By Lifetime Epoxy Expert Writer:  Edward Winslow

What Are Polyaspartic and Polyurea Coatings?

Polyaspartic and polyurea coatings were developed over 20 years ago to coat steel to prevent corrosion. The high performance led to experimenting as a concrete coating. They start as two components that are mixed together basically like an epoxy and rolled on a concrete surface. Colored pigments can be added and decorative chips or quartz can be broadcast into the wet coating. The top coat encapsulated the quartz and chips yielding a decorative result.

Unique Characteristics

So simply they are a coating that protects the concrete garage floor. However they are much more sophisticated. When polyaspartic esters are added to a polyurea the capabilities change depending on the desired result. For example, adding polyaspartic esters will increase the cure time. Use less and the cure time can be decreased. Adjusting the capability of the product means that in the hands of a professional there is finally a solution for the concrete floor.
Instead of using an off the shelf product that is one size fits all, the product can be adjusted to fit the application. This has resulted in a solution in Minnesota that has extreme temperatures and issues that are different than anywhere else.

How They Stop Moisture Pressure

The concrete garage floor typically has extensive ground moisture and freeze issues that trap moisture in the ground. When ice and snow start to melt the moisture gets underneath the slab and pushes upwards through the airholes and veins in concrete. This happens everywhere but is extreme in very cold climates. Polyurea and polyaspartic blends have been created that have the unique ability to wet or absorb into the concrete rather than just sticking to the surface. Provided the surface is ground the right way with professional grinding equipment the pores of the concrete are opened allowing the polyureas to soak into the surface. When they cure they become part of the floor and a permanent moisture barrier.

How They Fix Damaged Concrete Floors

Salts that are pushed to the surface from moisture pressure settle on the floor and start breaking down concrete. This combined with de-icing salts from cars and trucks that are tracked onto the floor rapidly deteriorate concrete especially in Minnesota. Adjusting the ability of a polyurea to absorb into the surface means badly damaged floors can be fixed. Since the polyureas can soak into porous concrete they become part of the floor. With the right blend the concrete will break before the polyureas. What may seem hopeless can now be fixed.

Flexibility Can Be Adjusted

Due to the extreme conditions resulting in cracked concrete the polyureas can be adjusted to be thin enough to fill a crack all the way to the bottom, not just at the surface. Flexibility or elongation as it is referred can be increased so the filler will move with the concrete. An additional feature is that polyureas will cure deep in the crack even when their is moisture in the walls of the crack. Cracks are like vents for moisture vapor. The ability to permanently fix a crack in the concrete floor prevents moisture pressure and salts from delaminating the top coating.

Creating a Non Slip Surface.

Conscientious polyurea coating professionals add a non slip feature into each coat. For floors with high traffic there will be some wear and every coating will wear to some degree. By mixing the right size particles into each layer the coefficient of friction (non-slip) will always exist. Many coatings are too thick to build non slip particles into each layer and are braodcast only at the surface. Non Slip Particles in the surface will dislodge from use and become slippery fast.

The Final Decorative Coats

Abrasion resistance can be adjusted so that the floor with extreme surface abuse will endure over the long term. However when sand, dirt and de-icing salts hit the surface every floor will get some degree of wear. Polypaspartic polyureas have the unique ability to be slightly sanded and recoated restoring the surface like new.
​For more information about using garage floor epoxy coatings visit website www.portlandgaragefloor.com
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Edward_Winslow/169240 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3524950

By Lifetime Epoxy Floors Expert Guest Writer: Dave D Beasley ​

Epoxy floor coatings are the answer to your fading concrete floor paints. There are a lot of old homes nowadays that are in need of a major upgrade when it comes to floor conditions. Some of these floors have sustained a lot of damage over the years of wear and tear.

Let us take into consideration the conditions of garage floors at some of the old houses. The floor might have been damaged over the years. Epoxy floor coatings are composed of an odor free resin and a hardener which is great for garage, industrial, basement, and office flooring. When these two epoxy components are mixed together it will make it durable for a longer period of time compared to ordinary floor coatings.

There are a lot of advantages in using epoxy as a floor coating. Its durability and reliability can endure damages and still maintain its appearance. The good thing about this type of coating is that you can mix it according to your needs. You can just a light mixture for a surface that needs a light coat only. If in need for a more durable mixture, then one can easily adjust it and have the mixture that they want. It can also be adjusted to adapt to the climate in your area. You can have any color that you want that can blend well with your house color scheme.

There are a lot of individuals who are kind of hesitant when it comes to using epoxy floor paint. This is due to the term epoxy and how it is termed as a harmful chemical. If you really research about epoxy you will find out that it is quite resilient when it comes to solvents, salty environment, and gas spills. That is why most homes that are hear the shore usually uses epoxy floor paints.

There are a lot of epoxy floor paints that can be bought from hardware stores but most of these just have some instructions on how to mix it. That is why before purchasing it, make sure that you know how to do it or much better one should ask for assistance. Another idea is to have it mixed so that you can just apply it on the floor.

Just try to remember in your purchase of epoxy floor coatings, you have to be specific of what you really need. This will lessen any wastage and save you money. Make sure that you know how to mix it. If not, it is wise to have a professional do it.

If you need more epoxy flooring tips then check out this excellent site for Epoxy Floor Coatings [http://www.epoxyfloorcoatings.net] site or if you are looking for garage floor advice then this Epoxy Garage Floor [http://www.epoxygaragefloorcoating.net] coating site might be just what you need.
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Dave_D_Beasley/301225


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4061631

By Lifetime Epoxy Expert Guest Author: Al Barnes ​

Applying a good quality garage floor coating can work wonders to protect the concrete floor surface and also make it much safer to work on. But some people don't understand the limitations of these products. They will not seal water out that is coming into the garage.

Water seepage through the floor up is a problem that many people have in the winter resulting in a water puddle in the garage. The question is whether applying the flooring will assist in preventing the infiltration of water through the slab. This is a very common problem, you also see it in foundations and even inside a main living area where it can do a lot of damage to household items. The reason for this infiltration of water is a high groundwater level or an artesian well.

A high water table is the terminology used to explain the water surface that you can find when digging in the ground. As though by magic, have you ever dug a hole and then had it overflow with water? This is the work of the water table which is the degree to which the water line equalizes and will move higher and lower as the seasons advance. This makes sense because if you have a lot of rain there will be plenty of moisture in the soil to keep it up, but if it does not rain for months you would expect the level to go down. A swamp is only ground with a very high water level. If your garage floor is lower than the water table height, then the pressure of the water when trying to recover its desired level will force it up through any cracks or weak points in the concrete.

The other common cause, an artesian well, is similar but the water is not placed evenly through the soil as with the water table problem. Instead there is a path for water to be moving underground and it just happens to be driving to the surface through your garage. "Artesian well" is a term that means the water flows out of the ground under its own pressure. As with the water table problem, the pressure of the water forcing it to rise will cause it to leak through the floor.

Application of a garage floor coating, even a high-end epoxy resin which seals the surface very well, will not hold this water. The pressure force will usually lift the epoxy off of the concrete in spots and drain the water out. The only remedy is to get rid of the water from beneath the slab if you have this problem.

The garage is an important place in the home even though it is not treated that way. To find out how to keep your garage safe and functioning visit us at The Garage Floor Coating Place. We cover everything form garage floor paint to garage heaters.
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Al_Barnes/409092


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5230197

By Richard Alone ​

Surfaces that are exposed to outside elements are prone to damages. Hence it becomes vital to protect them from getting worn. Generally coatings are used to cover up the surface to preserve it from rust and to maintain the attractiveness. Coatings are specifically used for inner and outer beautification of the house and they are made from paint and additional additives. Depending on the purpose you can select them from a range which is available in the market. You can easily find swimming pool coatings, roof coatings and garage floor coatings for your convenience.

​If you are planning to protect the garage floor from wearing and tearing, decide to take upon a quality garage coating. There are umpteenth choices that would suit your garage floor. However for getting best results, it is better to take into consideration certain factors like cost, durability and moreover the way in which the coatings will be used. Focus clearly on these key factors to make a decision.

Several kinds of coatings are available in the market. The most popular and preferred among the variety of garage floor coatings is floor paints. They are quite trouble free while applying and also they are highly economical and cost effective. Such floor paints come in latex with epoxy form. While comparing all the variety of floor paints, the epoxy floor paint is considered as the best choice as it is water resistant and also easy to apply. It also has a tendency to stick firm to concrete and seal. The epoxy paints makes the floor looks shinier and neat. Moreover, they are very easy to clean and maintain. The durability is also high for epoxy coatings with minimal repairs. It would be very easy to clean the floor by merely moping it. Oil stains too can be easily removed.

Once you have made up your mind to protect your garage floor, the first thing you have to do is to decide upon the various ways by which you can make use of the garage floor. You may be setting up the floor just to park your vehicles or may want to use it for some additional functions. These days the youngsters like to work on the car but it would make the garage messy with oil and dirt. Some people even plan to setup some kind of workshop within the garage. Here what you have to take care is that the garage floor coating that you select must withstand every element that would be exposed.

These floor coatings appear to be perfect for your garage as it is extremely simple and trouble free development. In addition from beautifying your garage floors, the coatings is also a reasonable method to defend the concrete sealers floor against weathering, cracking, oil, chemicals and additional moisture. The garage floor coatings increase the life of your garage and they prove to be better than concrete floor coating. Before selecting the coatings, have a clear understanding of the floor and what end result you expect. Then you can approach the specialty coatings dealer for some suggestion on what will work best for your floors.

Richard is an Expert author for Texas garage floor coatings [http://asc-tx.com/xtreme_garage_floor_coatings.html] and Acrylic coatings. He has written many articles like Houston metal coatings, metal coatings and WaterBorne Trailer Coating. For more information visit: Texas leather Coatings [http://www.asc-tx.com]
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Richard_Alone/354825 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4633174