Coating your garage or basement flooring provides an exciting opportunity. Epoxy, polyurea, and polyaspartic systems add incredible durability, functionality, and aesthetics to any space in your home.
Polyurea and polyaspartic systems last for years and protect garages and basements from accidental spills, scratches, and damage. But when planning your next floor coating project, how do you know which coating to use for your concrete floors?
Polyaspartic coatings, epoxy floors, and polyurea elastomers vary in price, durability, and longevity. Contact your local concrete coating experts to find out which garage floor coatings work best for your garage. Your budget and substrate size help determine which floor coating will work best for you. Continue reading to learn more about polyurea and polyaspartic systems and how to choose the best concrete coating for your space.
Polyurea Concrete Coating
Polyurea combines resins and isocyanates to create an extremely durable, plastic-like film. The process of polymerization involves the precise mixture of synthetic resins and isocyanate compounds to form the protective coating of polyurea. Only professionals should mix and apply polyurea, as imprecise mixtures and improper applications lead to costly repairs and damaged concrete floors.
Polyurea began as a protective coating for tabletops and automobile parts before being used for concrete floor coatings in the 1990s. Now, residential, industrial, and commercial properties frequently utilize polyurea coatings for their tremendous ability to bind securely to concrete floors. Additional scientific developments have improved the UV protection, slip-resistance, and curing time of polyurea coatings.
The many benefits of polyurea include the following:
- Fast cure time
- Low VOCs (volatile organic compounds)
- Protection against corrosion and abrasions
- UV resistance
Polyaspartic Concrete Coatings
Polyaspartic concrete coatings derive from polyurea. Resins and hardeners combine to create polyaspartic aliphatic polyurea. Initially used to reinforce steel structures and bridges, polyaspartic layers provide even more durability and functionality than polyurea. Polyaspartic floor coatings remain the first choice for home and business owners looking for long-lasting, effective concrete coatings.
Polyaspartic coatings also maintain a longer pot life than polyurea, meaning professional flooring experts have more time to apply polyaspartic layers before they begin to dry. Polyaspartic coatings also include additional protection from UV light and abrasions.
The most compelling improvement of polyaspartic coating remains its resistance to extreme temperatures. Professional concrete coating experts can apply polyaspartic floors in temperatures as low as -25°F or as high as 120°F.
Other benefits of polyaspartic floors include the following:
- High-gloss finish
- Heat resistance
- Low VOCs
- Easy to clean
- Fast cure time
Polyurea and Polyaspartic Systems
Home and business owners benefit from newly developed polyurea and polyaspartic systems. Specifically designed to slow down the pot life of polyurea coatings, polyurea and polyaspartic systems provide enhanced application methods. Concrete coating professionals utilize polyurea and polyaspartic systems to deliver the complete one-day installation of concrete coating systems.
As a result of the more porous composition of polyurea and polyaspartic systems, concrete floors bind more securely to the concrete coatings. Stronger bonds between coatings and substrates result in longer-lasting concrete floors and less moisture damage. Polyurea and polyaspartic systems typically last anywhere from 15 to 30 years if cared for properly.
Polyurea and polyaspartic systems prove more durable, flexible, and stain-resistant than epoxy coating options. Epoxy tends to chip, bubble, and separate from concrete floors after only a few years. Polyurea and polyaspartic systems require low maintenance and often include a ten to the 15-year warranty on chipping and peeling.
Installing Polyurea and Polyaspartic Systems
Step 1: Preparation
The first step in installing new concrete coatings requires the preparation of your concrete floor. Professionals utilize diamond grinders to clean the texture of concrete floors and remove dust, debris, and bacteria. Moisture-damaged concrete floors require repair before the installation of new floor coating.
Step 2: Application
Concrete coating professionals apply polyurea topcoat over the existing concrete floor. If requested, colorful vinyl chips, flakes, or metallic powder applied between the base coat and top coat provide beautiful design options.
Step 3: Topcoat
After the polyurea fully cures and dries, a polyaspartic topcoat completes the polyurea and polyaspartic system. Anti-microbial, UV resistance, and anti-slip additives further increase the durability of polyurea and polyaspartic systems.
Trust Revival Concrete Coatings for All Your Polyurea and Polyaspartic System Needs
Revival Concrete Coatings proudly serves Des Moines, IA, and the surrounding areas. Our team works tirelessly to provide high-quality concrete coating services. When you choose Revival Concrete Coatings, you get friendly customer service, years of experience, and affordable prices.
To learn more about our services, contact us at Revival Concrete Coatings at (515) 850-7192 to receive your free quote!