Traditional Install FAQ
The Traditional Process
The Stuff:
Most manufacturers require installers to go through training for approval and certification to apply their products. This is not a do-it-yourself product or application. Certain vendors requires training before a contractor can buy its polyaspartic coatings for install.
The Process:
Manufacturers recommend grinding the surface to a profile between 50 grit and 100 grit. This helps achieve uniform wetting and penetration of the pores. Laitance and contaminants such as oils, fats, old sealers and cure-and-seal bond breakers should be ground off following manufacturers’ directions.
Profile is extremely important. Polyaspartics perform at thinner applications and aren’t self-leveling like epoxies. Consequently, flaws or obvious repairs in the underlying floors will be reflected so proper care must be used when installing. Polyaspartics are less sensitive to temperature and humidity, but still have installation requirements. This means you can apply them across a broader range of conditions than other coating materials. Also, they aren’t sensitive to alkalinity. It’s possible to apply a polyaspartic to a stamped surface, but timing is sensitive. The concrete must be fresh enough to have open pores, but sufficiently cured (typically 30 days) to prevent delamination caused by moisture vapor transmission.
When color chips are used in the two-coat process described above, the main color comes from the chips, not the coating. We recommend adding the chips to a matching pigmented base-coat before it becomes tack-free. Then scrape and sweep up the excess chips before applying the clear topcoat.
Coloring of the polyaspartic is possible as a trained installer can add the correct color or pigment to the polyaspartics. For example, incorporating dyes and pigments that simulate the variegated look of an acid stain design or adding pigments to give the look of granite veins.
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A Brief Decorative History
The first and still most common decorative use for polyaspartics is in tough garage floors with decorative color chips or flakes. This same technique has carried over successfully to industrial and warehouse settings. With quartz or other slip-resistant media substituted for the chips, polyaspartics are attractive for wet environments like commercial kitchens and food preparation operations. The quick turnaround, stain resistance and durability of polyaspartics make them more attractive for retail and restaurant use as well. Meanwhile, decorative contractors are moving beyond color chips to add excitement to polyaspartic concrete floors. The use of sparkles, iridescent and metallics for the owners who want something more in their floors, these are usually commercial spaces — retail and restaurants, bars and wine shops. Unlike broadcasted chips or flakes, these new decorative materials are usually dry-powder material blended into the polyaspartic before it’s rolled or squeegeed onto the floor.
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Polyaspartics have only been in use for decorative concrete for about five years. However, they’re evolving quickly past their use on garage floors. Several things are happening to move them into the mainstream.
Check out our innovation section to discover more.
