Concrete Coatings in Colder Weather

October 26, 2018
Cementitious Overlays

The majority of concrete coatings are dependent on temperature, so, as colder weather settles in, it becomes more important to look at particular conditions of your space. If your space is heated and can maintain a certain temperature, the outside temperature has little to no effect on successful application. However, if your space is unheated, temperature may adversely affect concrete coatings.

Interior Concrete Coatings in Iowa

As a general rule, the minimum air and surface temperature required when applying most concrete coatings and sealers is 50°F. When the temperature drops below this threshold, a needed thermal reaction fails to occur and the coating does not adhere properly (or takes too long to cure). This can lead to delamination, hazing and/or the formation of micro-bubbles. While air temperature is easy to read, reading surface temperature can be a bit trickier. In colder weather, concrete is almost always colder than the surrounding air. The coating will take on the temperature of the concrete once applied, so the right surface temperature is vital to a successful outcome. If the temperature of your concrete slab cannot be maintained at 50+ degrees in fall or winter, it is advisable to delay the application of a concrete coating to a warmer month.

Exterior Concrete Coatings in Iowa

Exterior concrete coatings are not advisable in Iowa, because the coatings do not hold up over time. The extreme temperature variation causes concrete to shrink and expand. Therefore, coatings and cementitious overlays will pop off or crack. It is possible to stain exterior concrete in warmer months, on the other hand. However, a sealer will have to be applied approximately every three years.

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For more information on applying concrete coatings in colder months, contact us today.

8 Ways to Upgrade Your Concrete Floor

There are so many ways to upgrade your concrete floor from polishing to coating to engraving or staining. We love helping our clients pick out the right fit for what they are looking to accomplish. Sometimes it’s a bit overwhelming to choose what to do with your concrete flooring. Here are 8 ways you can upgrade your concrete to protect and/or enhance it with a little explanation about each technique. We hope this helps when deciding what to do with your next project!

Mechanical Polishing

Mechanical polished concrete is a process that takes abrasives (diamonds) and mechanically places scratches in the concrete. This scratching process uses finer grit abrasives to remove and replace the scratches with smaller and smaller micro scratches.

The objective is to refine the floor and take away the small scratches so that you see a reflection in the floor. This process can be achieved with older concrete, new concrete and/or coated concrete.

This process is considered to be the maximum refinement method, and can be considered the best long-term solution for polished concrete.

Topical Polishing

Topical polishing is similar to the mechanically polished floor, but the course of action is shorter, and it leaves the floor at less than maximum refinement.

Most of the time the topically processed progression ends at a 200- or 400- grit step. These grits leave peaks on the top of the scratches that have zero lateral support. A topical sealer is then added and is placed into the gaps left by the scratching process. As the sealer settles and dries, it gives the appearance of being completely polished and is referred to as “polished concrete.”

This process is a much cheaper alternative to the mechanical process. The “topical polish” is exactly the same thing as putting on a coating. This method can be done with a burnisher, a floor scrubber and even a swing machine.

Decorative Epoxy Coatings

Epoxy floor coatings are hard wearing and durable solutions for both commercial and residential flooring. These floor coatings can be applied over concrete floors to provide a high performance and an attractive surface.

New technology now offers you the ability to choose almost any color. Metallic additives create a gorgeous surface and multiple colors can be randomly applied together revealing a swirling effect that is very unique and attractive.

Decorative Overlays

Overlays are a great option for concrete floors that are damaged or distressed. They are extremely durable and attractive. Overlays typically consist of a cementitious product, but some may be a combination of polyurethane and cement. They can be stained, mechanically polished, coated or stamped with any pattern you can imagine. Overlays are a great way to make an old concrete floor look brand new.

Dyes and Stains

The skies the limit when it comes to colorants. Multiple colors and patterns add to the beauty of your polished floor. There are a multitude of application techniques to add interesting effects when applying dyes and stains.

Engraving

We can incorporate engraving into your polishing process to provide borders and logos. Engraving can turn ordinary concrete surfaces into slate, tile, stone, brick and much more.

Hardeners and Sealers

Hardeners/densifiers are products that penetrate into the concrete surface and react with the Portland cement and fills the micro-pores. This reaction creates a very dense surface that helps with ease of cleaning, abrasion, dusting, staining, and overall wear of your concrete surface. These products do not change the appearance of the surface but can generate a sheen after burnishing and actually becomes harder the more you use the surface.

Sealers are an option for some floors. Depending on your needs it may provide a shiny surface that is easy to clean. All sealers will need to be reapplied at some point depending on wear and tear.

Final Notes

Performance Concrete Polishing is focused on providing services that are related to concrete surfaces. These services are appropriate for new and existing concrete. The majority of services we offer are oriented to improving the aesthetic appearance of these surfaces. Decorative concrete services are the hallmark of this company, and we’d love to help you out with your next project!