SURFACE PREPARATION

Commercial Concrete Surface Preparation

Every coating, polish and flooring system lasts or fails on what happened before it went down. We strip, grind and blast the slab so the next system bonds.

Since 1990
Commercial and industrial only
1,000 – 160,000 SF
Project range
UltraFlor
10-year warranty available
Next-day response
On most projects
WHAT IT SOLVES

The prep decides whether the next system lasts

Coatings that delaminate

A coating bonds to the profile underneath it. Too smooth and it peels, contaminated and it never bonds at all. Profiling to the right CSP level is what prevents that.

Old adhesives and coverings

Cutback adhesive, tile, carpet glue and failed coatings all have to come off before anything new goes down. Scraping, grinding and shot blasting each suit different jobs.

Unknown slab condition

Prep exposes what the slab is actually doing, including soft surface paste, contamination and cracking, before it becomes a warranty problem.

CHOOSING A METHOD

Grinding, shot blasting and scraping do different jobs

The right method depends on what is on the slab, how large the area is, and how much profile the next system needs. Most commercial jobs use more than one.

Grinding or shot blasting

Diamond grinding is precise, works to edges and suits occupied spaces. Shot blasting covers large open areas fast and leaves a deeper profile. Slabs too large or too contaminated to grind go to the blaster.

What CSP level you need

ICRI defines concrete surface profiles from CSP 1 to CSP 9. Thin coatings need less profile, heavy builds need more. Profiling past what the system requires wastes time and material.

HOW A PROJECT RUNS

Four steps, start to handoff

01

Site assessment

We walk the slab, check its condition, test for moisture where it matters, and give you a clear scope with no vague line items.

02

Strip and remove

Scraping, grinding or shot blasting removes old coatings, adhesives, tile and carpet, with dust containment running throughout.

03

Profile to spec

The slab is profiled to the ICRI CSP level the next coating or flooring system requires, no more and no less.

04

Clean handoff

The floor is cleaned down and handed off ready for the next trade, with documentation where applicable.

WHERE WE DO THIS WORK

Colorado headquarters, six-state coverage

All West Surface Prep is based in Commerce City, Colorado and works across Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and South Dakota. For Denver metro projects specifically, see our concrete surface prep in Denver page.

Common questions about concrete surface preparation

How do I know which prep method my floor needs?

It depends on what is on the slab, the size of the area, and the profile the next system requires. We establish that on the site walk before quoting.

Can you work in an occupied building?

Yes. We run HEPA-managed dust containment on grinding and blasting so adjacent tenants and other trades keep working.

What is a CSP level?

The ICRI concrete surface profile scale, CSP 1 to CSP 9, describes how rough the prepared surface is. The coating manufacturer specifies which level their system needs.

Do you remove old adhesive and tile?

Yes. Cutback adhesive, carpet glue, tile and failed coatings are routine removal work ahead of a new system.

Tell us what is on the slab

Send the facility type, the approximate square footage and what is currently on the floor. You will hear back the same business day.