Concrete floors are hard, durable, strong, and long-lasting, but many people avoid them because of their grey, dull and boring appearance. But these days, a variety of coatings can be applied to concrete floors to increase their protection quotient and at the same time improve their aesthetics. In fact, concrete floors need some special kinds of coating to stay protected against impact, abuse, abrasion, thermal shock, chemical attack, and others. Now that there are so many options for concrete floor coatings, we can help you choose the right one depending on a number of conditions. Here are a few factors that you need to consider while selecting material for your concrete floor coating.
Existing surface: If you are planning to give some coating to your existing concrete surface, you need to make sure that it is clean, undamaged, and free from any contamination which may disallow the coating to bond with the surface. The surface should be even and should not have any spalls or cracks. If there is any, the surface needs to be patched, repaired, and leveled before coating. The material that you choose for leveling and patching should also be compatible with the coating.
Type of abuse: The concrete floor coating material you choose largely depends on the type of abuse your floor is subjected to on a regular basis. Some of them may include:
- Abrasion: The amount of abrasion your floor will be able to tolerate can significantly affect your selection of concrete floor coatings. If the surface will be exposed to a lot of rubber-wheeled or steel-wheeled traffic, and it would require special treatment for durable wear.
- Exposure to chemicals: The type of chemical and severity to its exposure would be an important factor to consider too. One type of coating may differ in its chemical resistance property from the other. Whether your floor may have to tolerate occasional chemical spills or constant immersion will also affect your decision.
- Impact: Direct impact and heavy loads will call for thicker or heavier concrete floor coatings.
- Thermal shock: The temperature fluctuations that your floor may have to undergo will also make an impact on your selection.
After identifying the type and severity of abuse, you will be able to decide which material and thickness you need for your floor coating.
Desired aesthetics: These days, there are numerous types of concrete floor coatings that may give you the type of look you want for your floor surface. The look that you desire and the one that you get after installation may be significantly different. So, you need to talk to an expert, let them know your expectations, and let them work upon it accordingly.
Installation: If you have limited time or resources, you need to choose a floor coating option that is easy and fast to install, especially if you are planning to apply the coating on your own. The temperature of the floor while applying the coating also influences your selection of material. Certain coating, like epoxy, is very sensitive to temperatures and may have a varied cure time duration.
Durability: As an owner, you must want your flooring system to last long. However, you need to keep the flooring maintained to keep it in optimum condition. Therefore, you need to have a look at the steps required for the maintenance of the floor coating you are opting for. It should be easy to clean and maintain, it should be sturdy enough to withstand normal wear and tear, and it should last long for at least a couple of decades.
Apart from all these factors, you need to keep your budget in mind as well. Since there are so many options of concrete floor coatings to choose from, you need to choose the one that best suits your requirements, preferences, and also your budget.
