Concrete Floor Coating

A concrete floor coating refers to many types of products and systems used to cover bare concrete for aesthetic reasons, protective purposes, or simply to comply with codes and regulations.

In order to decide which type of coating is best for you, it's important that you understand the differences in each type and the cost basis.

We'll start with the easiest which is concrete sealer. Concrete sealer is the most basic coating. It requires the least amount of work to prep the floor and apply the coating. Sealer protects the concrete from many chemical spills, food stains, foot and vehicle traffic and makes cleaning concrete much easier. It doesn't do much to enhance the floor visually unless you use a colored concrete sealer.

A system of stain and sealer is another relatively inexpensive floor coating. Concrete stains are used to enhance bare concrete with a natural, long lasting appearance. Stains penetrate the concrete which creates a very durable finish that can't peel or flake away. They require a little more prep work but application can be very simple. You can choose between the popular acid stains or the more user friendly acrylic stains. In order for these stains to look nice and last, it's imperative that you apply a coat of concrete sealer as the final step.

Another popular concrete floor coating, especially for garages and basements, is concrete paint or epoxy floor paint. The materials for this is a bit more costly than stains and the prep work is more vigorous. Paints need a fairly rough floor profile in order to bond well and last. Acid etching can accomplish this but grinding or shotblasting is recommended for commercial and industrial floors. Application can be easy depending of the type of epoxy paint. Just mix it up, roll it on, and throw paint chips on the wet paint if you're using them. Some of the stronger epoxies harden to quickly and should only be used by professionals. It's recommended that a clear coat of sealer be applied as the last step to act as the sacrificial wear coat.

The most expensive and difficult floor coating is an overlay. Within the category of overlays there are several different types of concrete toppings. There are self leveling overlays which are generally used as underlayments for other flooring or to fix damaged and uneven slabs. Spray on overlays are normally used to create slip resistant surfaces that are easy on the feet and easy to clean. Color and stencils can also be used with spray on overlays for a customized surface. Spray on overlays are just one of many styles of decorative overlays, which include stampable overlays and decorative interior overlays. Overlays require a lot of planning and can be labor intense. It's recommended that they only be installed by professionals. However, a serious do-it-yourselfer can handle a basic overlay or almost any concrete floor coating with the proper tools and preparation.

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Concrete Floor Coating

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