Surface Preparation (Scabbling)

Ultra-high-pressure water jetting offers fast, dust-free surface preparation – removing coatings and curing agents while creating a rough profile for strong concrete bonding. It’s ideal for bridges, tunnels, roads, rail and wharf structures.

Concrete often requires preparation before being coated, whether with additional concrete or an anti-slip layer. Ultra-high-pressure water jetting is an efficient and safe, dust free, surface preparation method which cleans away unwanted deposits such as rubber, oil and epoxy surfaces/ curing agents.

When laying additional concrete water jetting is used to perform scarification or “scabbling”, which removes the top layer of concrete including the curing agent to leave a rough, irregular surface profile consisting of coarse aggregate ensuring superior bonding to a new concrete layer.

Scabbling is an ideal way to remove most industrial coatings including effluent sumps and wash/bay areas as well as airstrip and road markings and texturizing. Additionally, using water to “scabble” is five or more times faster than using a mechanical system.

We align surface preparation to your specification and recognised industry guidance, including:

ICRI CSP profiles (matching required roughness for coatings/overlays)
Coating manufacturer prep requirements (adhesion, surface cleanliness)
NACE/SSPC cleanliness expectations where applicable

Typical Use Cases

Coating & Membrane Reinstatement: create a compliant surface profile for primers, membranes, epoxy, and polyurethane systems
Overlay/Topping Prep: achieve the roughness required for bonded overlays or polymer‑modified mortars
Defect & Laitance Removal: remove weak paste for durable repairs and superior adhesion
Contaminant Removal: strip oils, rubber, resins, adhesives, and corrosion products
Precision Exposure: expose clean aggregate or reinforcement without damaging sound concrete
Strip surface layers in industrial and infrastructure environments

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Benefits

Superior Bonding & Surface Profile

Superior Bonding & Surface Profile-cabbling produces a deep, textured surface ideal for high‑performance coatings, overlays and repair mortars. Ensures strong adhesion and long‑term durability of applied systems. Often specified where grinding or shot blasting cannot achieve sufficient profile depth.

Effective Removal of Tough Materials

Superior Bonding & Surface Profile-cabbling produces a deep, textured surface ideal for high‑performance coatings, overlays and repair mortars. Ensures strong adhesion and long‑term durability of applied systems. Often specified where grinding or shot blasting cannot achieve sufficient profile depth.

Precision & Controlled Material Removal

Allows targeted removal without compromising surrounding structures. Suitable where selective surface removal is critical. Helps maintain structural integrity while preparing the substrate.

Reduced Risk of Coating Failure

Proper scabbling minimises delamination, blistering and premature system failure.
Ensures substrates meet manufacturer and engineering specifications prior to application.

Compatible with Industrial Safety Requirements

Can be combined with dust control and vacuum extraction systems to manage silica risks. Supports safer worksites when delivered by experienced, compliant operators.