Concrete floors are a great option for rooms with lots of foot traffic and potential spillage or damage. Although concrete is a strong and durable surface, protecting it is still a must for maintaining your floors. Surface coatings can protect concrete from scratches, scuffs, and other damages by sealing the top layers. Your floors will stay clean and look luxurious for longer if you protect them.
Choosing a Coating
When coating a concrete floor, you have three different types of sealant to choose from. Depending on the room and purpose, each operates differently.
Topical
Topical sealers are the easiest coatings to apply to concrete flooring. In addition to providing a protective layer to the concrete surface, these are directly applied to it. Both indoors and outdoors, this additional layer can add volume and luster to concrete floors.
Penetrating
Penetrating sealers bond with the top layer of your concrete floor once applied. This bond creates a barrier that can protect your concrete from high moisture levels. They’re the best kinds of coatings to use for rooms with high humidity or outdoor flooring that sees a lot of rain or snow.
Integral
If you want the benefits of a topical sealer without the extra step of applying the coating, you can purchase a concrete mix with an integral sealer already added. As soon as the flooring is installed, the concrete kit is mixed with integral sealers, which begin providing protection and sealing safety.
Why Use Coating for Concrete?
Concrete floors are naturally more durable and longer lasting than other types of flooring. However, applying a coating of sealant can help keep everything healthier and fresher longer.
Mold Inhibition
Unsealed concrete floors can grow mold. With the proper coating, however, moisture cannot get into your floors, and you won’t have to worry about mold growth anymore.
Extra Durability
The more foot traffic and exposure to the elements your concrete floors experience, the more damage they can sustain. Rooms with lots of heavy activity, such as garages and workstations, can see concrete floors begin to crack and ding more every day. And concrete flooring outside, such as in driveways and patios, can see increased wear and tear from rain, wind, and even harsh sunlight. By applying a protective coating, you’re helping your concrete floors maintain their durability and last longer.
Color Maintenance
Concrete flooring can come in a variety of colors and designs. Using colored concrete is a great way to add a unique flair to any room or outdoor setting. However, exposure to harsh lights, heavy foot traffic, and other conditions can cause your concrete flooring to lose the luster and vibrancy of its coloring. When you use a coating, however, you prevent the elements from harming your floors, keeping the color clean and sharp longer.
Preparing Concrete Flooring
Before you begin applying the sealants, you need to prepare your concrete floor first. It’s important to make sure your floors are properly prepared; otherwise, the coating won’t be as effective and could even make your floors look worse. Follow these steps to ensure your concrete floors are ready for coating:
- Remove all objects from the floor.
- Use a putty knife to remove skirting boards as necessary.
- Sweep and mop the floor to ensure a smooth, debris-free surface.
- Ensure there is proper ventilation by opening windows and doors or turning on fans.
- Use a degreasing product to remove grease from the top layers.
- If you have any oily spots on your floor, use a wire brush to clean the area.
- Use quick-drying concrete fillers to smooth any cracks or dings in your flooring.
- Make sure your floor is thoroughly dry before applying the sealant.
Applying Concrete Coating
Once your floors are clean and dry, you can begin applying the coating. Most concrete sealant kits will come with all the tools you’ll need, but you can use any standard painting trays and rollers to apply the coating to your floors, just like applying paint on a wall. You will want to use a smaller paintbrush to ensure the sealant reaches the edges and corners where the floor meets the wall.
Coatings usually take between 12 to 24 hours to dry, but fans and dehumidifiers can help speed up the process. It’s important not to use or disturb the flooring as the sealants dry. Most sealants only need one coat, applied every 2-5 years. So, once your floor is finished drying, you can replace molding and furniture and begin using the room as intended once more.
For the best epoxy floor installations, contact the professionals at Elevated Home Improvement. Contact us here or call directly at 732-707-1395.
