Industry experts recommend booking concrete chipping appointments quarterly to clear your drums, mixers and silos of built-up material. Why? Because that material can lead to added weight that throws drums off balance, lower carrying capacity that adds obstacles to your pours and mechanical issues that require costly repairs and replacements. If you’re looking for a visual representation of the work, think about your drum as a water bottle flipped on its side. No matter how hard you work to remove every drop of water from that bottle, there will always be drops that remain behind. That’s how it works with your redi mix concrete drums. Each pour leaves some residue behind, which is no big deal at the start. With time, however, that material accumulates. In addition to the aforementioned concerns, buildup can lead to subpar concrete blends, an end product that isn’t as strong as it should be — and damaged customer relationships, too. Put simply, a little bit of maintenance goes a long way.
DID YOU KNOW: Concrete chipping isn’t necessary for volumetric mixers.
Not every concrete or construction company knows that a traditional concrete chipping job consists of a few different elements. In addition to redi mix drum chipping, most crews will also roll up their sleeves on cement storage silo cleaning and central mixer cleaning work. After all, the goal of this ongoing maintenance is to keep your entire system working well for you. Here’s what goes into those aspects of the work:
- Concrete Chipping: Using handheld jackhammers, crews physically enter your ready-mix truck drums to remove hardened material that has dried along the walls. This improves your carrying capacity and helps ward off mechanical issues which can lead to costly slowdowns, repairs and replacements.
- Silo Cleaning: Members of your chosen company’s silo cleaning crew are lowered down into your cement storage silos. Once inside, they remove clumps and clogs that slow the release of your cement — and can hold up your projects. Those clogs are ushered out the bottom of the silo.
NOTE: Too much moisture spells trouble for silos, often leading to cement clumps and clogs. Silo cleaning is extremely important in humid climates like Georgia’s.
- Central Mixer Cleaning: Similar to concrete chipping services, central mixer cleaning involves crew members reaching inside your team’s mixer to remove hardened material from drum walls. This results in a healthier mixer capable of holding more material than before.
There are countless dangers associated with silo cleaning and concrete chipping, Georgia. As such, the work should be left to trained professionals. (And not just any professional, either.) We’ve pulled together some tips to help you find concrete chippers you can trust with this important work.
- Hire a Concrete Chipping Company That’s Done its Due Diligence: You might be surprised to learn many companies out there chipping concrete aren’t licensed to do the work. And doing business with an unlicensed crew can lead to costly repercussions. You could find yourself paying expensive repair and replacement costs if they damage your redi-mix drums, cement silos and mixers, for instance. Even more importantly, a lack of training on their part could lead to devastating injuries — or loss of life — on your property. We recommend asking your potential concrete chippers for proof of insurance coverage and certifications, and for information about any continuing education requirements they have in place. At General Chipping, for instance, we require all team members to take part in OSHA training and safety toolbox talks. Not only does this keep them in the loop regarding cutting-edge industry practices, but it ensures they carry out their work as safely and efficiently as possible.
- Work with Concrete Chippers Who Will Work with You: Your business is one-of-a-kind, and your concrete chipping needs are, too. It’s important to find a concrete chipping company willing to understand the unique way your crew operates, consider any unusual circumstances that might go against the way they normally work — and factor that knowledge in when it comes time to tackle your work. Make any potential issues known from the start, during your initial phone call or email. Do you work with a particularly thick concrete blend that might require added elbow grease for removal? Is your plant located near a residential area where noise restrictions come into play? Does a tricky schedule require your concrete chipping work to take place outside of regular hours? Whatever issues exist, be honest. That added communication will make price estimates and scheduling easier, and will help ensure your concrete chipping company comes equipped with what they need to complete the work.
- Find a Chipping Crew Your Colleagues Would Recommend: One person’s experience with a company (be it related to drum cleaning or some other service) is often indicative of how that company regularly works. If you’re in the market for a new concrete chipping company, talk with others in your field about those they’ve worked with in the past. How was their experience? Did they run into any issues? Would they handle things differently in the future? Most importantly, would they hire them back? This seemingly simple insight can speak volumes about your potential business partner. Of course, you can take things a step further, too. Consider digging into your potential concrete chippers’ online reviews, asking for references or taking a look at their Better Business Bureau (BBB) This added step doesn’t take very long, and it can save you from headaches down the line.
As we’ve already mentioned, every company’s concrete chipping needs are unique. Factors such as the amount of work you take on each month, maintenance practices between appointments and even outdoor conditions surrounding your pours can shift your timeline somewhat. In general, however, experts recommend booking drum chipping and silo cleaning appointments every three months. By maintaining a regular schedule, you keep buildup at bay and help make sure any potential issues are found — and fixed — before they become expensive problems. Your concrete chipping crew will be glad to assess your situation and work out a schedule that makes sense.
