A concrete scarifier is a surface preparation equipment. You may also come to know of a concrete sacrifier with the names, surface planer or a milling machine. They are used at construction sites to prepare the surface by removing the concrete. It has widely used because of its high productivity. They are used for scarring the concrete surfaces. Cutting tools available in varied sizes, shapes and styles are made to rotate around the drum are what brings about the desired scarring.
But deciding when to use a concrete scarifier needs analysis and deep insight. We have highlighted some points that might help you choose better.
What are the other surface preparation pieces of equipment available?
Other than the concrete scarifier, grinder and shot blaster are also available as options. But choosing the right machine is crucial and dependent upon the final outcome.
How to make the right choice?
Each equipment comes with its own pros and cons. But in cases such as surface preparation with other options also available, the choice does not depend on benefits offered. But, it depends on the situation. Some situations may require some particular equipment, while others may need alternatives. So, it is important to understand the situations or conditions where particular equipment is best employed. We choose the equipment keeping in mind the efficiency, effectiveness and the desired outcome. The time that will go in the surface preparation with particular types of equipment is also taken into consideration.
When is using concrete scarifier over other available options is an ideal choice?
Though no machine can be said as better than others, yet machines work ideally when they are chosen for the particular tasks ideally. Choosing a machine needs proper evaluation. Moreover, multiple machines can be used simultaneously to get the desired result.
- When a quicker action is sought:
Scarifiers can remove concrete at a much faster rate than the grinders. So, when timely action is sought, pummeling action offered by the scarifier’s cutting tools due to the high speed of rotation can be put to use. When demolition is required in lesser time, scarifier is a preferred choice over the grinder.
- When rough profile outcomes are desired:
The cutter chips installed in concrete scarifiers are very aggressive and leave rough surfaces. Moreover, cutting depths can be adjusted in accordance with the need. The flails of the scarifier break the concrete into small chips hitting it hard enough. So, when the desired surface is rough, concrete scarifier is the better option to go with.
Whenever scarring the concrete is to be done at sites with less lighting or more visitors, you may not want anyone to slip into. So, the rough surface left by the scar caused by the scarifier will prevent such events from happening. A rough surface is easily visible and noticeable.
- Uneven sidewalks:
Sidewalks may become uneven with time or exposure to bad environments. Uneven sidewalks may result in risks for the walkers which can be reduced as well as prevented from occurrence. So, a scarifier when used to reduce the dangers associated with sidewalks may be more productive.
- When removal of thicker concrete is required:
When concrete thicker than 3mm is to be removed, A concrete scarifier is an ideal choice.
- Budget:
The tooling cost of concrete scarifier is lesser than that of the grinder. Moreover, it is time efficient. So, employing a grinder for a particular purpose will need more time and more time would mean more cost paid to the manpower. Concrete scarifier here is a pretty much inexpensive choice and saves both times as well as money.
- Thickly coated floors:
The floors which are heavily coated when need scarring can be done both with the grinders as well as the scarifiers. But choosing a scarifier over a grinder can be an ideal choice for its quick action and better efficiency in terms of roughness owing to its aggressiveness.
- The final outcome:
When the thicker coatings are to be removed and the resultant floor needs polishing, scarifier is not a good choice. This is so because the surface for the coating does not need so much of the rough surface.
To remove an epoxy coating to resurface the floor and give it a decorative texture, scarifier will be a better option rather than using a grinder.
- Higher productivity:
The scarifiers have been designed in a manner so as to hold a number of cutters. The cutter shafts are held by the moving drums. A number of cutters scraping the surface in one go results in better and higher productivity. The production rate of a scarifier ranges in between 350 square feet per hour to 1500 square feet per hour.
- Slip-resistant walkways:
In areas with higher rainfall or humid climates, walkways may lead to road mishaps by slippery surfaces. If slip-proof sidewalks are to be made, the friction required is high and nature also needs to be more aggressive. Then, the best choice would be concrete scraper. Owing to its rough resultant, it can groove the walkways well enough in a manner so as to avoid the associated hazards.
- Alignment of concrete joints:
When concrete joints are not in proper alignment, they need the scarifier to make the necessary corrections.
- Uneven surfaces:
A scarifier impacts the floor vertically. When surfaces are uneven, they can effectively and efficiently be used to impact the high crests to reduce them to the desired even floor.
- The textured finish is desired:
While resurfacing a concrete floor, if the desired outcome is a textured surface, a scarifier is the best choice.
- Multi-purpose:
Since the productivity ranges are wide, sizes are variable and with customization options being available at the disposal, scarifier can be used variedly in different situations.
So, it is good to ensure the outcome and the efficiency before choosing a scarifier over other available options.