An Epoxy Floor Installation is best done on a concrete floor. An epoxy floor does not only look beautiful, it is also an extremely durable floor coating. It is resistant to stains, chemicals, chipping, abrasions and impacts.
Epoxy floors are ideal in areas which have a lot of vehicle and foot traffic because they are tough enough to withstand such rigorous torture. In industrial kitchens and walk-in freezers or high-freezing coolers that have extreme temperatures, epoxy coatings provide the needed protections for the floors.
The thick coat is also able to hide most of the imperfections in the concrete underneath. It is easy to clean and maintain, too. Depending on the texture and thickness of the epoxy coating, it is able to provide various slip-resistant levels.
For these reasons, commercial and industrial business owners as well as homeowners have made Epoxy Floor Installation one of the top flooring systems.
For an Epoxy Floor Installation to be successful, concrete needs to be properly and well prepared. Since the application of epoxy is similar to that of paint (some refer to epoxy coatings as epoxy paint), the surface needs to be prepared properly by the concrete contractor. A well-prepared concrete will give the epoxy coating a longer lifespan.
Preparation Process
Chemical Etching.Muriatic acid, sulfamic acid, or phosphoric acid is used to clean the concrete floor. Cleaning is done without the use of any equipment. Extreme caution is needed because these chemicals are when not handled well.
Grinding.Grinders, often diamond grinding disks, remove the concrete’s old coating. DIY enthusiasts use acid etching instead because it does not need any special equipment.
Shot Blasting.This removes all sealers on the concrete floor. This process is doe only by professionals because it requires special skills.
Sand Blasting.This process gets rid of all the fine materials in the concrete surface such as sand. Special equipment is required.
Coating the Floor
When the concrete surface is ready, epoxy floor installation begins with the first coat. When it dries up (after about 16 hours), a second coat is applied. The floor is allowed to dry for another 16 hours. Foot traffic is then allowed. Parking your car is usually allowed after the seventh day. The floor will completely cure after about one month.
Properly preparing the concrete floor is a labor intensive task. Reading package instructions on the right application can be daunting. Proper epoxy floor installation is best done by highly trained and skilled professionals. This is to avoid any installation errors.
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