FAQ

ShutterStrip is a water-soluble film that contains an organic retarder for concrete; all the ingredients used in the manufacturing of the film are already widely used within the concrete industry for concrete plasticizers and retarders.

All we have done is process them into a different body being a soluble film that targets the desired area with the correct amount instead of a gel, wax, liquid spray or a solvent that can be inconstant and difficult to control on a vertical formwork.

When concrete is placed into the formwork and has rested/settled against ShutterStrip, the film will start to slowly dissolve retarding and deactivating the concrete laitance.

3mm to 5mm, every concrete mix can be different and 5mm depth for a very wet mix slump and 3mm for a drier mix and the average mix slump content being around 4mm.

ShutterStrip has been designed to provide the best construction joint possible.

The reason why the construction joint Film is 3mm to 5mm depths is for both the best sheer and tensile strength and for creating a better monolithic water joint following published academic research!

ShutterStrip offers far greater flexibility in comparison to conventional methods used today. The laitance can be removed and the aggregate exposed over a more extended period of time. For example, on a typical pour, the shutter is usually struck 24hrs after concreting. Using ShutterStrip on a typical pour, the aggregate can be exposed up to 72hrs after concreting with the shutter removed after 24hrs.

For larger complex pours that can’t be struck until the concrete has reached the required compressive strength, the laitance can still be removed up to 7 days after concreting if kept in the shutter.

No. The film has been designed to only retard the concrete laitance that has settled against it, this is controlled by the thickness of the film and the amount of retarder the film contains and of course the water content of the concrete plays its part as it’s the water that makes the film dissolve.

Plus when the hydration and hardening of the concrete start there is not enough water in the underlying concrete to dissolve the film anymore making it impossible to penetrate deeper.

Using ShutterStrip will not have any implications on the integrity or strength of the underlying concrete; once the retarded laitance has been removed you are left with an exposed aggregate.

No. ShutterStrip is non-toxic and if used properly, does not pose any dangers. This is great news for the construction industry as construction joint film does not need a (COSHH)

ShutterStrip is currently being used on one of the largest projects in the UK and has been shortlisted for two awards for the best new product.

With over 3years of research and development and trials carried out with different concrete mixes in both real-life working environments and laboratory conditions, we have learned the parameters of the Films thickness and the amounts of retarder needed.

No.  ShutterStrip will only deactivate the concrete laitance surface that has been targeted; it doesn’t run, meaning ShutterStrip can be used on walls that will have floors at different levels.

Yes. ShutterStrip is ideal for adding decorative effects to a concrete wall, whether it be an exposed rebated band or numbers and lettering. The film is designed to be easily cut and shaped.

Go to the contact order page and leave your details and a member of our team will be in touch. Orders can also be taken through Tradex portal alternatively you can email or call 07392 950315.