Question:

What exactly is scarifying and what are its advantages?

Response:

For the painting or flooring contractor hired to apply or repair a coating on a concrete floor, the range of tools and possible techniques available for surface preparation can be extensive. Surface preparation methods can include anything from detergent scrubbing to acid etching to mechanical abrasion. Proper surface preparation is critical to a successful and long-lasting coating job, and the key to preventing call backs. Here is an overview of one common surface preparation method used on concrete floors: scarifying.

BMP-G200

Scarifiers are versatile surface preparation tools used for concrete, asphalt, and even steel surfaces. Scarifiers use steel or carbide tipped cutters (in various shapes, depending on application) that are loaded on shafts placed around the perimeter of a cylindrical drum. As the drum rotates, the cutters impact the surface at a high speed, fracturing the coating and/or contaminants and abrading the concrete surface. The tools are used to remove contaminants, coatings, adhesives, and paint. They are also very useful for preparing problem areas on concrete slabs, like:

• burned areas,
• high spots,
• curled joints,
• excessive trowel marks,
• trip hazards, and more.

Many models can be connected to dust collection systems.

Use this checklist of sorts to help you determine where to start. Consider each of the items listed until you find the most likely cause for dropping shot.

Cutter/Tungsten Carbide Tip

To achieve the results you want, there are several considerations to be taken before proceeding with scarifying. Here is some general advice, but be sure to contact us with specific inquiries.

• With various cutters available for scarifiers, make sure to match the cutter type to the substrate (concrete, asphalt or steel) and the "problem" to be solved. If there is a coating to be removed, what type is it? What contaminant, if any, is being removed? Are high spots being fixed? The answers to these questions can assist you in selecting the right machine for your application.
• Although bigger machines might be more appealing, correlate the machine size with the size of the application (square footage). You may also have to consider what power supply you have available and what confinements or restrictions the job poses.
• Consider the final desired result. Cutter types, cutter spacing and the speed of the machine all impact the appearance of the surface after scarification.
• Once you’ve began scarifying, be aware that greater depth is most successfully achieved by making several passes over the same area instead of trying to take off the material in one pass.
• To ensure a unified result, vary the travel speed of the scarifier to address areas that have more or less coating, or harder/softer concrete.

BMP-E165 Scarifier

With these in mind, you are ready to embark into scarifying. However, there are a few rookie mistakes that can be avoided. For example, inspect the scarifier’s drum frequently; cutters and spacers wear out and will need to be replaced. Likewise, selecting the wrong cutter or the wrong depth can be detrimental to your surface. If you have questions or doubts, don’t hesitate to contact the employees here at Blastrac. With over thirty years of experience, we are ready and on-hand to help you.