RGL Services delivers specialised concrete surface preparation across the UK using ultra-high-pressure water jetting at over 2,800 bar. Operating since 1984, we profile, clean and concrete scabbling on bridges, tunnels, roads, car parks, warehouses and industrial floors without percussive vibration, without dust and without chlorides left in the substrate. Our handheld and robotic systems are mobilised UK-wide to produce repeatable ICRI CSP surface profile results ready for direct coating, overlay, repair or sprayed concrete.
As specialist concrete surface preparation contractors, we combine UHP concrete surface preparation with hydrodemolition under one contractor, producing specification-grade profiles across horizontal, vertical and overhead surfaces.
The bond between new coating, overlay or repair material and the concrete substrate is the single biggest factor in how long the repair lasts. Percussive scabbling shocks the concrete and creates micro-cracks. Grit blasting embeds abrasive and leaves chlorides. Mechanical scarifying leaves laitance that prevents proper bond.
UHP concrete surface preparation at over 2,800 bar removes the weak surface layer, the laitance and the contaminants in one pass, exposes the sound substrate at the depth specified, and leaves a chemically clean, profiled surface ready for immediate application.
That is what gets concrete surface preparation by water jetting specified on bridge deck overlays, car park waterproofing, warehouse coating and any concrete repair scope where bond failure cannot be tolerated.
Rentajet operates a full range of UHP concrete surface preparation services configured to the substrate, the required profile and the access on site.
Removal of laitance, curing compounds, surface contamination and chlorides from sound concrete, producing a chemically clean substrate at ICRI CSP surface profile 1 to CSP 3. Used ahead of thin-film coatings and waterproofing membranes.
Controlled removal of the weak surface layer to expose aggregate tips and produce a uniform mechanical key at ICRI CSP surface profile 4 to CSP 6. Used ahead of bonded overlays and polymer coatings.
Aggressive UHP removal that exposes the coarse aggregate to produce a deep mechanical key at ICRI CSP surface profile 7 to CSP 9. Used ahead of bonded concrete overlays and structural repair.
UHP removal of failed waterproofing, paint, epoxy, polyurethane and bituminous coatings from concrete substrates. The same operation leaves the substrate profiled and ready for the replacement system. Concrete reprofiling in a single pass.
Controlled scabbling to produce a specified friction profile on walkways, ramps, vehicle decks and car park surfaces.
Concrete surface preparation by UHP water jetting changes the safety, quality and bond profile compared with percussive and abrasive methods.
No micro-cracking at or below the prepared surface, which removes the most common cause of premature bond failure.
Removes laitance, curing compounds, chlorides and surface contamination in the same operation.
Nothing left in the substrate, unlike grit blasting where embedded abrasive can compromise bond.
The jet removes the weak surface layer and stops at sound concrete.
Produces repeatable surface profiles from CSP 1 through CSP 9 to match the coating or overlay system datasheet.
Operators run remote robotic units at a distance or use handheld lances within WJA limits.
Percussive scabbling and grit blasting remain the default on sites without specialist water jetting. UHP concrete surface preparation carries a higher equipment day rate but pays back through a higher-quality bond surface, no rework risk from contamination and faster production on large areas.
| Factor | UHP Water Jetting | Percussive Scabbling / Grit Blasting |
|---|---|---|
| Substrate microcracking | None | High on scabbling, common cause of bond failure |
| Surface contamination after prep | None, chemically clean | Embedded abrasive on grit blasting |
| Chloride removal | Yes, removed with laitance | No, chlorides remain in substrate |
| ICRI CSP profile control | CSP 1 through CSP 9, repeatable | Limited, profile varies with operator |
| HAVS risk to operator | None on robotic, controlled on handheld | High on scabbling, shift rotation required |
| Dust generation | None, water-suppressed | Significant on both methods |
| Bond surface quality | Specification-grade | Often requires remediation |
| Suitability on live sites | Yes, vacuum recovery available | Limited by dust and noise |
UHP concrete surface preparation is specified wherever a bonded coating, overlay or repair has to survive the design life of the structure.
Bridge deck waterproofing preparation, parapet and edge beam refurbishment, tunnel lining repair and road overlay preparation. Concrete surface preparation on highway and rail infrastructure where bond is the critical layer in a multi-decade asset life.
Car park deck waterproofing, warehouse floor coating, food-grade floor preparation and factory floor refurbishment. Includes friction and anti-skid profiling. Concrete reprofiling for resin and coating systems.
Quay walls, sea defences, dam and reservoir concrete, water-retaining structures and process concrete. ICRI CSP surface profile compliance on marine and heavy industrial sites.
Rentajet delivers concrete surface preparation to UK operators across the sectors most reliant on bonded coatings and concrete repair systems.
Bridge deck overlays, parapet repair, runway and apron concrete preparation under tight possession windows.
Tunnels, dams, reservoirs, retaining walls and reinforced concrete refurbishment. Preparation to ICRI CSP surface profile and BS EN 1504 standards.
Ports, harbours, jetties, sea defences and offshore concrete structures. Saltwater-driven chloride contamination removed in the same operation as profiling.
Turbine bases, transformer plinths, cooling tower concrete and bunds on power and water utility sites.
Hygiene-grade floor preparation ahead of food-safe coating systems, with vacuum recovery on operating sites. Concrete surface preparation for food-safe environments.
Bund walls, plant bases, reinforced concrete pads and process floors on refineries and chemical plants. UHP concrete surface preparation for bond-critical industrial coatings.
Rentajet has been delivering UHP water jetting services to UK civil engineering, marine and industrial sectors since 1984 and operates one of the most comprehensive concrete surface preparation fleets in the UK, covering handheld, semi-automated and robotic systems.
Surface preparation sits inside a wider water jetting capability that includes hydrodemolition, concrete scabbling, abrasive water jet cold cutting and industrial cleaning, so surface preparation teams arrive with the full scope of supporting services on the same mobilisation.
• Forty years of UHP water jetting experience: established 1984, delivery across UK
bridges, tunnels, marine concrete and industrial floors.
• UHP capability at over 2,800 bar: handheld and robotic systems configured to the
profile, the area and the access on site.
• ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 registered: Water Jetting Association
membership and full adherence to the WJA Code of Practice.
• ICRI CSP profile compliance: repeatable profiles from CSP 1 to CSP 9 to match
coating and overlay specification datasheets.
• Vacuum recovery on robotic systems: contained water and debris management
suitable for live operational environments.
The result is a contractor that engineers, specifiers and coating manufacturers can specify with confidence on concrete surface preparation scopes where bond performance and structural integrity both matter.
RGL Services follows a five-step process for every concrete surface preparation mobilisation.
We survey the substrate, the required ICRI CSP profile, the coating or overlay system datasheet, the area and the access. Method statement and risk assessment to WJA Code of Practice.
Trial area prepared to confirm pump pressure, nozzle configuration and traverse speed against the specified CSP profile. Signed off with the engineer or coating contractor before bulk preparation.
UHP pumps, handheld or robotic preparation equipment, vacuum recovery and water management plant mobilised to site. Pump units run at up to 2,800 bar.
Robotic or handheld equipment operated across the prepared area to produce the specified ICRI CSP surface profile. Vacuum recovery contains water and debris on robotic systems. Profile verified against ICRI CSP reference chips at agreed intervals.
Substrate washed down, profile confirmed against specification, chloride and moisture readings taken where required. Photographic record and preparation report issued.
UHP concrete surface preparation carries a higher equipment day rate than grit blasting but typically delivers a lower total project cost by removing rework risk and producing a coating-ready surface in a single operation. Contact us for a project-specific quotation.
ICRI CSP surface profile is the industry standard for specifying prepared concrete surfaces, with nine reference profiles from CSP 1 through CSP 9. The profile you need is set by the coating or overlay system datasheet.
Yes. UHP concrete surface preparation removes laitance, curing compounds and chloride-contaminated surface layers in the same operation as profile creation.
Yes. Robotic systems with integrated vacuum recovery contain water and debris on site, allowing preparation work on car parks, warehouses, food and drink facilities and other live environments.
The surface is chemically clean and ready for coating as soon as moisture readings meet the coating manufacturer's specification. Some moisture-tolerant systems can be applied to a damp surface.
