you are versed in how the blade fits into the saw and how to operate the saw to avoid malfunctions, poor cuts and injury.  Take the time to read the manual and familiarize yourself with the tool before use.

Second, DON’T use your new blade on a saw that does not meet the correct specifications for the size of your new blade.  The saws that work with diamond blades are made for particular saw blades.  Using a blade that is too large or small for the saw you have will set you up for failure and potentially severe injury.

Third, DON’T operate your water cutter without a blade guard.  The purpose of the blade guard in wet tile cutting is multifold.  Of course a blade guard is there as a safety feature to protect your fingers.  It also, however, ensures that the water that is splashing off of the blade during use hits the guard and makes its way back to the blade, reducing friction to the blade as it cuts and preserving the longevity of the blade while keeping cuts smooth and precise.  That pesky blade guard also does a good job of keeping you dry while operating the saw.

A fourth DON’T is also mentioned in the DOS, but is worth reiterating here.  DON’T operate your diamond blade without safety gear.  Heavy duty gloves and goggles may not be en vogue, but losing a finger does is an expensive way to get out of remodeling your master bathroom.  Wear the gear and reduce your risk of harm.

Contact U.S. SAWS today to discuss your diamond blade options.