Jan 10, 2022 | Advice & Tips
Concrete flooring is not so complicated that a simple machine won’t get the job done. At the end of the day, the best floor grinder for you will fit within your budget while providing a quality polish. But that’s not to say you don’t have options – in fact, you have...
Dec 2, 2021 | Advice & Tips
At Runyon Surface Prep, we’re serious proponents of the power trowel. A staple of concrete surface prep work and a machine that demands careful attention to its design, the power trowel is among the most important tools for concrete surface professionals. This post...
Nov 26, 2021 | Advice & Tips
The world of concrete surface prep would be lost without the quality abrasive equipment that carries each project’s most vital steps. At Runyon, we understand the extent of importance each machine and tool carry. This post will highlight specific-use grinders as...
Nov 17, 2021 | Advice & Tips
There’s a long list of mishaps and influences that can compromise the integrity of even the strongest concrete floors, whether that floor is installed in a heavy industry commercial setting or a quiet, private home. Thankfully, there are ways you can protect the...
Oct 5, 2021 | Advice & Tips
Concrete dust extraction requires more grit than the traditional home vacuum. Way, way more grit. But how much of a difference can a commercial or industrial vacuum really make? And what qualities should you look for? At Runyon Surface Prep, we house our own...
Sep 29, 2021 | Advice & Tips
From abrasive tools spitting up chunks of raw material to slick surfaces after a good polish, there is a whole spectrum of dangers that threaten the safety of concrete surface workers. This, of course, is why we have the Occupational Safety and Health Administration...
Sep 3, 2021 | Advice & Tips
The right concrete surface equipment can set you up for long-term quality and project success. Of course, not everyone will require substantial investments in their equipment – especially those who work in a dynamic, evolving industry or do odd jobs here and there....
Aug 25, 2021 | Advice & Tips
The broad spectrum of commercial operations brings in numerous factors to consider when it comes to concrete surface prep and coating, some factors are unique to the coinciding industry or even the business itself. But there are also matters that are universal to...
Aug 13, 2021 | Advice & Tips
Perhaps you didn’t notice the defect until well after you put the finishing touches on your new concrete surface, or maybe a slab of aged and worn flooring that has picked up some imperfections over the years but isn’t quite ready for a new installation. Whatever the...
Jul 9, 2021 | Advice & Tips
Dust from crushed or ground concrete contains a hazardous particle known as crystalline silica. This particle is especially hazardous to those working in concrete surface preparation and everyday concrete worksites. Many workers in these industries risk exposure to...
Jun 24, 2021 | Advice & Tips
The cleaning step is one of the most important measures you can take when preparing a surface for installation or renovations. Yet, it’s not uncommon—even for professionals—to have missteps or even skip this step altogether, especially if the surface appears clean to...
Jun 18, 2021 | Flooring Equipment
For many, preparing and finishing a concrete floor without the need of material installations is a no-brainer. This approach will check a lot of boxes for property owners and contractors – whether that be price, aesthetic, convenience, or another benefit. That’s not...
May 26, 2021 | Advice & Tips
On their own, while durable and low-maintenance, concrete surfaces are not much to look at – which is why there’s always a demand for new and unique ways of approaching concrete surface installation. You could, of course, go traditional and add some tiles or wood to...
May 18, 2021 | Featured Posts, Flooring Equipment
Slurry is a hazardous liquid that often results from wet polishing concrete surfaces with abrasive tools. While it’s more than a simple nuisance—sometimes utilized for floor repair, like filling air bubbles in concrete surfaces—slurry is still a danger to the...
May 11, 2021 | Advice & Tips
Power trowels are primarily used in surface preparation to apply smooth finishes to concrete slabs. This machine has assisted professionals with concrete surface work for over several decades and continues to evolve with the times. Not only can you use a power trowel...
Apr 28, 2021 | Advice & Tips
Before getting into the specifics of each approach to surface removal, you should first note that grinding is not universally preferred over shot blasting or vice versa. So, there is no one blanket answer to the question: Should I shot blast or grind my concrete...
Apr 23, 2021 | Advice & Tips
Whether you’re talking about excessive UV exposure outside, poor ventilation inside, or issues with maintaining a consistent temperature for bonding, there are a plethora of potential influences that can affect the final outcome of your work. While the goals remain...
Apr 8, 2021 | Advice & Tips
For many, flooring is perhaps the most overlooked aspect of a home or business. Of course, you may notice when the flooring is unattractive or torn up and dirty. But when everything is going right and the floor is as it should be, are you really paying attention to...
Apr 1, 2021 | Advice & Tips
There are numerous factors that can influence your choice of surface coating. Is your project taking place outdoors? Or, is it indoors in a low key, residential environment? What about projected foot traffic? Your budget? Of course, you’re likely already considering...
Mar 23, 2021 | Advice & Tips
For over a century, epoxy compounds have been mixed and distributed. And, for the better part of that century, epoxy resin has been used in surface adhesion. Still a favorite for contractors, businesses, and handy homeowners, epoxy coating comes with a wide array of...
Mar 1, 2021 | Advice & Tips
Moisture is among the greatest enemies of a quality surface preparation project. At its worst, it can cause you and your team to waste precious time and resources as you work to undo the damage done. What’s worse, left unchecked, coating pitfalls from moisture may...
Feb 25, 2021 | Advice & Tips
From equipment hazards to dangerous chemicals and harmful dust, there are a plethora of dangers present in the surface preparation industry. Taking the time to understand the proper precautions and operating procedures may help you avoid serious injuries and diseases....
Feb 14, 2021 | Advice & Tips
Perhaps it’s their versatility, or perhaps it’s the wide range of surfaces they can cover, but few things benefit a good surface prep job like a quality scarifier. That’s because, between their attachments and the various models available, scarifiers present a dynamic...
Feb 9, 2021 | Advice & Tips
The clank and scrape of metal against tiles, the buzz of grinders, and the hum of a power trowel as it polishes your finished product – you can picture the whole job from removal to completion. But, what about prior to floor resurfacing? If you’re relatively new to...
Feb 4, 2021 | Runyon Roots
The first uses of terrazzo stone flooring date back to more than a half-millennium, when Italian architects and Venetian workers used marble scrap leftover from other projects as a decorative add-on to the clay they used in residences and terraces. While modern...
Feb 2, 2021 | Advice & Tips
When it comes to garage floor coatings, there are a lot of options and a lot of different results you can achieve. From flake to resin designs the options are limitless. Once you have figured out what you would like your end result to look like, or hope to look...
Jan 20, 2021 | Advice & Tips
Wet polishing is the oldest known method of concrete surface prep, dating back to the early 1900s. It wasn’t until the 1990s that dry polishing was introduced to the industry, and it happened by accident. A polishing contractor left his new crew to do a job, assuming...
Jan 15, 2021 | Advice & Tips
Shot blasters may be used for a number of reasons in concrete surface prep. You may have a small surface area that a large grinder cannot sufficiently prepare, you may be looking to smoothen out your concrete floor, or maybe your surface requires the removal of only a...
Jan 4, 2021 | Featured Products
Starting your surface prep project with the right equipment will do more than help you complete the job. Prepping concrete correctly from the get-go will boost your efficiency and ensure you don’t have to do extra work or, in some cases, backtrack. In this post, we’ll...
Dec 2, 2020 | Advice & Tips
The right approach to polishing, coating, or repairing your concrete floors will prove to be a worthy investment in functionality and aesthetics. But before you can start, you’ll need to be thorough in preparing your surface or risk the project backfiring on you....
