Why DIY Concrete Coatings Fall Short
When it comes to preparing your garage floors or any other concrete flooring for coatings, the preparation step is critical. One major difference between a DIY concrete coating and a professional concrete coating is how the concrete surface is prepped. While many DIY kits rely on acid washing, this method is not only ineffective but also dangerous for both your floor and the environment.
The Problems With Acid Washing
DIY kits often include an acid wash to prepare your concrete, but this approach is riddled with problems. Acid washing only removes a thin layer of the surface and is not capable of penetrating deeply into the concrete. This means that stains, oily deposits, or previous coatings that sit deeper will remain unaffected. Moreover, DIY concrete coatings that rely on acid washing can lead to long-term damage to your floors and the surrounding environment.
Here’s Why Acid Washing Is Risky:
- Weakens Concrete Over Time: Acid can erode the structural integrity of your concrete. Over time, this leads to scaling, pitting, peeling, and cracking—shortening the lifespan of your concrete and leaving it vulnerable to wear and tear.
- Environmental Hazards: Acid wash can seep into the ground, where it evaporates from the surface but lingers below, potentially contaminating the water supply and harming wildlife, plants, and aquatic life.
- Health Dangers: The acid is not only harmful to your floors and the environment but also poses significant health risks. Coming into contact with the acid solution can burn your skin, while the fumes can cause severe lung damage, even with limited exposure.
Given these significant risks, professional concrete coatings companies avoid acid washing altogether. Instead, they use safer, more effective methods to prepare your concrete flooring.
Professional Preparation: Grinding and Shot Blasting
At Concrete Coatings of Minnesota, we take a professional approach to concrete preparation using grinding and shot blasting techniques. These methods are far superior to the acid wash process found in DIY concrete coatings kits.
For your residential concrete coatings, the goal is to achieve a substantial surface profile of 2 or better to ensure optimal adhesion. Our team uses state-of-the-art diamond grinders and shot blasters, coupled with dustless, self-contained vacuum systems to prepare the surface without creating a mess.
This detailed preparation ensures that the polyurea primer and polyaspartic topcoat bond effectively to the concrete, providing your garage, basement, or other concrete surfaces with long-lasting durability.
For more insight into our process and how we prepare and coat concrete check out Our Process page.
Filling Cracks and Imperfections
To further ensure your garage floors or other concrete flooring are in top shape, we also fill in any hairline cracks with polyurea filler. This filler dries in just 25 minutes and is then ground flush with the surface, leaving a smooth, seamless base for the coating.
We also address salt pitting and other imperfections that are common in Minnesota’s climate, ensuring your floors are fully prepared for a new protective coating.
The Benefits of Professional Concrete Coatings
Choosing professional coatings for your garage floors or other residential concrete coatings offers numerous advantages over DIY concrete coating kits. Here are just a few benefits of using Concrete Coatings of Minnesota:
- Durability: With a professionally installed coating, your floors are protected from damage caused by chemicals, road salts, moisture, and freeze-thaw cycles.
- Enhanced Aesthetics: Our concrete flooring solutions come in a variety of colors and finishes to elevate the appearance of your space, transforming it into a clean, modern area.
- Safety: We use non-slip additives in our coatings to keep your floors safe, even in high-traffic areas prone to spills or moisture.
Learn more about how our coatings can transform your garage or basement into additional living space by visiting our Residential Services page.
Always Trust the Pros for the Job
When it comes to the safety, longevity, and beauty of your concrete flooring, trusting a professional like Concrete Coatings of Minnesota is the smartest choice. Whether you’re coating a garage, basement, home flooring, or countertops, our process ensures that the job is done right from start to finish.We’ve helped countless homeowners in the Twin Cities area protect and enhance their concrete surfaces, and we can do the same for you. Ready to transform your space with durable, beautiful professional concrete coatings? Contact Us or give us a call at (651) 458-0196.
