Polyaspartic and polyurea coatings were developed over 20 years ago to coat steel to prevent corrosion. The high performance resulted in experimenting as a concrete coating. They start as two components that are mixed together basically as an epoxy and rolled on a concrete surface. Colored pigments can be added and decorative chips or quartz can be broadcast to the wet coating. The utmost effective coat encapsulated the quartz and chips yielding a cosmetic result.
Unique Characteristics
So simply they’re a coating that protects the concrete garage floor. However they’re a whole lot more sophisticated. When polyaspartic esters are added to a polyurea the capabilities change depending on the desired result. Like, adding polyaspartic esters will increase the cure time. polyurea coating Use less and the cure time can be decreased. Adjusting the ability of the merchandise ensures that in the hands of a professional there’s finally an answer for the concrete floor.
In place of having an off the shelf product that’s one size fits all, the merchandise can be adjusted to fit the application. It’s led to an answer in Minnesota that’s extreme temperatures and problems that are different than anywhere else.
How They Stop Moisture Pressure
The concrete garage floor typically has extensive ground moisture and freeze problems that trap moisture in the ground. When ice and snow begin to melt the moisture gets within the slab and pushes upwards through the airholes and veins in concrete. This happens everywhere but is extreme in cold climates. Polyurea and polyaspartic blends have already been created that have the initial ability to wet or absorb to the concrete rather than sticking with the surface. Provided the outer lining is ground the right way with professional grinding equipment the pores of the concrete are opened allowing the polyureas to soak to the surface. When they cure they become part of the floor and a lasting moisture barrier.
How They Fix Damaged Concrete Floors
Salts that are pushed to the outer lining from moisture pressure settle on to the floor and start breaking down concrete. This coupled with de-icing salts from cars and trucks that are tracked onto a floor rapidly deteriorate concrete especially in Minnesota. Adjusting the ability of a polyurea to absorb into the outer lining means badly damaged floors can be fixed. Considering that the polyureas can soak into porous concrete they become part of the floor. With the proper blend the concrete will break prior to the polyureas. What may seem hopeless may now be fixed.
Flexibility Can Be Adjusted
Due to the extreme conditions leading to cracked concrete the polyureas can be adjusted to be thin enough to fill a crack all the way to underneath, not merely at the surface. Flexibility or elongation as it is referred can be increased and so the filler will move with the concrete. One more feature is that polyureas will cure deep in the crack even if their is moisture in the walls of the crack. Cracks are like vents for moisture vapor. The capability to permanently fix a crack in the concrete floor prevents moisture pressure and salts from delaminating the most effective coating.
Making a Non Slip Surface.
Conscientious polyurea coating professionals add a non slip feature into each coat. For floors with high traffic you will have some wear and every coating will wear with a degree. By mixing the proper size particles into each layer the coefficient of friction (non-slip) will always exist. Many coatings are too thick to create non slip particles into each layer and are braodcast only at the surface. Non Slip Particles in the outer lining 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 on the long term. But when sand, dirt and de-icing salts hit the outer lining every floor are certain to get some degree of wear. Polypaspartic polyureas have the initial ability to be slightly sanded and recoated restoring the outer lining like new.