How You Should Prepare For A Successful Installation of Concrete Floor Coating
Summary
Have you ever wondered how you should go ahead while installing your concrete floor coating? Generally, you need to take a few steps to ensure to get a perfect concrete floor coating. We will talk about the importance of the […]
Have you ever wondered how you should go ahead while installing your concrete floor coating? Generally, you need to take a few steps to ensure to get a perfect concrete floor coating. We will talk about the importance of the right surface preparation in this article.
Let us try to understand what kind of shot blasting and floor preparation will be needed for getting a good quality concrete floor coating that is generally offered by a company like Cardea Concrete.
Only it is not the preparation phase that will make a difference, but also a few fine points during the process that can make a big difference in the final outcome. Here are the few steps that you should follow for optimal results:
- Determine Floor Type
All concrete floors may not be the same. Some can be soft, medium, or even hard. You need to understand what is already present in the foundational step.
- Select the Right Grinding Methodology
There are 2 main approaches:
a. Shot Blasting
Since it is a cheaper method and hence most contractors may prefer it. However, often shot blasting is:
- Very aggressive approach
- It is more suitable for resurfacing
- Downright abusive and may create stress fractures on the floor.
b. Diamond grinding
This is a better approach, but it needs more money, time, and skill. However, diamond grinding will be the best way of thoroughly opening the pores of your concrete throughout the floor by not damaging the concrete. It will also produce the smooth and most uniform finish.
- Hand Grind All Edges
Usually, most contractors will not go into much detail. They will prefer to use their industrial grinders. But without using hand grinding particularly the last few inches to the walls, there is no full assurance that your coating will bind properly to the concrete particularly at the edges. So, that may mean a poor result.
- Thorough Cleaning
After the grinding is completed, the floor should be thoroughly swept and vacuumed in all the edges, so that there will be no residue that will remain that may interfere with the complete bonding.
- Coat
You must apply the first coating layer, e.g. an epoxy primer that is specifically formulated for bonding and penetrating the concrete.
- Second Layer
Apply the epoxy coat of usually 8 to 10 mils in thickness.
- Sanding
Both chemical bonding and mechanical bonding are ideal for optimal bonding. Therefore, Liquid Floor Systems prefers for sanding this epoxy layer. Not everyone may not bother for this extra step. However, it can produce the best result that is the most long-lasting result
- After sanding thoroughly clean
Thorough cleaning is needed after sanding to get a better finish.
- Apply Urethane Top Coat
Finally, the most important step is to roll-on the urethane for perfect bonding between the urethane and epoxy. If all these steps are done by experienced professionals for concrete floor coating, an epoxy floor having a urethane seal will be the most attractive, cost-effective, and long-lasting concrete floor coating choice available.