| Bubbles and craters in newly installed concrete floor | | | | the screening dust. Then put on those kneepads and, |
| coatings often come from gases flowing through the | | | | using a tooth paste-style tube of glazing compound |
| porous cement. These gases can be argon, methane, | | | | and a putty knife, start filling. After all the problem |
| or whatever is under the slab. Sometimes the gases | | | | craters are filled, screen again. A good second |
| come from chemical reactions still being produced by | | | | screening can be done as soon as you are finished |
| the preparatory floor cleaning process. Often the | | | | filling. This screening will quickly remove excess glaze |
| gases derive from air being sucked into the room by | | | | and blend each hole flat. Sweep again and then coat |
| the heating system or by natural airflow. We describe | | | | the floor. |
| here a simple, effective solution for repairing these | | | | With this extra hour of work you can be sure that |
| defects. | | | | the holes are all permanently filled and with no holes |
| Many times just screening the floor and putting on | | | | remaining in the floor, there should be no new |
| another coat will solve the problem, but not always. | | | | bubbles or craters. Make sure that when you mix |
| That is, even after a second coat, there may be | | | | your floor coating you don't whip air into the mixture. |
| telltale signs of bubbling. Look closely at one of the | | | | I use a hand paddle for about 200 strokes then let |
| bubbles, remove any skin and see if there is a small | | | | the mixture sit for 20 minutes before using it, pot life |
| hole at the bottom of the crater. This small hole is a | | | | permitting. If you suspect that your roller cover is |
| sign that something is blowing through the hole, | | | | pushing air into your product use a mohair-style roller |
| causing the bubble. For a positive cure, use glazing | | | | cover, and pour the product on the floor; don't dip |
| compound to fill each hole before your next coat. | | | | the roller into it. Having the room temperature near |
| While this sounds like a big job, in fact a 1200 sq. ft. | | | | 70 degrees and preventing wind and hot or cool |
| floor can be filled by you and a helper in about an | | | | spots is also helpful. |
| hour. | | | | Durall Industrial Flooring supplies kits of materials that |
| Here are the steps for positive repair and | | | | are customized to owner specification and delivered |
| concealment of your cratering problems. First, use a | | | | directly to the job site. Kits include full directions and |
| rotary scrubber and drive pad with a 60-grit screen | | | | 24/7 help lines staffed by seasoned flooring experts, |
| to quickly go over the floor, shaving off any bubble | | | | so professionals and amateurs alike can successfully |
| tops and thereby flattening the floor. Next sweep up | | | | install a quality floor. |