1. Why should I have epoxy coatings installed on my concrete floor?
Over time, concrete will begin to deteriorate due to a number of effects (i.e, expansion and contraction due to weather conditions, abrasion from dirt and liquid matter, foot and vehicular traffic). Throughout the life of the concrete these deteriorating effects will result in the production of concrete dust, cracking, voids and chipping. A professionally applied coating system will protect the floor from these effects, extend the life of the concrete and create an aesthetic appearance.
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2. How long does it take to install the floor coating system?
On most residential applications (i.e., garage floor, basement, or patio) the average time to complete the process is four (4) days.
On commercial/industrial applications the installation time varies, depending on various factors (i.e., substrate conditions, the type of coating systems selected and the size of the floor).
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3. Do I need to clean my floor before you start the floor coating installation?
Yes. Click here to go to the Getting Ready for the Installation page.
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4. I have a lot of stuff in my garage. Where can I keep it during the coating installation?
It is the customer’s responsibility to remove all personal property from the garage (some items may be left hanging on the walls). We suggest storing as much as you can in the house or a covered patio. However, if it is not possible to store all items requiring secure storage in the house, we recommend using a storage service such as Portable On Demand Storage (PODS), which provides secure storage containers that can be placed on your driveway. To reach PODS you can call 1-888-776-PODS or go to www.PODS.com.
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5. Will the coatings give off fumes or odors during and after the installation? And are the coatings flammable?
Many of our coating systems include polyurethane and epoxy coatings. The polyurethane coatings will emit fumes and an odor while they are in liquid form and during the curing process. The epoxy coatings do not emit fumes, but they may have an odor during the installation and curing process. With proper ventilation, odors will begin to dissipate after 4 hours.
The polyurethane coatings are flammable, but only while they are in liquid form.
Only prolonged exposure to the liquid form of the coatings will produce harmful effects. It is recommended that people who are sensitive to odors stay away from the coating areas during the installation and for at least 4 hours after any coatings have been applied.
We do offer coating systems that use 100% solids epoxies (no VOCs) only and do not emit any fumes or gases. These coatings are recommended for environments in which food, people and/or animals must remain in close vicinity of the area being coated.
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6. How long before I can use my new epoxy floor?
• The floor can accept light foot traffic 24 to 36 hours after the topcoat is applied.
• The floor can accept vehicle traffic 3 to 4 days after the topcoat is applied. We recommend that you park vehicles on cardboard and do not wash or clean the floor until the floor has reached a full cure.
• The floor coatings will reach a full cure 5 to 7 days after the topcoat is applied.
• Weather conditions may cause curing times to vary. For example, high humidity and or/low temperature will require longer curing times. Average cure times are figured @ 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
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7. My concrete has oil and other stains on it, is there a special surface preparation process that you will complete before installing the new coatings?
Yes. Click here to go to The Process page.
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8. If I have old coatings or paint on my floor, do they need to be removed before you install my new floor coatings?
Yes. The old coatings could disbond from the surface and take the new coatings with them. Our warranty will only cover coating installations on properly prepared surfaces. For an extra charge we can remove old coatings.
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9. Does my concrete need to be within a certain temperature range during the installation process?
Concrete temperatures must be greater than 39 degrees Fahrenheit for standard installations. However, we do offer special coating materials that are designed for installations in colder environments.
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10. On my garage floor, there is an area that extends out a few inches beyond the roll-up garage door (the apron). Will the coatings be applied to that area too?
On floors with flake or quartz broadcasts, the concrete will be saw cut between the edge of the garage door roller track and the inside of the garage door and the coatings will terminate at the saw cut. The apron can be coated a solid color. (Click on the photo for an example.)
Some people do not like the decorative coatings to extend beyond the garage door, they think it looks “funny,” but these coatings can be extended onto the apron upon request.
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11. If the control joints are filled with epoxy, will the epoxy crack if there is movement in the concrete?
Standard epoxy will crack, but we use a flexible epoxy that is designed for control joints to minimize the risk of cracking.
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12. Do you have cleaning and maintenance recommendations for my new floor?
To maintain the quality and performance of the floor it is important to regularly sweep off debris, sand, and soil, because these things are abrasive and can accelerate the wear of the coating. We also recommend a periodic wet cleaning, using a non-filming detergent, to remove oil and other residue. Avoid abrasive cleaners that may dull the surface. Cleaning products such as 409 or Fantastic may be used for spot cleaning.
Dragging or dropping sharp and/or heavy metal objects or tire chains may scratch and/or damage coating systems.
For commercial /industrial applications we offer special materials that will stand up to harsh treatment.
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| If you have any questions that have not been answered here, please feel free to call us at (928) 649-9338 or click here to contact us by email. |
