How do you repair concrete when the temperature of the air and concrete are well below 0℉?

FLEXKIT 5 is your answer for all concrete repairs, at any temperature, on any concrete surface, whether it be horizontal, vertical, or overhead. The focus of this writing is on the specific benefits of FLEXKIT 5 for cold temperature solutions.

We do not have to wait long for the FLEXKIT 5 material to cure during the summer months of Las Vegas. With temperatures in excess of 100 degrees, cure times are consistently 15 minutes. But look no further than the plethora of freezers with below zero temperatures that exist throughout the valley where solutions to maintenance and repair needs are challenged by the need to limit the downtime of these essential commercial appliances.

Freezers are used for a variety of users including ice cream plants, ice cube making facilities, and frozen food storage in retail and wholesale facilities, among others. With the heavy traffic of hard tire forklifts used within these large industrial units, their floors can take a beating. Constant back and forth over expansion joints can cause deterioration of the joints. At these temperatures you cannot use cementitious materials that require water. Many other water-based repair materials are also rendered unusable due to their water content. Even some solvent-based materials are unable to cure at such low temperatures.

So how do you repair concrete when the temperature of the air and concrete are well below 0℉?

We have installed FLEXKIT 5 at temperatures as low as -35℉ in Juno, Alaska. FLEXKIT 5 is a vinyl liquid polymer that when properly mixed with blast sand will cure to compression strengths as high as 12,000 lbs. The following narrative provides insight and tips on how best to service your customers’ needs with this revolutionary product.

To make a quick, long lasting repair on a concrete floor in an ice cream warehouse or other industrial freezer with a concrete floor, there are several things you can do before you attack the damage. If you can get the JES Primer 100, FLEXKIT 5, and the sand warm, do so. This can be accomplished by placing the materials inside a building or other warm place for 24 hours before you make the repair. FLEXKIT 5 is a thermal cure product that generates heat as it cures; the warmer the material is, the less time it will take to cure. While transporting the materials to the repair site, do all that you can to help keep the material warm. We have wrapped it in towels and blankets and placed the pails into the cab of the trucks – anything we could do to keep the material warm. NEVER direct an open flame at the pails or build a fire under them. Another trick is to warm the concrete with a small torch or heat gun, or lay a heating pad over the location and leave it overnight. If you use the torch method, DO NOT allow any open flame to make contact with the JES Primer 100 or the FLEXKIT 5 material.

To make a quality, lasting repair with our FLEXKIT 5 or FLEXKITs in sub-zero temperatures, you will need to clean the concrete, and you will accomplish this with a concrete wheel made to grind concrete. We use a 4” hand-held grinder with a diamond cup wheel to make quick work of the grind work. The idea is to provide a clean, structurally sound surface for proper adhesion. Once you have removed any residual dust, you can mix the JES Prime and apply it to the repair area. Our primer is designed to penetrate the pores of the concrete, where it will expand as it cures, creating an extremely strong mechanical bond. Let the primer tack-up; it will feel like duct tape to the touch. Then, you will measure the FLEXKIT 5 material and catalyze it and mix it for a full minute. Then, add the JES X. Our JES X is a cold weather additive that will accelerate the generation of heat in the mix, causing the material to cure much quicker than it would otherwise. Make sure you add the correct amount of JES X into the material and mix for 30 seconds. Now, add the appropriate amount of blast sand and mix that for 3 minutes. With the use of the FLEXKITs, all the measuring has been done for you. Just pour the materials into the bucket in the proper order, mix and you are ready to make the repair with the FLEXKIT. With the material mixed, test the primer for tackiness and apply it to the damaged area. Make sure to pack enough of the warmed material into the damaged area to remove any voids. You can lay a heating pad over the repair and leave it until it has cured. If you are using a heat gun, feel free to use it to set off the curing process. DO NOT use an open flame.

Good luck with your cold climate concrete repairs, and remember, you can always contact us to talk about your project!