What's a Concrete Surface Profile, or CSP?

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Why Concrete Surfaces Are Prepared

Start at the End if You Want a Good Floor Coating or Decorative Overlay Job

Know the Job Specifications

Examine the Surface

Clean the Concrete

Roughen of "Profile" the Surface

Repair Surface Defects

Standards You Should Know About (ACI 503R, ASTM 4263, ASTM 4260)

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When Job Specifications and Manufacturers Specifications Differ

What Surface Condition Specifications Should Cover

Sometimes Surface Preparation and Coating Installer are Different Companies

Non-Breathable Coating Caveat

What About Acid Etching for Surface Preparation?

Architects, Engineers, Property Owners, and Other Important People: Job Planning

For proper bonding of overlays and coatings, it's important to give surface the correct concrete surface profile, or CSP. To help contractors make this assessment, the International Concrete Repair Institute has developed benchmark guidelines for CSP—a measure of the average distance from the peaks of the surface to the valleys. They range from CSP 1 (nearly flat) to CSP 9 (very rough). As a general rule, the thicker the overlay or topping, the more aggressive the profile needs to be. A skim coat, for example, may require a light CSP of 2 to 4. For thicker self-leveling or polymer overlays, acceptable profiles generally range from CSP 4 to 6. Achieving surface profiles in the higher ranges often requires roughening by shotblasting or scarifying.

For a copy of ICRI's technical guide, "Selecting and Specifying Concrete Surface Preparation for Sealers, Coatings, and Polymer Overlays," call 847-827-0830 or visit www.icri.org.

Blastrac also offers a handy guide for choosing the correct surface preparation method to achieve a specific concrete surface profile.

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