Polyaspartic and polyurea coatings were developed over 20 years ago to coat steel to stop corrosion. The powerful led to experimenting as a concrete coating. They start as two components that are mixed together basically such as an epoxy and rolled on a concrete surface. Colored pigments may be added and decorative chips or quartz may be broadcast into the wet coating. The very best coat encapsulated the quartz and chips yielding a decorative result.
Unique Characteristics
So simply they’re a level that protects the concrete garage floor. However they’re a lot more sophisticated. When polyaspartic esters are added to a polyurea the capabilities change depending on the desired result. For example, adding polyaspartic esters increase the cure time. polyurea coating Use less and the cure time may be decreased. Adjusting the capability of the item implies 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 is one size fits all, the item may be adjusted to match the application. This has resulted in an answer in Minnesota that’s extreme temperatures and problems that will vary 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 underneath 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 which have the initial capability to wet or absorb into the concrete rather than just staying with the surface. Provided the top is ground the right way with professional grinding equipment the pores of the concrete are opened allowing the polyureas to soak into the surface. If they cure they become the main floor and a permanent moisture barrier.
How They Fix Damaged Concrete Floors
Salts that are pushed to the top from moisture pressure settle on the floor and start deteriorating concrete. This along 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 top means badly damaged floors may be fixed. Considering that the polyureas can soak into porous concrete they become the main floor. With the right blend the concrete will break ahead of the polyureas. What might seem hopeless are now able to be fixed.
Flexibility Can Be Adjusted
Due to the extreme conditions leading to cracked concrete the polyureas may be adjusted to be thin enough to fill a break all the best way to the underside, not just at the surface. Flexibility or elongation since it is referred may be increased 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 capacity to permanently fix a break in the concrete floor prevents moisture pressure and salts from delaminating the utmost effective coating.
Developing a Non Slip Surface.
Conscientious polyurea coating professionals add a low slip feature into each coat. For floors with high traffic you will see some wear and every coating will wear with a 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 construct non slip particles into each layer and are braodcast only at the surface. Non Slip Particles in the top will dislodge from use and become slippery fast.
The Final Decorative Coats
Abrasion resistance may be adjusted so the floor with extreme surface abuse will endure within the long term. But when sand, dirt and de-icing salts hit the top every floor can get some degree of wear. Polypaspartic polyureas have the initial capability to be slightly sanded and recoated restoring the top like new.