Beyond CSP: What You’re Missing in Concrete Surface Preparation (C2026-00053)

Jeremy Sukola

Concrete rehabilitation in municipal wastewater infrastructure has long emphasized coating selection. While resin technologies have advanced significantly, coating failures persist; not because the products fall short, but because surface preparation is often incomplete or misunderstood.
Historically, surface prep has been reduced to achieving a specified Concrete Surface Profile (CSP), with little attention paid to other critical factors. Moisture content is sometimes tested, but typically using standards developed for conditioned interior flooring, not for the saturated conditions common in underground wastewater environments. Meanwhile, surface pH is almost never considered, despite its vital role in coating adhesion, especially in structures affected by biogenic corrosion.
This presentation calls attention to the often-overlooked foundation of successful rehabilitation: comprehensive surface preparation. CSP, moisture content, and pH must be treated as equally important and evaluated together. Modern coatings may tolerate damp substrates, but they cannot overcome improper prep; particularly when active moisture or low-pH conditions are present.
As the industry continues to demand better protective linings, it must also hold surface preparation to the same standard. Failing to do so undermines performance and leads to premature failure, making surface prep not just a step in the process, but the most critical one.