When it comes to specialty projects like flooring coats, it’s easy for many misconceptions to arise. You have many people buying into the wrong facts, getting correct facts scrambled, or hearing commonplace advice without actually looking into what is correct. Choosing the right concrete coatings in Jacksonville can make a huge difference when it comes to making sure that you have the right fit for your commercial and industrial facilities. With that in mind, here are some common myths about industrial/garage floor coatings in Jacksonville, dispelled.
What People Are Missing About Driveway Coatings In Jacksonville
For one thing, many well-meaning facility managers trying to cut costs may think that coat systems are an unnecessary expense. However, in reality, protective systems are generally cheaper in the long run, particularly if the floors have a lot of stress. How so? It’s easier to replace the system than repairing an uncoated flooring set up after it’s heavily damaged. A lot of the reason for this myth comes from unscrupulous sale practices and people being tricked into buying specialized or heavy-duty systems when they don’t need more than your simple epoxy setup. The best way to avoid this issue is simply working with a company that gives you a wide set of products, rather than only selling one brand.
While this isn’t necessarily common in the world of flooring, many people working on say, a floor in their garage, may think that they can get away with a DIY installation. Again, saving money is the culprit, but this isn’t the project one can take on at a whim. If they bungle the installation, this can lead to poor adhesion. If the system doesn’t adhere properly, you can end up needing another replacement in a few years, months, or even right away. In addition, certain products require specialized PPE, which not everyone has at their disposal. Save yourself the headache and work with a professional.
Another mistake that people make is doing the bare minimum in terms of their surface preparation. This is the first and most basic piece of getting ready to apply a system to your floor. It’s essential that you keep the surface clean, rid of any oil/chemical residue, and prepare a rough texture that the system can actually adhere to. Generally, concrete needs a surface profile of 2 or better. This will open the pores up and remove any contaminants. Diamond grounding or shot blasting is recommended. Some DIY setups recommend acid etching, but this is generally avoided by professionals.
Let’s say that you were to ignore this advice and just sweep and mop before calling it a day. If you don’t do this, some of those contaminants that you fail to clear could end up being pushed into the floor during the system installation, as opposed to being pushed out. If this happens, it can hurt the ability of the coating to bond into the flooring. This leads to blisters, bubbles, and peeling. Taking more time now expands the lifespan of the system later.
Other Points To Consider
Some people may make the mistake of assuming that you can get away with a basic epoxy kit at a big box store. Even if you don’t do a DIY installation, these can save you a bit of money and energy, right? Not necessarily. Whether you buy a kit at a hardware store, big-box store, or paint store, you’re likely going to get something inferior to professionally applied systems. There are some options online that are slightly better, but they still can’t be compared to a proper professional installation. It’s better to pay the premium, as it will pay off in time.
Another thing you can’t do is treat a system as something interchangeable with a fresh coat of paint. Yes, in some cases, getting a new coat of paint is enough for concrete flooring. However, paint is not nearly as resistant to things like impact, equipment traffic, or even foot traffic in high amounts. For example, in industrial settings, the paint will peel quickly. Yes, your typical epoxy is a paint variant. But all paint is not epoxy. For example, a floor or wall paint may have a thickness of 2 mils or less. Epoxies can go as far as 8 to 12 mils per layer. In addition, these systems have far stronger chemical resistance, UV resistance, and resistance to abrasions. These are suitable for those high-traffic applications. Don’t think that you’re limited in terms of options, either. There are many decorative systems that you can install.
Finally, many people assume that in order to keep a system looking at its best, you need to make sure that you apply the garage floor coatings in Jacksonville every year to three years. Every myth has a bit of truth. If you brought a cheap option, failed to prepare the surface correctly, or didn’t install it properly, yes, that may be the case. However, applying an original system to your typical carport can last as long as 10 to 20 years. One mistake that a lot of homeowners make is letting ice melt and road dirt sit on the coat. This causes accumulation and makes the finish look duller, even if it is functional. Properly caring for your carport flooring can do quite a bit over time.
It can be difficult to decide the concrete coatings in Jacksonville that are best for you. In fact, it’s a desire to avoid the work of making a decision that leads a lot of people to these myths in the first place. However, you can pass the burden and reap benefits just by seeking out a skilled contractor as soon as you know this is what you want. However, it’s generally a good idea to look for someone with expertise in the exact project you are looking for. Not all systems are alike, so you want someone who understands your needs as well as the demands of the setting you are working in.