Cracks, stains, and unevenness are all hallmarks of tired concrete in need of a makeover! Your driveway, garage, and patio could all benefit from the durability and beauty of concrete coatings. Professionally installed concrete coatings last for many years, truly transforming your outdoor space. Part of enjoying your yard is feeling peaceful and relaxed. Instead of seeing a project that needs completion, you can look at your yard and concrete renovation with a satisfied sigh.
Polyurea concrete coatings are durable, stain-resistant, slip-resistant, and UV stable. They provide an aesthetic, long-lasting, reliable coating that can’t be beat by untreated concrete or cheap imitations. Professionally installed polyurea concrete coatings are the premium solution for your tired, worn-out concrete surfaces.
In this article, we will discuss the basics of concrete coatings, surface preparation, chemical composition and performance, environmental resistance, application process, and maintenance and longevity. Concrete Coatings Hawaii offers premium Penntek polyurea concrete coatings. This article will highlight the fabulous benefits of transforming your concrete.
The Basics of Concrete Coatings
Even if you have never heard of concrete coatings, you can guess what they are by their name. Concrete coatings are literally coatings applied over concrete surfaces to transform not only their appearance but also their durability and longevity. There are different types of concrete coatings available. Many people refer to all concrete coatings as epoxy flooring. Epoxy is only one type of concrete coating. There is also polyurethane, acrylic, polyaspartic, and polyurea. Concrete Coatings Hawaii specializes in polyurea coatings because of their superior quality.
Concrete coatings are commonly used for driveways, garages, porches, patios, and pool decks. They are also great for commercial and industrial buildings like warehouses, workshops, laundromats, and restaurants. You may not know that they can be applied to indoor spaces. They are great for any area of your home, particularly bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms, as they are stain- and slip-resistant.
Surface Preparation: The Foundation of Durability
As with any home repair or improvement, shortcuts are your enemy. Proper preparation ensures proper results. In order to get a beautiful result with our concrete coatings, we take time to properly prep the concrete surface to be coated. This may include necessary crack repairs or evening the floor to create a flat surface. This may require either grinding or adding concrete to trouble spots. Proper preparation is important even with the highest quality coatings. We perform each step of the process with precision, ensuring a beautiful and lasting outcome. Proper preparation ensures adhesion of the coating, as well as longevity and integrity of the finished product.
Chemical Composition and Performance
Epoxy offers a strong bond and chemical resistance. Polyaspartic coatings offer fast curing and UV resistance. Polyurethane offers abrasion resistance and flexibility. So, why is polyurea the best? It offers everything! How do polyurea coatings accomplish this?
The amount of solids composing a coating makes it more durable, allowing for chemical resistance, abrasion resistance, and UV resistance. Penntek polyurea coatings are comprised of 99.5% solids. In contrast, some epoxy coatings have only 40% solids, although others contain a high percentage. Without a high percentage of solids, the coating can fail, so this is an extremely important factor.
Environmental Resistance: Standing Up to the Elements
When installed outdoors, UV-stability becomes a primary area of concern. Epoxy coatings are not UV-stable. They will yellow with sun exposure, causing permanent discoloration. This can be very disappointing when you have chosen a color scheme to complement your home, and then the color changes. Our polyurea coatings are UV-stable and will not fade, yellow, or discolor over time.
The flexibility of our coatings is important for weather and temperature fluctuations. They will not crack or warp. Other environmental factors, such as salt or sand will not harm our coatings as they are scratch-resistant. They are also stain-resistant so chemical spills or oil leaks will not damage them. They are easily cleaned with a little soapy water and scrubbing.
Application Process: It’s Not Just the Product
Concrete Coatings Hawaii will apply your concrete coating when the temperature and humidity are conducive to good adherence. We use a mulit-layer process to ensure the best outcome. If you choose a solid color, the layers will consist of a primer, basecoat, topcoat, and clear coat. If you choose to have chip coating that includes a color flake blend, the layers are basecoat, flakes, and topcoat. Our layered system offers incredible durability and resilience. Full chemical resistance is achieved in 72 hours while you can usually walk on them in 6-8 hours. However, giving your floors 2-3 days to fully cure is our recommendation. Then, they can resist most anything you can throw at them!
Maintenance and Longevity
Our concrete coatings are very low maintenance. We recommend regular sweeping and/or vacuuming. You can mop with soapy water. You should not use harsh chemicals that are corrosive, like acid or bleach. They are not needed and can erode the coating. Penntek also offers a cleaner designed for their floors if you wish to purchase it. With simple, proper care, our coatings will look beautiful and last for many years.
Summary
Concrete Coatings Hawaii offers premium Penntek concrete coatings. They are extremely durable and beautiful. We properly prep the concrete surface first. We apply multiple layers for the best outcome. Our coatings are comprised of 99.5% solids making them durable, chemical resistant, abrasion resistant, and UV stable. Our coatings do not discolor over time. With simple maintenance, our floors stay beautiful and durable for many years. If you are in the Kaneohe or Ewa Beach area and are ready to embrace polyurea coatings, call Concrete Coatings Hawaii today!