Sawing Concrete For Traction
Concrete that hasn't been polished and sealed, such as on a sidewalk or in a driveway, looks like it isn't the slipperiest surface around. Yet if the concrete gets very wet, as it can in a prolonged rainstorm or when someone spills water on it, it can become very slippery. People wearing shoes that have a little traction can still end up skidding around a bit on the wet concrete. In some areas, simply putting an absorbent mat out is enough to provide traction. However, for many other areas, sawing the concrete to introduce grooves is better.
Can Be in Decorative Patterns
When traction grooves are introduced to concrete, they're usually laid out in parallel lines -- the sawing happens right across the slab of concrete. This can make the surface look unfinished, so for sections of concrete that need to look better, consider having the sawing done in patterns. For example, a checkerboard pattern provides visual interest without making the surface look like it's under construction, and it keeps grooved areas close enough to one another that people will be able to stay on the grooved portions of concrete without having to step on slippery ungrooved portions.
Appropriate for Both Shoe Traction and Speed Reduction
Concrete sawing can introduce traction in areas where people on foot might need the extra grip, and it is also appropriate for roadways in which vehicles need to slow down. If you manage an office park, for example, and have to deal with speeding cars or even speeding electric delivery carts or bikes, creating sections of grooves in the roadway forces people to slow down. They don't like the noise or the bumpy feeling created when they speed over the grooves.
Groove Direction, Depth, and Width Are Customizable
You can choose the groove depth and width, and the direction can of course be changed as well, as long as there is enough room for the sawing equipment. Sawing traction into concrete on your property does not mean you have to rip up a perfectly good floor or path and make your facility look sloppy.
When you need traction on concrete, sawing is a permanent solution that can actually add a decorative aspect to your facility, if you'd like. The procedure is relatively quick and can reduce the number of slip-and-fall accidents that occur. Because the safety benefits are so noticeable, don't wait. Contact a concrete slab sawing company to discuss groove sawing as soon as you can.
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