Links to articles and information on preparing concrete and other surfaces for various coatings and treatments.
Blasting
This page in the “Trade Services” section of the site has information on most types of blasting as well sources for blasting tools, materials and services.
BuildingConservation.com Directory Listings on Cleaning
Articles listed are on abrasive cleaning of stone and brickwork and cleaning terra cotta, stained glass, marble and other materials. There are also articles on laser cleaning, bird damage, atmospheric pollution, managing biological growth, graffiti, nebulous spray cleaning, poultices, steam cleaning and the use of solvents to clean painted and decorated surfaces.
CS Unitec, Inc. Surface Preparation Page
CS Unitec’s concrete surface preparation tools include scabblers, scarifiers, needle scalers, chisel scalers and scrapers for removing paint, laitance, adhesives, and more to prepare concrete surfaces for coatings and finishes. These surface preparation tools also roughen, reduce and level concrete, as well as perform concrete keying and grooving.
Caring for Glazed Architectural Terra Cotta
Flawed repairs and neglect are among the causes of damage to this material commonly found on late 19th and early 20th century era structures.
Concrete Prep Equipment
January 2015 Design+Durability article on grinders, grinders with tungsten carbide brush hammers, shot blasters and scarifiers for creating the profile required by the specification for concrete coatings.
Concrete Surface Prep
Three part series by BlastJournal.com on (1) the symptoms and causes of unsound concrete, how to detect them and how to repair unsound concrete, (2) the types of contaminants and (3) how to prepare concrete surfaces for coating or overlayment.
Concrete Surface Preparation: Part 1
Concrete Surface Preparation: Part 2
Concrete Surface Preparation: Part 3
Insufficient time was allowed to completely remove multiple coatings at this concrete office building entrance but the remaining material was well adhered and therefor adequate for application of the new, PMMA coating.
Durability & Design Magazine article on surface preparation
Facelift for the Forum by Gary Henry
This article in the December 2014 issue of Design and Durability Magazine includes a brief history of The Forum in Inglewood California as well a description of what was done in 2013 to return the building to its original color scheme. 
Mechanisms of Failure The Case of Improperly Cleaned Surfaces
PaintSquare.com August 2014 article on what happens if coatings are applied to an improperly cleaned surface?
Mt. Carmel High School, Chicago, Cleaning
October 2014 Durability & Design Magazine article
PROSOCO’s Sure Klean VanaTrol on Ground Floor Precast
This March 2014 Durability + Design Magazine article describes how Masonry and Precast Specialty Services, of Lincoln Nebraska cleaned 50,000 square feet of ground level, vertical pre-cast concrete with PROSOCO Sure Klean VanaTrol to prepare it for an anti-graffiti coating.
Ram Board Floor and Wall Protection
Ram Board manufactures durable sheet and roll goods and tapes used to protects floors and walls during construction and restoration projects.
Roughing it Up – Durability+Design January 2015 article
Grinders, shot blasters and scarifiers for creating the optimal profile before applying coatings to concrete. 
Surface Preparation by Sherwin-Williams
Basic methods and SSPC specifications on preparing dozens of different surfaces (from aluminum to wood).
What is the best method for removing production machine oils soaked deeply into a concrete floor before applying a non-skid coating?
Selected answers to the question posted on the PaintSquare.com blog.
