ConcreteScience® was born of a real-world concrete contractor problem. (Specifically, Hicks Concrete Construction was the contractor – learn more about Hicks Concrete here). Our own research told us proper sealing of concrete could extend its life and save our customers money in the long run. We even proved it could be done with the right cleaning and chemical treatments.

It seems simple: sealed concrete lasts longer. The problem, however, is it also costs more. That’s because concrete must be cleaned before it’s sealed. Traditional cleaning methods leave concrete wet – and sealer must be applied when the concrete is dry. Therein lies the dilemma. To properly seal concrete, the contractor has to return to the job site the next day. This “double-trip” costs money, and no one wanted to pay for it.

Reducing the cost to properly clean and seal while making the whole process more effective was the challenge. ConcreteScience® was the answer. We knew we had the correct cleaning and sealing chemistry. The problem is the concrete surface itself. It’s full of holes – or pores. Dirt and debris get trapped in the pores and are difficult to remove, especially with pressure washing techniques.

To answer that problem, we refined concrete “extraction cleaning.” In concept, this is nearly identical to carpet and upholstery cleaning (in fact, Prochem – our partner for this equipment – makes most of the world’s best vacuums and extraction cleaning equipment for ServiceMaster and others). After pre-treatment, hot, pressurized water is injected and then vacuum extracted from the concrete surface in the same pass. Learn about the extraction cleaning process in detail here.

Extraction cleaning meant concrete was truly clean, nearly dry, and ready for the chemical sealants, color treatments and stains to work magic. It also meant we could clean outside without distracting over-spray. And move indoors without disruption. Because we contain wastewater, we could tackle messy, and environmentally sensitive, clean up projects no one else could touch.

For all ConcreteScience® can do, let’s just say it sounds easier than it is. In addition to our own experience, grit, and trial and error, our first pilot locations shared in the refining process. It took over 4 years, a dozen pilot locations, and over 50 modifications and improvements to the original equipment before we had the ultimate winning combination.

And we’re still on the move. New innovations and refinements are close at hand including a larger hard surface cleaner (to clean a larger area in less time) and “mini” version of the same tool (to clean hard to reach areas and indoors).

Read the right side for some of our highlights.