Improving The Look Of Concrete

If you have been considering some different surface solutions for your concrete floor, you might be thinking about epoxy. Before you make any final decisions, you need to be sure that your concrete floor is a good fit for the coating and is properly prepared before you apply it. Here are a few things to consider as you explore the process.

Is The Floor Suitable For Epoxy?

The first thing you have to determine is whether or not the floor is a suitable surface for an epoxy coating. There are several factors that need to be considered here, and while some can be remedied, one is a deal-breaker.

If there's any moisture in the floor, you should not apply any kind of epoxy coating. Epoxy seals the surface completely, which will trap moisture in the concrete. This will lead to deterioration in the concrete, and it can eventually separate the bond between the concrete and the epoxy. This is the deal-breaker issue. You'd have to work with a concrete contractor to waterproof the concrete, then ensure that it dries out completely before you consider applying epoxy.

If the concrete is damaged, it needs to be fully repaired before you can apply epoxy. Any existing coatings or sealants must be removed as well. Finally, you need to clean the concrete surface completely, removing any stains or other contaminants before you can consider applying epoxy.

Create An Adhesive Surface

In order for the epoxy to actually adhere to the concrete, you need to create an adhesive surface. It means roughing up the surface so that you open the concrete pores. You can do this with sandblasting, manual grinding, or even acid etching. The key is that you need to create a rough, textured surface on the concrete floor. If it is uneven, or it is actually chipped, you'll have to fix that before you coat it.

Watch For Flaws

If you prep the floor and apply the epoxy on your own, you need to make sure that the surface actually adhered. Keep an eye on your epoxy floors for several weeks to a month after you've applied the coating. If it looks like it is bubbling up, separating, or lifting from the concrete, you'll need to have it removed and professionally reapplied.

There are many different epoxy coatings and all sorts of textures you can add to your concrete floor. No matter what your end goal, you're sure to find what you're looking for from a local epoxy supplier like EZ- Concrete Supply.