Expansive Grout
Controlled Concrete and Rock Breaking Without Blasting
Where you need to avoid blasting and reduce vibration, expansive grout provides a steady and predictable breaking method.
BETONAMIT® is used as an expansive grout in the UK for downward vertical boreholes where a flowing consistency is required. It’s trusted by builders, demolition contractors, groundworkers, civil engineering contractors, landscapers and competent DIY users who want a predictable, non explosive method of demolition.
No explosives. No detonation. No blasting licence required.
Just a simple, controlled process:
1. Drill
Start by drilling holes into the material you wish to break. Use a drill with a diameter of 30-40mm, ensuring the spacing & depth of the holes match the project’s requirements.
2. Mix
Combine BETONAMIT® with water and use an electric mixer to ensure a smooth, lump-free mixture, typically taking 2-3 minutes.
3. Fill
Pour the mixed BETONAMIT® into clean, dry drill holes immediately after preparation. Ensure the holes are filled completely for optimal performance.
4. Wait
Leave BETONAMIT® for 24 hours or more and watch the product do its magic as it generates expansive pressure, safely and effectively breaking the material.
What Is Expansive Grout?
Expansive grout is a non explosive demolition material that expands after being placed into drilled holes. As it expands, it generates steady internal pressure, causing concrete or rock to fracture from within.
Unlike blasting, there is no explosion. Unlike mechanical breaking, there is no repeated impact vibration. The cracking happens because of controlled expansion pressure inside the material.
When Is Expansive Grout Used?
Expansive grout is ideal for vertical holes drilled downwards into:
- Concrete slabs
- Foundations
- Ground beams
- Swimming pools
- Reinforced concrete
- Mass concrete
- Bedrock
- Large boulders
In these situations, a pourable mix is required so the material flows easily to the bottom of the borehole and fully contacts the sides.
This ensures consistent pressure as the expansion takes place.
How BETONAMIT® Works as Expansive Grout
In its standard form, BETONAMIT® is mixed with clean water to create a smooth, pourable consistency. This allows it to:
- Flow easily into vertical boreholes
- Fill the cavity fully
- Maintain even contact with the drilled surface
- Deliver consistent internal pressure
Once placed, the expansion process begins. The pressure builds gradually, splitting the concrete or rock along the drilled pattern. There’s no need for impact tools once it’s poured.
Not All Holes Are Vertical
While expansive grout is ideal for downward vertical or angled holes, some jobs involve:
- Horizontal holes
In those cases, a thicker mix may be required. By using the approved powder additive, BETONAMIT® can be adjusted into a putty-like expansive mortar to reduce slump and help it stay in place.
It’s the same product. The same controlled expansion process. You simply adjust the consistency to suit the orientation of the boreholes.
Suitable Applications
Expansive grout in the UK is commonly used for:
- Removing concrete slabs
- Breaking foundations
- Splitting reinforced concrete
- Mass concrete removal
- Rock and bedrock breaking
How It Works on Site
Concrete and rock are strong under compression but weaker when internal tensile pressure forces them apart. Expansive grout uses that principle to create controlled fractures.
- Drill boreholes to the correct diameter and spacing.
- Mix BETONAMIT® with clean water to a pourable consistency.
- Fill the vertical holes fully.
- Allow the expansion to do the work.
There’s no need to stand over the area with a breaker or organise explosive permits.
You control the outcome by how you drill.
What Problems Does Expansive Grout Solve?
Using expansive grout instead of blasting or mechanical breaking helps avoid:
- Blasting licences and explosive handling permits
- Shock waves and ground vibration
- Continuous breaker noise
- Excessive labour from impact tools
- Risk to nearby structures
Why Choose BETONAMIT® as Your Expansive Grout in the UK?
Controlled Results
The drilling pattern determines where the material splits, allowing selective and planned removal.
No Explosives
BETONAMIT® is not classified as an explosive. No blasting licence required.
Designed for Vertical Boreholes
The standard pourable mix flows easily into downward drilled holes for consistent pressure and reliable cracking.
Practical on Site
All that’s required is drilling equipment and basic mixing tools.
Simple to Use
The method stays straightforward:
Drill → Mix → Fill → Wait
No specialist demolition certification required. Just correct drilling and proper mixing.
