quikfill

Shaw QuikFill is a 2-part urethane designed to fill saw cuts and fine cracks within concrete subfloors.  Shaw QuikFill is a 100% solids, low odor and extremely rigid filler.  QuikFill’s low viscosity allows for a deep penetration into saw cuts and fine cracks prior to installing floor coverings.

Shaw QuikFill is approved for application areas such as:

• Cracks, control joints, contraction joints and saw cuts

• Concrete spalls or pop-outs

• Holes in concrete

No substrate testing is required.

• The concrete surface should be dry, free of dust, debris, oils or other potential bond breakers.

• A diamond blade saw is recommended to be used to prepare the crack and bonding surfaces for QuikFill.

• Use a stiff bristle or wire brush to loosen dirt and debris that is in or around the saw cut.  Use a vacuum to remove dust and debris.

• New concrete should be fully cured, dry and free of movement.

• If the crack is wet, allow to dry thoroughly before applying QuikFill.

• Backer rods can be used to prepare deep cracks and saw cuts where necessary.

Saw Cuts, Control Joints and Contraction Joints are planned installed joints that allow for concrete slab movement.  Concrete slabs will crack under pressure. This is typically caused by changes in temperature and/or moisture, so being able to control cracking can work to the contractors’ advantage.  Properly installed and strategically placed saw cuts will allow concrete slabs to crack along these joints, instead of randomly and uncontrollably across the slab.  When finished flooring is to be installed over the slab, these control joints MUST be properly filled, due to new controlled moisture pathways from the sub-slab, potentially resulting in premature flooring failures. The intended purpose of a control joint is to allow the slab to crack, but the unintended result is the formation of a potential moisture path from the sub-slab system (see figure below).  Concrete control joints undergo stresses during the constant curing of new or existing slabs, and during its life, due to ongoing shrinkage, thermal cycling, and varying traffic loads. Therefore, it is important to use a filler, one that can manage the stressful forces that pull and compress the crack or joint.
 
As a reference from American Concrete Institute (ACI), there are industry accepted recommendations for the proper installation of control joints and use of proper joint fillers. Control Joint depth should be at least one-fourth of the overall slab thickness at the location of joint placement, for example joint depth should be 1” deep for a 4-inch-thick slab, and the width of the control joint specifies the length of the cut and ability of tools and saw blades to maintain plumb. If saw cuts are old, and may have built up laitance, they should be re-sawed dry (clean-out sawed) with a concrete saw and diamond blade to remove laitance. This process need only remove about 1/32-inch from each side of the interior joint side wall to produce a clean, abraded surface for proper bonding of the joint filler.
 
Quik Fill maintains a balance of toughness and elongation to help manage slight movements in the slab, and still handle forces applied by traffic and point loads. It exhibits excellent adhesion to the sides and edges of properly prepared control joints, which help keep moisture pathways closed off.  Adherence to proper surface preparation and installation techniques is imperative.
 
NOTE: This is a reference, so please refer to project plans or structural engineer for additional details.

Cartridge Tube Mixing: 

• There is no pre-mixing of the material when using cartridge-type packaging. QuikFill cartridge mixing is achieved by using a mix nozzle, attached to the end of the dual-cartridge tube, and dispensed via a dual-cartridge caulk gun (650mL).

• The mix nozzle will blend the A and B sides together as the material is squeezed out of the tube body. 

• Keep tubes tightly sealed when not in use.  Before dispensing material into target application, make sure you first balance the QuikFill cartridge tube A and B sides, hold applicator in upright position and lightly squeeze trigger to release air pockets in the tubes, continuing to squeeze until a very small amount of liquid exits from both A and B tube sides. 

• This process is important because it will allow balancing of the liquids, ensuring a proper mixing ratio during the installation process.

Once target joint or crack is properly prepared and cleaned per above instructions, QuikFill can be used to do the repair. It is best to have all the preparation work done first, to avoid interruption of the crack filling process. This material has low viscosity, so it will gravity feed into cracks and saw cuts. Overfill the crack or joint, with expectation to razor cut or grind flush to concrete slab after filler is cured (approximately 40 minutes at 70^oF).
 
CARTRIDGE PACKAGING: make sure the mix nozzle is properly affixed to the end of the tube, and that the dual-cartridge is seated properly on the end.  The set time on the dispensed urethane is about 2 minutes @ 70 ^oF, so work continuously to preserve the life of mix nozzle.  Replace with new mix nozzle as they become unusable.
 
To repair larger cracks, holes, spalls, or pop-outs, you can add dry silica sand of fumed silica to the mixed QuikFill, to form a thickened paste-like consistency.  Use discretion on how much filler to use to achieve desired viscosity.
 
WORK QUICKLY TO STAY INSIDE THE SET TIME OF THE MATERIAL.  Use a flat blade, putty knife, mixing stick, or stiff cardboard to work the paste into the repair area.
 
CAUTION: Sand or aggregate used to mix into QuikFill must be completely dry.  Excess moisture can adversely affect the material and its ability to cure properly.

• Concrete must be dry. 

• Do not thin or alter with liquid additives. 

• When using cartridge gun, keep pointed down to prevent mixed urethane from mix nozzle flowing back into the tubes. 

• Hot or cold air or surface temperatures will change the working times and set times of this product, times in this specification are specified at 70F.

As with all epoxies, good hygienic habits must be observed, and the wearing of protective clothing and gloves is advised.  Before using product, please read and follow the product Safety Data Sheet (SDS).  Use this product only as directed.  Keep out of reach of children.

Shaw Industries, Inc. (“the Company”) warrants Shaw QuikFill when used in commercial applications.  Shaw QuikFill comes with a 2 year warranty.  When used with certain approved Shaw products, the term of this warranty is 10 years.  For more detailed information on this limited warranty, please see contact information at the bottom of this page.