Concrete Coating Bakersfield FAQ

Epoxy Flooring FAQ

What is the difference between Epoxy and Polyaspartic?

Both epoxy flooring and polyaspartic flooring are a great option for car garages.
Epoxy coatings have been around for years, compared to the newly developed polyaspartic floor coatings. Here is a quick compare between the two:
Durability
Epoxy dries hard so it can withstand the high traffic and demands of your garage, but it'd still vulnerable to abrasion. Polyurea/ Polyaspartic dries hard, but maintains some flexibility, and won’t chip, scratch or scuff, making it more durable.
Cost
Epoxy is more budget friendly than Polyaspartic. which as a material costs more than epoxy.
Drying Times
One coat of epoxy takes around 12 hours to dry. Minimum two coats of epoxy are required for a garage floor.
One layer of Polyaspartic takes an hour or less to dry. If you are the impatient type, polyaspartic is for you.
UV Stability
Some epoxy coats can fade or yellow over time when exposed to direct sunlight. Polyaspartic is always formulated to be colorfast, and it won’t fade or yellow.
Non Slip
It's a good idea to use anti-slip agent to add texture and traction in the polyaspartic coating, as when wet it gets very slippery. Epoxy is not as slippery, but can still benefit from added traction.

How long does epoxy lasts for?

If installed correctly and with proper care, your new garage epoxy floor can last 10+ years.
Compared to other flooring options, epoxy is extremely easy to clean and maintain. If you follow some basic cleaning schedule and some preventative measurements, you can make sure your epoxy floor is looking like new for longer
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What are other advantages of the polyurethane UV treatment, other than protecting from colour fade?

Polyurethane UV topcoat does considerably slow down the yellowing and discoloring of the floor over time. The main benefit of it is that it adds an extra layer of protection to your floor as polyurethane is high abrasion resistant, tire marking and stains resistant
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Given that this is a garage job, can warm/hot tires after a routine drive damage the epoxy floor?

Usually, tire marking happens when the concrete surface hasn't been prepared properly and there isn't good bondage between the concrete and the epoxy.

We spend a lot of time grinding the floor, making sure that all dirt, grime, oil and etc have been removed before we move on to the next stage. When we grind the concrete, we make sure we open the pores of the concrete, so when applied the epoxy can create good bondage with the concrete.

We use 100% solids epoxy rather than water-based epoxy. Their formula provides for better bonding characteristics. 100% solids epoxy has a high-temperature tolerance and it provides for a much thicker coating.

Why do you grind the concrete floor before applying epoxy and Polyaspartic?

The longevity of an epoxy floor depends on how well the concrete surface was prepared prior to applying a coating.
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Epoxy and sealers adhere best to clean surface, free from contaminants.
We diamond grind all concrete surfaces with two cuts to remove any dirt, oil and grime and open up the pores of the concrete, to ensure a bond forms between the exposed concrete and the floor coating.

Whether old or newly poured, all concrete needs to be opened to have the pores exposed and an ideal texture created for the floor coating to penetrate and bond to the concrete.

Diamond grinding provides more control over the surface and can achieve the exact texture needed. The texture is important when it comes to applying a floor coating as the proper texture can be the difference between a bond that lasts a lifetime and one that fails shortly after installation.

How long after my new floor is applied, I can start using it?

If you choose epoxy flooring, to prevent any damage to your new garage floor, we recommend waiting 7 days before using your new floor.
However, the general curing times are:
After 24 hrs light pedestrian traffic.
After 48-96 hrs light mechanical loading.
Full cure 7 day
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If you choose Polyurea/Polyaspartic flooring coating, the turn around time is just 24 hours.

What are the benefits of epoxy for my garage floor?

Epoxy flooring can be a fantastic finish to your garage floor! Epoxy floor is long lasting coating, with a life span of 10+ years.

It's Eco-friendly.
As it is non-porous, epoxy protects the concrete floor from damage, moisture, stains and your garage and house from concrete dust.
It is highly durable, scratch resistant, acid and chemical resistant and easy to clean and maintain.
It is slip and fire resistant.
You can choose from a range of colors, flakes and finishes.
Applying epoxy to your garage, can increase the value of your property.
Epoxy floors are affordable and one of the most cost-effective flooring choices available today.

Why should I choose a floor installer and not a DIY epoxy kit?

Correct preparation is the most vital part of applying epoxy on your garage floor.

Whichever technique you choose, if not done properly, your finish is destined to fail.
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Finding a team of professionals may seem more expensive up front, but it can often save you a lot of money in the long run.
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Many DIY projects fail in a short period of time, leading property owners to call professionals to do the job correctly.
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This leads to you paying for the flooring solution you want three times.

First for the DIY kit, second in the form of higher floor preparation costs for coating removal, and a third time for professional installation.
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Why is my brand new epoxy floor peeling?

Epoxy is a very tough coating to remove when applied properly. This is why when done properly, epoxy can last decades.
The truth is that just about every epoxy problem can be avoided by paying attention to the details.
Some of the reasons why your new floor can be peeling are:

Poorly prepared concrete surface.
If there are any dirt, oil or grime residue left on the surface and if the concrete pores have not been open enough, for the epoxy to create a bond with the concrete.
Moisture buildup underneath the concrete.
When laying your brand new epoxy floor, you need to make sure your concrete is completely dry. Moisture under the concrete slab can cause pressure that forces the epoxy to separate from the concrete’s surface.
Sealed Concrete Floor.
If your concrete has been previously sealed, it needs to be firstly ground before applying epoxy. This removes the sealer and gives you the correct surface profile.
Not enough epoxy.
DIY epoxy floor kits generally won’t cover many garages. A properly prepared floor will absorb some of the epoxies. If you have a 40 square meter garage and you buy a kit that says it covers 30-50 square meters, you will run out. If you try to stretch the product to completely cover your floor, the result can be an epoxy coating that is too thin or not hard enough. This will decrease its durability and longevity. In the long run, you will end up re-applying the epoxy a year later.

I have a newly build garage. Can I install epoxy flooring?

You certainly can!
If the concrete slab is newly pour, you will have to wait at least 28 days for the concrete to dry.

This ensure that when we install the epoxy, there won't be any moisture trapped underneath, which can potentially damage the epoxy in a long run.

Can I DO epoxy on my driveway/outside area?

You certainly can!
We recommend doing epoxy flake, as it has two layers of UV stable topcoat to prevent yellowing and it is also moisture resistant.
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Polished Concrete faq

Epoxy

What is polished concrete?

Polished concrete is a multi step process, where the concrete slab is mechanically grounded and polished with diamonds until it reaches a level of shine. In between cuts, we use densifier, to harden and dust-proof the surface.

Can i do polished concrete outside?

Yes, you can. However, we do not recommend doing mechanically polished concrete, as it can be slippery outdoors.
The available options are honed concrete which comes in matte finish or grind and seal which comes in matte, satin and gloss finish
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how do i clean polished concrete floor?

It's best to use products recommended by your floor installer or any Ph neutral cleaners. You should not use anything acidic to clean your floor with.

can i polish any concrete slab?

You can polish any concrete slab old or new, as long as it is structurally sound.
For new concrete, we require the concrete to be at least 28 days old.
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For old concrete, there is some preparation involved, before starting the polishing process.
We first, grind the concrete, to ensure that all dirt, grime, oil and stains are removed.

We also repair any cracks and holes in the concrete. If the concrete slab is extremely porous, it might not be suitable for polishing.

what are the benefits of polished concrete?

Polished concrete eliminates dusting from the concrete and significantly reduces maintenance cost.
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‍Stain resistant surface. By densifying and sealing the concrete slab, we transform the floor from porous to non-porous. This prevents liquids from soaking into the concrete, making it stain resistant and easy to clean.
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‍Improves reflectivity. Polished concrete is great for places which rely on artificial lighting. Its high reflective properties maximize lighting and reduce electricity bills, increases safety and showcase the facility in the best possible lighting.
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‍Increases slip resistance. Although polished concrete looks shiny, it does not create slipper flooring.
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‍Reduces maintenance cost. Compared to other flooring options, polished concrete does not require a lot of maintenance. All you need is a mop, bucket and floor cleaning product.
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‍Eco-friendly. Polished concrete utilized the already existing concrete slab. There is no need of any other materials or coatings.

what if my concrete is cracked?

We patch and repair any holes, cracks or imperfections in the concrete slab during the polishing process.
This way it all blends in nicely with the rest of the floor.

is polished concrete floor cold to touch?

No!
‍It certainly isn't a carpet, but it is not cold to touch like you might expect.

Polished concrete floors have thermal mass properties, meaning the ability of the floor to absorb heat or cool during the day and release it slowly at night.
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I have asthma, is polished concrete suitable?

Polished concrete is a great option for asthma or people with allergies.

The smooth surface doesn't allow dust or dirt to get trapped making it hypoallergenic
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how much does polished concrete cost?

The price for polished concrete depend on what kind of floor you want to create and what level of finish, calculated per square feet. Why not fill in our FREE Quote form to receive a personalized estimate for your floor.

what are polished concrete finishes levels?

There are four levels of gloss finish between you can choose.
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Level 1 - Below 100 grit, has a flat appearance and no sheen.
Level 2 - 100 to 400 grit. Has a satin or matte appearance with low to medium sheen.
Level 3 - 800 to 1500 grit. Semi polished appearance with medium to high sheen.
Level 4 - 1500 to 3000 grit. Has a highly polished look and sheen. It can have a mirror appearance that can appear as the floor is wet.

can I do polished concrete in my garage?

Yes, you can, but be prepared to clean and maintain your polished concrete almost on a daily basis.
You need to take the following into consideration.
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If you live in an area where it snows, road salts and deicing fluids can remove over time the concrete gloss.

Car track much more dirt, debris and sandy grit, which can grind off the shine over time. Tires can de-gloss the finish over time in the areas where they consistently roll over in and out of the garage.
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Polished concrete stain guards break down if exposed to solvents or chemicals for a long period of time. If not maintained well they will loose their luster.

Bakersfield Concrete Coating Frequently Asked Questions