Polyaspartic and polyurea coatings were developed over 20 years ago to coat steel to stop corrosion. The high end resulted in experimenting as a concrete coating. They start as two components which are mixed together basically as an epoxy and rolled on a concrete surface. Colored pigments may be added and decorative chips or quartz may be broadcast to the wet coating. The utmost effective coat encapsulated the quartz and chips yielding an ornamental result.
Unique Characteristics
So simply they are a coating that protects the concrete garage floor. However they are far more sophisticated. When polyaspartic esters are put into a polyurea the capabilities change depending on the desired result. For instance, adding polyaspartic esters increase the cure time. polyurea coating Use less and the cure time may be decreased. Adjusting the capability of the item ensures that in the hands of a professional there is finally a remedy 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 fit the application. It’s triggered a remedy in Minnesota that’s extreme temperatures and problems that are very 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 very cold climates. Polyurea and polyaspartic blends have now been created that have the initial capability to wet or absorb to the concrete rather than just sticking with the surface. Provided the top is ground the proper way with professional grinding equipment the pores of the concrete are opened allowing the polyureas to soak to the surface. Once they cure they become area of the floor and a permanent moisture barrier.
How They Fix Damaged Concrete Floors
Salts which are pushed to the top from moisture pressure settle on to the floor and start breaking down concrete. This along with de-icing salts from cars and trucks which are tracked onto a floor rapidly deteriorate concrete especially in Minnesota. Adjusting the power of a polyurea to absorb into the top means badly damaged floors may be fixed. Since the polyureas can soak into porous concrete they become area of the floor. With the best blend the concrete will break prior to the polyureas. What might seem hopeless can now be fixed.
Flexibility Can Be Adjusted
As a result of extreme conditions causing cracked concrete the polyureas may be adjusted to be thin enough to fill a crack all how you can underneath, not only at the surface. Flexibility or elongation as it is referred may be increased and so the filler will move with the concrete. Yet another feature is that polyureas will cure deep in the crack even though 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 top coating.
Making 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 best 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 that the floor with extreme surface abuse will endure over the long term. Nevertheless when sand, dirt and de-icing salts hit the top every floor will get some degree of wear. Polypaspartic polyureas have the initial capability to be slightly sanded and recoated restoring the top like new.