Looking for the right refurbished concrete barrier supplier? The task for a refurbished barrier is to provide the same containment or separation performance as a new barrier, for a lower cost, without concealing structural problems under a fresh paint.
If it does, it’s a truly good deal.
If it’s not, the problem is rarely the idea of purchasing refurbished it’s almost always the supplier that inspected, repaired and re-sold the unit.
In this guide, you will learn to check concrete barrier suppliers for their refurbished concrete barriers to ensure that you get units that you can trust and not the ones that look good in the yard but finally fail on duty.
In Addition to Having a Clean Paint Job, Choosing a Supplier Involves a Number of Other Factors
The majority of buyers first look at the condition and price per unit because refurbished barriers are purchased primarily for the price reduction compared to new.
A good start, but it also omits one crucial element of the tests that must be conducted to determine if a barrier is safe for reuse: the degree to which the supplier checks each barrier for structural damage; and how completely the supplier repairs or rejects barriers that do not meet standards.
A refurbished barrier is not blanketed with a fresh history to ensure.
They have already been impacted in some way, exposed to the elements for years, and in some cases have been moved and used several times.
A supplier who performs refurbishment as a legitimate inspection and repair process, rather than simply a pressure wash and a brush down with paint will be able to identify the internal cracking, corrosion of the reinforcement and wear on the connections before they become your problem.
One who doesn’t will sell you the unit that looks new, but works like an old one.
Understand the Different Types of Barriers and Choose the Right One for Your Project
To compare suppliers it is helpful to have some idea what type of barrier your project needs, as there is a greater variation in availability and condition for refurbished stock than is there for new lines.
Traffic and Roadwork Barriers
Live traffic is separated from work areas or traffic from opposing lanes by traffic and roadwork barriers.
These must be reinforced and connected properly and their purpose is entirely reliant on absorbing and distributing the impact of vehicles without breaking.
Perimeter Security Barriers
Perimeter barriers restrict access to vehicles on a site or at an access point.
These must remain undamaged and still have the original mass and structural integrity because if they are weakened due to previous impact damage they will no longer offer the resistance they were rated to do.
The Proper Use of Crowd Control or Event Barriers
Crowd control barriers control the movement of people and are generally not as heavy duty as traffic or perimeter barriers.
These include a stable foundation, maintaining connection points between sections without damage, and a clean finish, as they are typically installed in areas that are visible to passers-by.
Water-Filled or Ballasted Barrier Shells
In some cases, the refurbished barriers are precast shells that are filled with water or sand when they are installed.
They must have an undamaged, crack-free shell and problems in any part of the shell compromise their ability to carry ballast and function once loaded.
If you’ve decided on the category you want to choose, you can identify the suppliers who specialize in refurbishing that type of product, and not just any reseller with used items passing through the yard.
Inquire About Their Procedure for Checking for Structural Damage
A reputable supplier that is serious about refurbishment will have an established inspection process for each unit before it is put up for sale, not just a check for obvious damage.
This should involve checking for any internal cracking, evaluating the exposure or corrosion of reinforcement at any damaged areas and ensuring connection points are not weakened by previous impacts or repeated handling.
When asking if they have inspected a unit, ask specifically what they are inspecting, what they would consider to be out of order or damage to the unit that would cause it to be rejected instead of repaired, and if they can present you with the inspection parameters or records for the unit you are interested in.
Clear documented criteria is one of the key elements that will determine if a supplier is worth working with.
If a supplier is unable to explain their process beyond “we check them over”, it is a red flag to pursue them further.
Look at Make Repairs: How It Is Done
Many barriers can be refurbished, but the method used to do so is hugely important – some damage will render a barrier ineligible for refurbishment.
Inquire with the supplier on how he or she repairs spalling, chipped edges and minor cracking, whether they are structurally bonded to the original concrete or simply patched up cosmetically, and whether he or she treats any bare reinforcement before covering it over.
A properly designed and executed structural repair using the proper materials and technique can return an actually damaged unit to a safe, useable condition.
A supplier who patches units to hide cracks and chips is doing something wrong, not right, and failing to resolve an issue.
Ask directly if their repairs are for structural integrity or appearance as they’re different.
Reread What They Disclose About a Unit’s History
A reliable barrier refurbishment company will inform you about the location of the barrier, the approximate time the barrier has been in service and the condition of the barrier prior to the refurbishment, not just stating that it is a “refurbished” barrier.
This is important because if a unit is sourced from a low impact application such as a car park, it is very different from sourcing a unit from a high impact traffic separation application.
When thinking about what particular units to purchase, inquire about their origin and previous utilization, and take care of the suppliers that do not know or are unwilling to disclose this information.
History does not adversely affect you, but no history does mean that you are solely depending upon the inspection and repair process of the supplier and that process must be subject to scrutiny.
Compare Remaining Service Life Expectations (RSLEs)
Refurbished barriers are not as long-lived as new barriers and it is a basic supplier who will make this point, not one who assumes that new barriers have the same lifespan.
Inquire about the remaining service life they think they would get from the machines offered, if that estimate takes into consideration your particular application, and what they believe to be signs of end-of-life wear going forward.
A good supplier will be able to provide you with a more concrete response than a vague one, if they know exactly what they can do when it comes to refurbishment.
Where no service life is indicated, regard the lack of confidence in the product by the supplier.
Investigate Their Previous Work and Experience
An inspection and repair claim will tell you the kind of service a supplier states they provide.
Projects delivered tell you what they’ve actually delivered.
Request examples of refurbished barriers provided for comparable projects and whether there have been any barriers that have failed prematurely or any original damage that has reappeared since the repair.
If a supplier has a solid history of refurbished units that are working well in service, then the process of refurbishing them does more than just descriptions of it can do.
Signs of Trouble to Watch For
There are a few warning signs that tend to recur with less reliable refurbished barrier suppliers:
- Not being able to describe what they do on the unit or how they determine if you should buy it.
- Refusing or being unable to provide unit history.
- Cosmetic repairs performed on structurally cracked units.
- Pricing too low for the condition of the unit, even if the unit looks great.
None of these should be a deal-breaker on their own, but two or three of them should put you on your guard to slow down and ask more questions, if not walk away before ordering, from the supplier.
Connecting All of the Pieces Together
The key to finding the right supplier of refurbished concrete barriers is to ensure that the barrier is not merely cleaned up and re-painted for sale under the refurbished name, but also inspected, structurally repaired and reasonably represented as refurbished.
Do it right, and you reap the true rewards of refurbished barriers: reliable performance at a reduced cost, without the hidden structural issue that you’ve inherited.
