A Simple Guide to Concrete Coatings

Concrete-Coatings
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The floor of your house is probably one of the most important things as it is what you stand on all of the time and what all your furniture and appliances are on too. The floor of your household needs to be sturdy and well protected as it is essentially the basis for everything in your home. Usually, people have concrete floors since concrete is seen as a strong and long-lasting material but even concrete on its own has its downsides. Concrete is often prone to cracks and its integrity can be affected by condensation although that is quite rare when it comes to concrete floors. To prevent that from happening and many other things too, you should consider applying a concrete coating.

Benefits of Concrete Coatings

Benefits-of-Concrete-Coatings
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Long-Lasting

Concrete as a material is known to last around half a century but if you decide to coat your concrete floor then it could last you up to a century. Especially if it's well maintained a quality concrete coating is going to prolong the already long lifespan of your concrete floors.

Maintenance

Talking about maintenance, concrete coatings or toppings as they're also known, are low maintenance solutions. Concrete in itself is easy to maintain but with a concrete floor coating, you'll make things even easier as all you need to take care of is recoating.

Tough

With a concrete coating on top of your concrete floor, you will make your floor tougher than ever. This is especially important if you want your warehouse floor to withstand a lot of weight and heavy impacts from machinery and big loads. 

Eco-Friendly

If your goal is to reduce the carbon footprint of your household or warehouse then going with concrete coatings is a great way to start. There are various eco-friendly concrete coatings that will still provide a great deal of protection and prolong the life of your concrete floor without it being at the expense of our planet.

Versatile

There are various types of concrete coatings you can choose from that will suit you best. Some are going to be easier to apply than others and some are going to be less protective but you won't always need the best of the best.   

Slip-Resistant

One feature that you will find with almost every concrete topping is slip resistance. No matter how glossy one may look you won't be able to slip as easily. This can save you from a lot of accidents and injuries.

Economical

When compared to other types of coatings, concrete coatings cost a lot less and concrete is an affordable material too. This combo will make for one of the most cost-effective solutions in your household.

Types of Concrete Coatings

Types-of-Concrete-Coatings
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Epoxy

Since we mentioned there are different types of concrete toppings it's important to know at least the more commonly used ones. One of these coatings is epoxy topping. This type of concrete floor coating is known for being durable, hard, and highly impact resistant. This is what makes epoxy concrete coatings suitable for heavy-duty applications like warehouses, logistic centres, and other industrial facilities where heavy machinery is used. Epoxy coatings can withstand chemical products such as oils, bleach, greases and cleaners. This is why you can see epoxy concrete toppings used in garages in the automotive industry.

Acrylic

Acrylic coatings may not be as durable as epoxy coatings but they are more affordable and easier to apply too. Acrylic concrete toppings are mainly used for decorative purposes since they offer minimal protection. Acrylic concrete topping is be used in areas with minimal foot traffic and where there is no risk of chemical spills or abrasions. Acrylic coatings dry rapidly but they will require a lot more maintenance and effort in the long run, in order to keep your concrete floor in shape as well as the coating itself.

Polyaspartic

Concrete coatings used in many airports, malls, and hospitals are polyaspartic. Polyaspartic coatings are quite versatile and customisable and because of this, they can be used almost everywhere. The versatility of polyaspartic coatings come from their esters which can be manipulated to control the coating's drying time and pot life too.

This level of customizability comes at the price of maintenance. Polyaspartic coatings need to be well maintained and require careful attention when it comes to applying them as the surface needs to be prepared properly. Otherwise, this can result in all kinds of issues with the coat. A polyaspartic coating can be a great alternative to epoxy or even polyurethane coatings. 

Polyurethane

Similar to epoxy coatings, polyurethane coatings are made to be used in heavy-duty applications. But unlike epoxy coatings, polyurethane coatings are not hard and stiff, rather they are quite soft and flexible. This is what makes polyurethane coatings suitable for areas with moderate to heavy pedestrian traffic polyurethane can also be used in freezing temperatures without losing any of its abilities.

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