The bar for affordability of a pump for joint filling just dropped. Just because your projects are smaller, working on your hands and knees to fill floor joints shouldn’t be your only option.
Check out this updated article explaining how much more affordable pumping joint filler is now. The article is the same. But, the numbers are crazy low.
So, you’re comfortable filling floor joints on the average job. It’s easy. Just get some cartridges and start pumping. But now you’re looking at a larger project and there are far more joints to be filled than your average job. You’re adding up the cost of the cartridges you’ll need on this one and it’s a big number. Plus, you’ll need more people to install it 20 ounces at a time.
You know that these materials are available in bulk
Concrete joint sealants and joint fillers are different in both chemical formulation and intended use. Elastomeric Joint Sealants are cold-applied elastomeric single or multi-component materials used for sealing, caulking, or glazing operations on buildings, plazas, and decks for vehicular or pedestrian use, and types of construction other than highway and airfield pavements and bridges. The primary purpose of a joint sealant is to keep water, dirt, and debris out of the joint. Designed to be able to expand and contract along with the joint, sealants are relatively soft and flexible materials, typically polyurethane, silicone, or acrylic in composition.
Hard-wheeled vehicles, carts, and pallet jacks traveling over a sealant-filled joint will cause it to deflect, leaving the edges of the joint unprotected. Leading to edge cracking and spalling.
We all know that the key to the long term success of your joint sealant is it’s ability to stay bonded to the concrete sidewalls of the joint. But how do you make sure you have the best chance at superior bond in an existing joint. In one word, Prep. Preparation of the joint walls is critical and poor prep is a sure path to failure of the sealant.
Prep of your joints has to be done. And, the easier you make it, the better chance you have at success. There are many unique and high speed saws that are the latest and greatest for this job. But, you don’t have to break the bank to get it done. Chances are, you already have what you’ll need to clean and prep your joints. If you have a grinder, diamond blade, shroud and a vacuum, you have what you need.
Check out our checklist for joints and floors for a list
Material | Joint Type | Consistency | Chemical resistance | Tools needed |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sika ICSL | Self-leveling | For light traffic, no chemicals | Caulk Gun | |
Sika IA | Non-sag | For light traffic, no chemicals | Caulk Gun | |
Pecora 322FC | Expansion or control joints | Self-leveling | Fuels | AT 1200S Air powered applicator |
Pecora GC-2 | Expansion and joints at least ¼” wide | Non-sag | Various chemicals and immersion in water | Bulk Caulking gun, paddle mixer and drill |
Pecora NR-201 |
Sealing joints in your concrete structures is key to prolonging the life of a concrete structures. Joints in slabs are critical for relieving stress to prevent cracking but they are also the weak point when it comes to traffic. Joints in containment structures are the main route liquids take to get to the ground. Not sealing these joints could lead to reportable leaks or even undermining of the structure if not addressed immediately.
Given that these joints are outside, there are a few things you need to know before you choose a sealant so you can be sure it will last.
They are very different when it comes to the range of movement they will see especially if they are exposed to direct sunlight. Control joints relieve stress in