Sep 12, 2022 | Advice & Tips
High-gloss finishes bring a visually appealing touch to concrete surfaces, one that’s especially popular in commercial projects but can be just as well utilized in residential applications. To achieve a high-gloss finish on concrete, you can either polish the surface...
Sep 7, 2022 | Runyon Roots
“Mechanic” Dan East is the quintessential Hoosier. A child of the 60’s, he was born in Beech Grove, at Saint Francis hospital, just down the street from the 19th century home that his grandparents had lived in since 1928. And he still owns this home. Dan was the...
Aug 15, 2022 | Advice & Tips
When finished adequately and maintained well, concrete surfaces should keep up a good quality visual appearance for several years. That said, many influences over time can cause concrete to crack, discolor, deteriorate, or become unlevel. Runyon Surface Prep has...
Jul 23, 2022 | Advice & Tips
The guidelines for staining concrete typically remain the same for most situations, the staining itself can be a relatively painless process once you know what you’re doing. How difficult the application is will depend on the circumstances of the project, like the...
Jul 12, 2022 | Advice & Tips
The best way to grind down concrete for any given project will depend on the amount of concrete you need to grind as well as the surface texture you want to leave behind. Some projects may require a simple walk-behind floor grinder with a modest tooling grit while...
Jun 23, 2022 | Advice & Tips
Floor grinders, shot blasters, power trowels – amid the list of surface prep equipment at the heart of concrete work, there are several tools that go underappreciated and underutilized, even by experienced professionals. Runyon Surface Prep is a sales and rental...
Jun 16, 2022 | Advice & Tips
What makes a good rental product? What are the attributes surrounding one? Typically, we look for elements like the capability of longevity – without it, the investment is practically useless. Other attributes often include a build made of quality materials for...
Jun 7, 2022 | Advice & Tips
Refining floors for a quality polish is a vital step in finalizing concrete surface projects both large and small; commercial and residential. Commercial stakeholders rely on surface professionals to deliver a surface that reflects the integrity of their businesses...
Jun 2, 2022 | Industry Trends
Polishing concrete might be thought of as an art as much as a science. To be blunt, techniques exist that could be used to make a floor “appear” to be within contracted specs, even when it’s not. Most importantly, one cannot possibly verify that a job has been done...
May 31, 2022 | Industry Trends
Let’s be honest, when it comes to holding contractors to specs, it’s always been an uphill battle. Maybe you gather your most experienced employees and let them “eye the shine.” Or if you are fortunate enough to have a meter, someone crouches down to take a reading,...
May 15, 2022 | Featured Posts, Industry Trends
Every so often the winds of change blow across the industrial landscape with a variable, albeit undeniable strength. The industrial revolution was a clear example. Proliferation of computer technology might be another. But what our present generation will see as the...
May 2, 2022 | Advice & Tips
Unlevel or deteriorating concrete presents dangers for guests, so much so that public municipalities must adhere to ADA guidelines for sidewalk hazards. There’s also the issue of aesthetic appeal and maintaining integrity in commercial and public concrete surfaces....
Apr 25, 2022 | Advice & Tips
While regular maintenance can uphold your concrete surface’s structural integrity for a long time, there are cases when a refresh or a complete surface overall is necessary. This is never more true than with commercial concrete surfaces. Unlike residential surfaces,...
Apr 10, 2022 | Advice & Tips
City municipalities have had their hands full lately, many governing bodies are catching up with their pandemic to-do lists and others are still trying to figure out how best to adapt. Amid the whirlwind of issues, the everyday city challenges remain prevalent. We’re...
Mar 30, 2022 | Advice & Tips
The wet polishing method has been around for over a century. Concrete surface professionals use wet polishing to prevent the surface from overheating and add a measure of safety from hazardous silica dust. Wet polishing can also reduce unnecessary friction on diamond...
Mar 23, 2022 | Advice & Tips
You may be working on new floor applications for a commercial developer or maybe you’ve been hired to repair the concrete surface of a rec center. Whatever the case, different concrete coatings provide different functions. Some surfaces are meant to display a company...
Mar 7, 2022 | Advice & Tips
Power trowels are a must-have when it comes to concrete surface prep equipment. Not only can they help you ready your concrete during initial installation, but you can also polish your concrete with them. In fact, some ride-on trowels can hold up to 60 tools at once,...
Feb 25, 2022 | Advice & Tips
As you probably know, the quality of a good concrete surface installation depends heavily on the troweling step. Smoothing out the concrete finish and working out excess moisture from the fresh concrete will set up new flooring for long-term success and ultimately...
Feb 18, 2022 | Advice & Tips
Exterior concrete surfaces can be fickle, surrounded by influential factors like water and cold temperatures, and are more likely to be public property with specific design requirements. So, the best outdoor concrete surface equipment will have dynamic features and be...
Feb 10, 2022 | Advice & Tips
As is typical of most abrasive equipment and accessories, the effectiveness of your grind or polish relies heavily on the quality of your attachments. Yes, the variations in the grit of tooling will make a difference in the fineness of the grind. But some tools of the...
Feb 4, 2022 | Advice & Tips
Concrete degradation is natural. Even with the highest quality finish and routine upkeep, your surfaces will eventually need reinstallation or extensive repairs. Typically, a polished concrete surface should last about 20 years. But that’s not a guarantee. One of the...
Feb 1, 2022 | Runyon Roots
Amana Arayan has been blessed with a remarkable life story that began halfway around the world. Her parents were originally from Faisalabad, Pakistan, and they immigrated to the US in the late 70’s. Settling in Ottawa, Illinois, the scenic gateway to Starved Rock...
Jan 20, 2022 | Advice & Tips
No material lasts forever. A strong coating, routine maintenance, moisture prevention – these can all help the longevity of your concrete surface. But over time, foot traffic and general wear and tear can still cause degradation of even the highest-quality concrete...
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 20, 2021 | Advice & Tips
Crystalline silica, the mineral found in the makeup of concrete, is a widely known hazard for concrete construction workers. As such, there are measures workers and managers must take to ensure the safety of those involved in any given concrete project. This is...
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...
Nov 2, 2021 | Advice & Tips
For the most part, you’ll find similar procedures for concrete floor maintenance across different types of concrete floor applications and finishes. However, the approach will vary depending on the amount of use the surface gets along with the environment. Is this a...
Oct 20, 2021 | Advice & Tips
The typical setup for concrete dust extraction involves a direct link via hose from your abrasive equipment (floor grinder, scarifier, shot blaster) to the vacuum itself. For this process to go smoothly and collect dust efficiently, there are several factors that...
