Here’s a question – what is concrete coating, exactly?
As a concrete coating company since 2018, we feel confident we can explain the process we do for our clients in Wisconsin.
In short, concrete coatings are protective or decorative layers that are applied to concrete surfaces, usually on the floor of buildings.
These coatings are designed to shield the concrete from wear, stains, chemical spills, and weather effects, thereby extending the lifespan of the concrete while improving its appearance.
Concrete coatings are specialized layers applied to concrete surfaces to achieve these goals.
Here, we explore what concrete coatings are, their types, benefits, and why they are an essential choice for both residential and commercial settings.
What Are the Benefits of Concrete Coatings?
The most important benefit of concrete coatings is to enhance the durability of concrete floors.
Concrete itself is simple. Concrete is a mixture of cement, water, and aggregates like sand, gravel, or crushed stone.
Concrete is naturally porous, which makes it susceptible to cracks, stains, and damage from chemicals or oils.
You can think of “coatings” as a protective layer for that concrete – stopping it breaking apart. Most of our clients coat their basements or garage – extending the concrete floor’s life and making it look great.
Coatings like epoxy and polyurea provide a protective barrier that resists these hazards, significantly reducing wear and tear.
This makes them ideal for high-traffic areas or places prone to spills, such as garages, workshops, and industrial settings. They protect the floors of the places you care about.
Another advantage of using concrete coatings is their aesthetics.
These coatings are available in a variety of colors and textures, allowing property owners to customize the look of their floors to match any décor.
This can transform a dull concrete slab into a vibrant, attractive surface that enhances the overall appearance of a space.
Whether you’re looking for a high-gloss finish for a showroom or a subtle matte finish for a home garage, concrete coatings can be tailored to meet specific visual preferences.
What’s The Process of Concrete Coating?
Concrete coatings are protective or decorative layers that are applied to concrete surfaces.
These coatings are designed to shield the concrete from wear, stains, chemical spills, and weather effects, thereby extending the lifespan of the concrete while improving its appearance.
At Excel Concrete Coatings, applying concrete coatings begins with meticulous surface preparation, which is essential to ensure that the coating adheres properly and lasts for a long time.
The concrete surface must be thoroughly cleaned to remove all forms of contaminants such as oils, dust, and existing coatings or sealers.
Techniques such as grinding, shot blasting, or acid etching are employed to achieve a clean and slightly porous surface.
Any visible cracks or damage in the concrete are then repaired using fillers or patching compounds to provide a smooth substrate for coating.
Following the preparation, a primer is often applied to the concrete to enhance the adhesion of the subsequent coatings.
The primer not only aids in bonding but also helps in sealing the porosity of the concrete, which can improve the overall performance of the final coating.
After the primer has dried, the base coat of the chosen concrete coating. For us, this is usually epoxy.
This layer may be rolled, brushed, or sprayed on, depending on the specific requirements of the coating material and the conditions of the application area.
The final steps involve adding aesthetic elements and protective top coats.
If decorative effects are desired, such as our color flakes or specific textures, these are incorporated into or on top of the base coat while it is still wet.
After the base layer is set, a top coat is applied to seal all the underlying layers, providing additional protection against mechanical wear, chemical spills, and UV damage.
This top coat also determines the gloss or matte finish of the surface.
Once the top coat is applied, the entire coating system needs to cure for a specified period, during which it should not be disturbed to ensure optimal hardness and adherence to the concrete surface.
Questions About Concrete Coatings?
If you have any questions about concrete coatings in Wisconsin, please give us a call at (262)-683-5381
We’re here to answer your questions and point you in the best direction.
