Hydrodemolition: A New Era of Demolition 

Some people would consider demolition a necessary evil, while others would consider it an exciting aspect of progress and expansion. No matter how you view it, it’s happening all over the world for various reasons, and there’s a lot of ways to do it.  

Hydrodemolition is new to many, despite being a trusted and efficient method of demolition for quite some time. As we “burn” the bridges of yesterday, we’re changing the way that the process is viewed by ushering in a new era of demolition, an era where we demolish smarter and cleaner, the era of HydroDemolition .  

What is Hydrodemolition? 

Hydrodemolition is the process of using high-pressure jet streams to remove concrete, asphalt, and other materials from a surface. This process is also sometimes referred to as hydraulic grinding, hydro-jetting, or sometimes even hydro blasting. This process is often used to remove damaged or otherwise deteriorated concrete from bridges, highways, and other important structures. The waterjet removes the damaged material while also cleaning the surface underneath, creating a clean substrate for repairs and bonding.  

Benefits of Hydrodemolition  

• Leaves a bonding surface that is 50% stronger than the surface left with traditional methods (such as a chipping hammer) 
• Repairs last 3x as long!   
• Rebars remain undamaged!  
• It’s great for use in confined spaces.  
• Great for areas with weight restrictions 
• It’s up to 25x faster than using a 15–30-pound chipping hammer. 
• It’s safer, requires less time, less crew, less space, and produces cleaner, better results.  
• It’s much quieter!  
• Reuse the collected water, waste less materials.  

Repairing Our Infrastructure 

When asking what is hydrodemolition, it’s easy to note the benefits that this method of demolition carries when it comes to repairing our nation’s infrastructure, such as our bridges. HydroDemolition is an efficient, cost-effective, and very precise method of demolition that not only removes damaged concrete and materials, but also assists the preparation of a bridge prior to the placement of a deck overlay, providing a highly bondable surface for the best possible outcome. Imagine if your repairs could last three times as long! This is only possible with the use of hydrodemolition, which is much more efficient, creating the perfect environment for long-lasting repairs.   

With Aggregate Technologies, our hydrodemolition Hydro-Bots remove the concrete and keep the rebar, without microfractures, and without the high impact that comes with traditional demolition. This means that the job is clean, more uniform, process, and efficient on many levels. Don’t burn your bridges, we can fix those! 

Methods of Hydrodemolition  

Before calling out hydrodemolition contractors, it’s important to understand how the process works. This type of demolition is an excellent option for most jobs, even those in high-hazard zones. Aggregate Technologies specializes in high-hazard zones and fields, taking safety seriously, while following the methods of this precise style of demolition carefully.  

Hydro-Scarification  

Hydro-Scarification is the process that uses exceptionally high-pressure water jets to remove the top layer of concrete. The depth of this generally falls between ¼ to ¾ inches and is ideal for removing surface imperfections or for preparing the area for resurfacing.   

Partial Depth Removal  

To put it simply, this method entails the selective excavation of concrete, usually with a depth of more than ¾ inch. This method is often used to repair concrete damaged by freeze-thaw cycles or other things just as deicing salts. This process can remove as little as 1/6^th of an inch. Corrosive environments and high traffic areas often have rapid concrete and surface deterioration that accelerate the need for repair. 

Full-Depth Removal  

This method involves the demolition of all deteriorated or damaged concrete or material. Aggregate Technologies uses the most advanced machinery, making full-depth removal jobs much easier and safer, especially when compared to standard demolition techniques. 

What Equipment Is Used in Hydrodemolition? 

The most common method of hydrodemolition is done by using automated equipment, like a robotic cutting tractor which controls water streams and the uniform removal of concrete. Here at Aggregate Technologies, we use the most advanced technology to complete your projects.  

Our process uses the most sophisticated robotic system on the market, which can be programmed to perform all necessary duties by just a single operator! Our system uses a computer guided water jet, which operates on a track mounted machine that is guided over the surface waiting to be removed.  

Our machinery is more precise than mechanical means every dreamed of being! The precision cutting head can be programmed to cut a specific shape with no overruns or relief cuts, like manholes or for ductwork. With our machinery and technology, concrete decks and flooring are removed with the cutting head on the ground. Our tech also allows the machine to articulate along a vertical wall surface, even with overhead areas up to 23 feet without support!  

With the use of this equipment, high-pressure water pumps and support trailers also aid the process, collecting water and helping to transport water and fuel tanks. Our operators are required to wear PPE and participate in weekly safety meetings, general, specialized and site-specific training when needed.   

Our high-pressure water jetting equipment operates at 15,000 to 25,000 pounds (about the weight of a school bus) per square inch (psi) while our ultrahigh pressure (UHP) falls between 25,000 to 55,000 psi. That’s a lot of pressure! In fact, HydroDemolition  uses about 20 times as much pressure as the typical household power washer!  

The equipment we used is sophisticated, environmentally friendly, and precise. Our equipment and processes are safe for even the most volatile of spaces and industries, including the petrochemical industry. When you hire us, you hire a team of professionals with over 25 years of industry experience, utilizing the finest demolition technology and techniques that the future has to offer!  

Common Errors That Hydrodemolition Can Help Fix 

There are many different errors that HydroDemolition can help improve or fix, here are a few of the most common: 

Formwork Failure 

This can result in a lot of wasted time, money, and frustration. If the formwork fails to hold concrete in place, it’ll have to be corrected using loud, slow, handheld equipment. The vibrations from this equipment can also damage the rebar and leave microfractures in the concrete, which can cause the demolition of most or even all the structure.   

Concrete Segregation and Batch Problems 

This method of demolition can help solve batch problems, including concrete segregation. This selectively removes the material from the surface, which leaves sound concrete intact. When you set the technology to remove only the segregated materials, it makes it possible to repair concrete without causing more damage.  

Off-Spec Embedded Materials 

Migraines come easy when handling the removal of off-spec embedded materials from concrete. Hydro demolition offers an effective method for removing these materials with ease and haste. The material is easily broken up by using a high-pressure water stream, and the precision of the process allows hydrodemolition  contractors to remove the right amount of material from each embedded item.  

Concrete Repairs and Compressive Strength Failure

While there are many methods for repairing these structures, HydroDemolition  is considered the most efficient. It can be used to remove damaged concrete selectively and carefully without damaging the good concrete beneath. It also helps to provide a clean surface for repairs, including crumbling or cracking from strength failures. Repairs for compressive strength failures can be made to damaged concrete to damaged concrete with ease using our process.  

An Environmentally Friendly Choice 

The space around you probably has enough pollution, you don’t need demolition or construction work adding to it! With hydrodemolition , you’ll see how to demolish damaged structures without the pollution, the noise, or the waste.  

Hydrodemolition practically eliminates harmful silica dust that results from impact demolition processes. Constant exposure to this dust can have long-term health effects including silicosis, which often results in permanent lung damage, sometimes even proving to be fatal.  

Due to the ability for this style of demolition to fit within small spaces, it also helps to reduce the instance of flying debris, meaning there’s less impact on the environment around the site, and on the ecosystem. This demolition method also is precise, meaning surrounding areas are much less likely to have any instance of impact, causing less issues on the neighborhood and environment the project takes place in. This creates a safe demolition without harmful side effects that standard demolition processes tend to carry.  

Not only does hydrodemolition  have less impact and less pollution, but it also offers a solution to save materials and water. Because the results are so precise, less materials need to be replaced, and less materials are used to complete the job. Water from the demolition can be collected and reused, after it’s been treated to meet EPA standards on recycled water. This makes a huge impact when using hydrodemolition  in Texas, Louisiana, California, Nevada, and other regions that have moderate to high drought risks.  

The Future of Demolition  

What is hydrodemolition ? It’s the future of demolition, offering an efficient, safe, precise, and time-saving answer to demolition and construction services. This form of demolition prevents the standard issues you’ll see with traditional forms, such as microfractures, pollution, noise pollution, crowding, debris and more. The technology we use removes the need for large crews, with most jobs requiring just two people. Our process is efficient, it’s safe, and it’s fast. Most importantly, it’s better than standard demolition not just in result, but also in safety, efficiency, and logistics.  

When you hire hydrodemolition contractors, you’re avoiding the potential for disaster. Traditional demolition drains time, resources, and the environment around it. It carries a potential for damage not only to the structure, but also to the surrounding environment, as well as the crew and community near or on site. Hydro demolition reduces or eliminates the drawbacks to standard demolition practices, while producing results that cannot be beat.  

Aggregate Technologies is the only hydrodemolition  contractor that uses the most technologically advanced equipment while maintaining an exceptional safety rating, and a passion to advance not only the art of demolition but the world around us. We’re able to handle any size project, in just about any industry, specializing in high-hazard zones and projects. With Aggregate Technologies, you get the experience, the technology, the care, and the passion, you get the practices of the future.  

Where we’re going, we may still need roads, but they’ll be efficient roads.  Are you ready to take a step into the future of demolition? Contact us today to learn more about hydrodemolition.