And here are the 4 details that matter most
1. Bonding Strength
- A concrete floor is porous, like a giant hard sponge.
- Floor coatings made up of larger molecules like epoxies don't soak in; they sit on top. Hot tires parked in the same spot day after day can cause these coatings to de-bond.
- Coatings made up of smaller molecules really soak in, so they stick better and last longer.
2. Flexibility
- A concrete garage floor will contract and expand slightly with temperature change.
- And a garage floor is susceptible to having heavy items dropped on it.
- Floor coatings that are too hard and brittle will crack as the slab expands and contracts or when heavy items are dropped on it. This allows moisture underneath the coating.
- As that moisture evaporates out, it can cause the coating to de-bond.
3. UV Stability
- Ultraviolet rays from sunlight can be damaging to many materials - like paint, fabric, wood and...concrete coatings.
- Most floor coatings are not UV resistant.
- They will yellow over time.
- UV rays will also cause unprotected coatings to break down and become brittle (see Flexibility issues above).
- A 100 percent polyaspartic floor coating is UV-resistant and won't yellow over time.
4. Installation Expertise
- Proper preparation of the surface is the most important step in applying a concrete floor coating.
- If surface grinding is not done correctly, the coating will eventually peel.
- And if cracks, pitting, and flaking is not repaired correctly before applying the coating, imperfections will show through.
- Even the highest quality coatings, if applied by less skilled installers or with corners cut to save cost, will not perform long-term.
- A 100 percent polyaspartic floor coating requires expert installation by an experienced team.
