Polyaspartic and polyurea coatings were developed over 20 years ago to coat steel to avoid corrosion. The high end led to experimenting as a concrete coating. They start as two components which can be mixed together basically like an epoxy and rolled on a concrete surface. Colored pigments could be added and decorative chips or quartz could be broadcast in to the wet coating. The utmost effective coat encapsulated the quartz and chips yielding an attractive result.
Unique Characteristics
So simply they are a covering that protects the concrete garage floor. However they are far more sophisticated. When polyaspartic esters are included with a polyurea the capabilities change with respect to the desired result. Like, adding polyaspartic esters increase the cure time. polyurea coating Use less and the cure time could be decreased. Adjusting the capacity of the merchandise implies that in the hands of an expert there’s finally a solution for the concrete floor.
Rather than utilizing an off the shelf product that’s one size fits all, the merchandise could be adjusted to match the application. This has resulted in a solution in Minnesota that has 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 very cold climates. Polyurea and polyaspartic blends have already been created which have the initial power to wet or absorb in to the concrete rather than sticking 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 in to the surface. If they cure they become part of the floor and a permanent moisture barrier.
How They Fix Damaged Concrete Floors
Salts which can be pushed to the top from moisture pressure settle on the ground and start wearing down concrete. This combined with de-icing salts from cars and trucks which can be tracked onto the ground rapidly deteriorate concrete especially in Minnesota. Adjusting the power of a polyurea to absorb into the top means badly damaged floors could be fixed. Since the polyureas can soak into porous concrete they become part of the floor. With the proper blend the concrete will break ahead of the polyureas. What may seem hopeless is now able to be fixed.
Flexibility Can Be Adjusted
Due to the extreme conditions causing cracked concrete the polyureas could be adjusted to be thin enough to fill a break all the best way to the bottom, not just at the surface. Flexibility or elongation as it is referred could be increased and so the filler will move with the concrete. An additional 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 capacity to permanently fix a break in the concrete floor prevents moisture pressure and salts from delaminating the most truly 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 for some 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 top will dislodge from use and become slippery fast.
The Final Decorative Coats
Abrasion resistance could be adjusted so your floor with extreme surface abuse will endure over the long term. However when sand, dirt and de-icing salts hit the top every floor are certain to get some extent of wear. Polypaspartic polyureas have the initial power to be slightly sanded and recoated restoring the top like new.