Ask These 5 Questions Before You Get an Epoxy Concrete Floor?
Epoxy floor coatings have been coming in hot in the flooring industry. They have come to be known as a sort of magical cure for concrete floors that have fallen prey to erosion and wearing over the years. If you find yourself in a similar situation, maybe epoxy concrete floors could be your best friend too.
We made a list of five questions that we recommend every property owner ask before getting a new epoxy coating.
Q 1. How Much Traffic Does the Area See?
Traffic, type of activity, exposure to temperature, and chemical are four factors that are going to play a very important role in determining how effective the epoxy coating is going to be. For example, in a garage, it is wise to get epoxy with slip resistance. If you are going to be driving forklifts and steel-wheeled carts over the floor, you will need to take extra care to install a coating with reinforced strength and thickness. The type of product and application method must be customized well enough such that it accommodates the unique challenges your facility presents.
Q 2. How Worn Down is the Concrete?
Usually, concrete floors are classified into three categories according to the level of corrosion.
Smooth concrete - no visible aggregate, may have a couple of small, surface-level cracks.
Small Aggregate - Small rocks are exposed in some regions of the concrete.
Large Aggregate - Large rocks exposed, clearly visible on the concrete floor
Any concrete floor that has aggregate, both large and small, should be prefilled before the epoxy coating is applied. The process is painstaking and requires extra resources but remember that proper preparation is the difference between an epoxy concrete floor that lasts for years and one that barely makes it past the 5-year mark.
Q 3. How Long a Downtime Can You Afford?
One of the very few possible downsides of epoxy is that it takes a considerable amount of time for installation. From prepping the surface, pouring the epoxy resin mixture, and the cure time of the coating, it may take around a week for the process to be complete.
Before you get an epoxy coating, figure out if you are okay with shutting down the place for a week. It is best if you schedule the coating installation over a long weekend, holidays or planned shutdowns.
Q 4. How to Prepare the Floor for the Epoxy Coating?
Concrete grinding, concrete sanding, and shot blasting are three of the most popular methods used to prepare a concrete floor for an epoxy coating. Keep in mind that only your epoxy contractor can help you out with the kind of prep you need for your space. Some options may be too heavy-handed and cause more harm than good to the existing floor, while others may not be aggressive enough to de-laminate the concrete. As we said, proper prep is what keeps your epoxy concrete floor lasting long.
Q 5. How Much Are You Willing to Spend?
The final question to ask is regarding your budget. When you obtain a quote from an epoxy contractor, remember that price reflects the quality of the product and the workmanship offered. However, at the same time, be aware of swindlers that rip you off. It is safe to conduct a little bit of research on the internet and request quotes from a few different companies before you settle on a price.
Choose Zone Garage for Flawless Floor Coatings
Zone Garage is Oklahoma City’s number 1 provider of polyaspartic, polyurea and epoxy floor coatings. We offer premier flooring solutions that are fast, efficient, and industry-leading. Visit our website for a free quote today!