- Head Office 0238 081 7160
- London 0203 376 1179
- Manchester 0161 507 6586
- sales@rglservices.co.uk
RGL Services delivers concrete scabbling across the UK using ultra-high-pressure water jetting at up to 2,800 bar. Operating since 1984, we profile and reprofile concrete surfaces for new coatings, repairs and overlays without percussive vibration, dust or micro-cracking. Our water-only method produces a clean, contaminant-free profile with an excellent mechanical key, on horizontal, vertical and overhead surfaces.
As specialist concrete scabbling contractors, we combine selective, controlled removal with high-production capability under one contractor, protecting the structural integrity of the surrounding concrete. Rentajet is mobilised nationwide, with Romsey, London and Manchester coverage and a direct response service for planned and urgent surface preparation.
Correct preparation of concrete decides whether a new coating, repair or overlay bonds and lasts. Poor preparation leads to premature bond failure and costly rework. Percussive scabbling and grit blasting prepare the surface but bring problems with them. Percussive tools transmit vibration that can open micro-cracks in the concrete, generate heavy dust, expose operators to hand-arm vibration, and shock the surrounding structure.
Ultra-high-pressure water jetting at 2,800 bar profiles concrete through water pressure, not impact. There is no percussive vibration and so no micro-cracking, no dust, and no hand-arm vibration risk to operators. The process is selective and controlled, removing material to an exact specification while leaving the surrounding concrete undamaged, and it produces a chemically clean surface free of chlorides and laitance.
That combination is what gets UHP concrete scabbling specified on bridges, car parks and structures where bond performance and structural integrity both depend on a clean, undamaged profile.
For concrete scabbling on UK bridges, car parks, decks or industrial floors, contact Rentajet. Our scabbling teams mobilise from Romsey with London and Manchester support, and we provide site surveys, method statements and trial areas ahead of contract award.
Rentajet operates a full range of UHP concrete scabbling services configured to the surface, the profile and the access on site.
Controlled profiling of concrete to the texture required for maximum coating adhesion, producing a clean mechanical key free of laitance and contaminants.
Concrete reprofiling and selective removal of damaged, contaminated or delaminated concrete to expose sound substrate ahead of repair, overlay or bonded screed.
Dust-free, vibration-free preparation of bridge decks for waterproofing and overlay, protecting the deck and any embedded reinforcement.
Preparation of car park decks and elevated slabs for coatings and waterproofing, with no shock or micro-cracking to the structure.
Profiling of warehouse, factory and process floors for resin and coating systems, removing laitance and contaminants to a clean key.
Controlled removal to exact depth in detail areas, edges and around fixings where selective profiling is required.
UHP dust-free concrete scabbling changes the bond quality, safety and structural profile of surface preparation compared with percussive methods.
Eliminates the risk of micro-cracks that cause bond failure, protecting the structural integrity of the concrete.
Produces a surface free from contaminants, chlorides and laitance, ready to bond.
No percussive tools, so no HAVS exposure or shift-rotation requirement for operators.
Water jetting does not damage or stress the structure around the work area.
Removes material to an exact specified depth and profile.
Efficient on large horizontal and vertical surfaces, shortening the preparation window.
Percussive scabbling and grit blasting remain the default where specialist water jetting is not available. They are familiar but transmit vibration that risks micro-cracking, generate dust, expose operators to HAVS, and on grit blasting embed abrasive in the surface. UHP water jetting carries a higher equipment day rate but removes the cracking, dust and HAVS risks, which on most structural and deck scopes makes it the lower total risk route.
| Factor | UHP Water Jetting | Percussive Scabbling / Grit Blasting |
|---|---|---|
| Micro-cracking risk | None, no percussion | High on percussive scabbling |
| Dust generation | None, water-suppressed | Significant |
| Hand-arm vibration | None | High on percussive tools |
| Abrasive in surface | None | Embedded grit on blasting |
| Shock to surrounding concrete | None | Possible on percussive work |
| Surface contaminants | Removed, chloride and laitance free | Variable |
| Selective depth control | Precise | Limited |
| Surface ready for bonding | Immediately, chemically clean | After cleanup |
UHP concrete scabbling is specified wherever concrete needs profiling or reprofiling for a bonded coating, repair or overlay without vibration or dust. Rentajet delivers across three primary application sectors.
Bridge deck and structural preparation for waterproofing and overlay, protecting the deck and reinforcement from vibration and shock.
Preparation of car park decks and elevated slabs for coating and waterproofing systems, with no micro-cracking to the structure.
Profiling of warehouse, factory and commercial floors for resin and coating systems, removing laitance to a clean mechanical key.
Rentajet delivers concrete reprofiling and scabbling to UK operators across the sectors most reliant on durable bonded surfaces.
Bridge, deck and structural concrete preparation for waterproofing, overlay and repair on infrastructure projects.
Deck and structure preparation on highway, rail and airfield assets where vibration and dust must be controlled.
Selective concrete removal and surface preparation on structures being repaired, repurposed or partially demolished.
Preparation of concrete structures, bunds and slabs during outages and refurbishment across power and utility sites.
Hygienic floor profiling in food and beverage facilities for resin and coating systems, with no dust or contamination.
Bund, slab and structure preparation on refineries and heavy industrial sites where coating adhesion and contamination control matter.
RGL Services has been delivering water jetting services to UK construction and heavy
industry since 1984 and produces consistent, high-quality profiled concrete surfaces ready for immediate coating or repair, on horizontal, vertical and overhead areas.
Concrete scabbling sits inside a wider water jetting capability that includes
concrete surface preparation, hydrodemolition and steel surface preparation, which means scabbling teams arrive with the full scope of supporting services on the same mobilisation.
• Forty years of UHP water jetting experience: established 1984, with delivery
across UK bridges, car parks and industrial floors.
• Vibration-free, dust-free method: protects structural integrity and removes HAVS
and dust exposure for operators and site.
• ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 registered: Water Jetting Association
membership and full adherence to the WJA Code of Practice.
• Selective, specified profiling: controlled removal to exact depth and profile,
confirmed against the coating or repair specification.
• UK-wide mobilisation: Romsey HQ with London and Manchester support, and a
direct response service for planned and urgent works.
The result is a contractor that engineers, principal contractors and coating specifiers can specify with confidence on concrete preparation scopes where bond performance and structural integrity both matter.
Rentajet follows a five-step process on every enquiry through to surface sign-off
We survey the concrete, the required profile and depth, and the access, and confirm the method against the coating or repair specification. A method statement and risk assessment are produced covering water management and WJA Code of Practice compliance.
UHP pumps, jetting equipment and recovery plant are mobilised to site. Pump units run at up to 2,800 bar, with all hoses and connections inspected under WJA Code of Practice.
A trial area is completed to confirm pump pressure, traverse speed and the achieved profile and depth against the specification. The trial is signed off with the client or engineer before bulk scabbling starts.
Jetting equipment profiles or reprofiles the concrete to the agreed depth while wastewater is contained and filtered. The profile and cleanliness are checked against the specification as the work proceeds.
The prepared surface is inspected for profile, cleanliness and contamination, a record is issued, and the surface is handed over ready for immediate coating, repair or overlay.
Cost depends on the surface area, the profile and depth required, the access and the surface orientation. UHP water jetting carries an equipment day rate but typically delivers a lower total cost by removing the dust containment, HAVS management and rework risk that percussive scabbling brings. Contact us for a project-specific quotation.
No. UHP water jetting profiles the concrete through water pressure without percussion, so it does not transmit the vibration that causes micro-cracking. This protects the bond of the new coating or repair and the structural integrity of the surrounding concrete.
Yes. Water jetting suppresses dust at source, so there is no airborne concrete dust. This improves site safety, simplifies work near occupied areas and removes the dust-containment burden of percussive and abrasive methods.
Yes. The process is selective and controlled, removing material to an exact specified depth and profile. We confirm the achieved profile and depth in a trial area before bulk work begins.
Yes. Water jetting produces a chemically clean profile free of chlorides and laitance, which provides an excellent mechanical key and is ready for immediate coating, repair or overlay once inspected against the specification.
