The Basics of Commercial and Residential Concrete Coatings

Concrete flooring is subjected to plenty of abuse – skid marks, chemical corrosion, and thermal shock (among other forms of physical destruction). Most concrete systems lack the design and reinforcement to withstand a lot of the physical punishment that it goes through. Concrete is also a porous material, which means that dirt, dust and other contaminants will make their way inside and weaken it.

Concrete coatings, however, offer you the protection you need by stabilizing your floor and preventing any major structural damage. There is a fairly thorough process when it comes to evaluating your floor and considering the ways in which you can improve its long-term performance. You always want to think about your flooring system in terms of the application, the density of the epoxy coatings, and the aesthetics.

You should take a good look at your flooring. Is it showing signs of age and deterioration? Are you noticing cracks, bumpy surfaces, and other imperfections? Before you apply the concrete coating, you will need to fix up some of these defects. Also, check for any visual blemishing and contamination. You may need to clean and wash down the surface of your flour to ensure that it is free of any dirt, filth, and bacteria.

Also, consider the amount of preparation that goes into installing epoxy floor coatings. The surface of your current concrete system must be properly prepared to receive any coatings in the first place. This will ensure that no mistakes are made during the installation process. The amount of surface preparation that you undergo will ultimately determine the long-term performance of your epoxy flooring. You want to be as comprehensive and thorough as you can be.

The four major categories of natural damage will determine the needs of your flooring system. You should consider your situation. What are the major categories you should focus on? How would you rank them in order of importance? This will provide you some clarity on what your installation will require in terms of density and the number of coatings.

Here are those four major categories of natural damage:

• Chemical Exposure: The severity and types of chemicals that you are working with are important. They will factor into the level of chemical-resistance you will need when you install your concrete coating. An occasional chemical spill is far less worse than constant immersion.
• Abrasion: This deals with the amount of foot and vehicle traffic you experience on a regular basis. Steel-wheeled vehicles versus rubber-wheeled vehicles are vastly different in terms of the wear and tear that they cause to your flooring. If your surface is exposed to steel-wheeled vehicles, then your floor will require special preparatory treatment to ensure long-term performance.
• Impact: Are there a lot of heavy-duty machines inside your facility? Concrete coatings offer incredible load-bearing capabilities that you won’t find with most other flooring systems. Thinker coatings also offer greater shock-resistance.
• Thermal Shock: No matter where you live, you are bound to experience temperature fluctuations. Thermal shock is where repaid heating or colling occurs. In other words, your concrete flooring system can diminish in strength when experiencing extreme temperature changes. Think about the region and climate in which you live to understand how concrete coatings can benefit you.

You always want to ensure that you are not overlooking anything, and this includes some of the lesser aspects of concrete coatings. These are things that do not necessarily play a role in how the system functions. However, they serve all serve a unique purpose and they are important in different ways:

• Aesthetics: What kind of look do you want to achieve with your floor? Are you aiming for something more subtle and traditional? Or perhaps you are more interested in a decorative and eclectic appearance? Epoxy and concrete coatings will certainly open the door in terms of achieving a unique aesthetic. When you hire a professional epoxy installer, try to get a better understanding of what you can do in terms of sprucing up the appearance of your flooring.
• Installations: Consider all of the factors at play during the installation process. What is your schedule like? How long will the entire process take to complete? How long will it take the epoxy cure? What other limitations are you faced with? Each system will have its own unique set of demands and needs.
• Life Expectancy: You want to ensure that your floor will last forever. Why should you have to repair and resurface it constantly? Concrete coatings are incredibly long-lasting. However, we advise that you undergo regular maintenance and cleanings to ensure that you are getting the most out of your epoxy floor installation.
• Financial Circumstances: Let’s say that because of certain budgetary concerns, you would rather opt to install a low-cost flooring system. Sure, this new system is affordable and it will work for the time being. However, think about how much more cost-effective it is to install a system that is durable and long-lasting. With concrete coatings, you saving yourself from a lot of financial turmoil down the line. The forward-thinking approach is what will benefit you the most. Those initial, upfront costs can often deceive us when it comes to long-term planning.

In other words, don’t undergo any DIY flooring projects. If something goes wrong during the installation, then you are left with having to clean up your own mess. For example, let’s say you neglect to prepare your floor for the epoxy coating. What will happen is the coating won’t properly adhere to your floor, and then you will have to remove and replace it. A professional installation service ensures that your floor will be in prime condition to receive an epoxy coating ahead of time. Why put your floor at risk when you can hire a qualified professional to handle everything for you?

Concrete coatings offer you a protective flooring solution that no other system can provide. Epoxy flooring methods have made a lot of improvements in the past decade alone. The material is a lot stronger and more durable than ever before. There are many good reasons why you should make the switch to a more structurally dependable flooring system.

If you run a factory or warehouse, then you are well aware of the hazards. Anyone who works inside a large industrial facility knows about the inherent dangers of the setting. You should always prioritize the safety of your employees, and concrete coatings will provide you that opportunity. The epoxy overlay produces a shiny and reflective surface that will greatly improve indoor visibility. This will aid your employees in preventing accidents and injuries while on the job. Also, concrete coatings offer a great deal of slip-resistance. Most claims for workers’ compensation are a result of slippery floors.

We also want to mention that concrete coatings will allow you to establish worker-designated areas. Manufacturing facilities often require floor directions that specify the areas you can and cannot enter. This is also conducive to worker safety – especially with manufacturing companies that experience a lot of employee turnover. Demarcated areas will also provide lanes in which forklifts and other motorized machinery have room to operate.

Let’s be honest, the biggest reason why you are making the switch to epoxy flooring is that the material is practically indestructible. Any setting that experiences a lot of foot traffic will benefit immensely from professionally installed concrete coatings. You are preventing a lot of the damage and deterioration that you would normally experience. You are extending the lifespan of your flooring system and getting the most out of it before undergoing any repairs or resurfacing procedures.

Are you interested in learning more about professional epoxy floor coatings? Call us today and one of our concrete contractors will explain everything you need to know. Refurbishing your current flooring system is something you should prioritize when there is severe structural damage.