Enjoy some of our videos featuring Jared (Partner/Production), responding to some of our most commonly asked questions.
Polyaspartic coatings were introduced in the early 1990s by Bayer Material Science, a leading chemical company. It was initially used as a protective, non-corrosion coating for steel. Today, polyaspartic is a go-to concrete coating choice for garages and commercial buildings, proving to be 6X stronger than epoxy. We use top-of-the-line materials for concrete coatings to ensure the best quality for your concrete surface. Our "100% solids" poly aspartic material provides maximum strength, as it is the highest quality. Where some of our competition uses 85% (or sometimes less) solids, we don't skimp on quality. This means more material remains on your floor than is typical with other companies. We also use two coats of polyaspartic (base and topcoat) for vinyl chip and tint coating projects and three coats when installing quartz. Polyaspartic is UV stable, meaning it does not react to sunlight. This ensures you won't ever see a discoloration in the coating along the apron of the garage. Further, polyaspartic is the most robust material with the maximum adhesion available on the market. This is where our 100% solids becomes even more essential, as it ensures you have the most material left behind on the coating... with the strongest material you can have applied.
The answer is yes (and no). Polyaspartic is an advanced type of polyurea. The material has been modified to overcome the challenges of regular polyurea. For example, the slower cure time of polyaspartic improves the adhesion to concrete because it can more fully penetrate the concrete's pores as it cures. It is also more UV-resistant than polyurea and lasts 20 years or longer, compared to polyurea, which has a 15-year life expectancy.
A vinyl chip concrete coating will be approximately 40 mils thick (about twice the thickness of a thin postcard). This type of coating includes two coats of polyaspartic (100% solids) and one heavy broadcast of standard color, hybrid vinyl chips. Quartz concrete coatings tend to be thicker, as they include an additional polyaspartic layer and two sand broadcasts. It's important to note that coatings cannot be used to level out a concrete slab. If there is a low point in the concrete, it will remain low after the coating is applied.
Most CCS coatings that do not require a moisture barrier or concrete densifier traditionally take 1-2 days. The coating type, project size, and weather conditions play a significant role in determining the time necessary for a quality installation.
Where weather conditions can affect the cure time of a polyaspartic floor, you can expect to walk of the coating only 24 hours after installation is completed. Moving heavy, stationary items on the surface (including your cars) should be delayed 5-7 days after production completion. When it comes to an epoxy metallic pour, you can follow similar timelines to the polyaspartic coating, recognizing that the metallic pour can only be applied in temperature-controlled indoor environments. For cementitious overlay, the timeline is very similar to polyaspartic, with this type of coating being appropriate for indoor or outdoor installation. Weather determines how long the cure takes, so ask Jared (Managing Partner of Production) how long you should hold off on moving everything back into place.
Under regular wear, tear, and cleaning, you can expect years of aesthetic and functional enjoyment from your residential concrete coating. When polyaspartic is used for both the base and topcoat, you can expect the coating to last 20 or more years. Where polyurea is used as a base coat, your coating should be expected to last 15+ years. As for an epoxy metallic pour, you can expect it to last 15+ years. With each of these cases, the clear topcoat can be roughed up and topcoated again to extend the coating life and restore its original luster.
One step in customizing your concrete coating is considering the slip-resistance you want for the area. CCS mixes very small, clear beads into the topcoat of garage and outdoor concrete coatings. This is especially important in areas where moisture can contact the coated surface. The slip resistance will be built to the level you choose.
CCS has been in business for 20+ years, and the coatings installed are still holding strong today. These coatings mechanically and chemically become one with your concrete and naturally heave or contract with the surface. Cold and heat do not affect the coating. In outdoor environments, these surfaces can be salted without damaging your decorative concrete. However, you cannot plow or snowblow these coatings. We recommend using plastic shovels to remove snow.
The truth regarding these problems is that we use one of the most robust repair compounds available. Specifically engineered to repair concrete, it is 4X stronger than concrete itself and can be applied and ready for grinding in 5-15 minutes. We guarantee that pitted repairs will not pop-out. However, cracks can return no matter what you hear… regardless of who says it, or what product is used. Because our products are so strong, if your concrete goes through the same process that initially caused the crack, your concrete may crack next to our repair but the repair compound will not crack. It has been our experience, over hundreds of thousands of square feet of resurfacing, that cracks on a good foundation (garages, basements, porches)tend not to return. Still, cracks on an unstable foundation can reappear.
You can use any mat on the coated surface, but black rubber-backed mats tend to keep the covered area from breathing, as they are petroleum-based. This can lead to discoloration of the coating over time. If this is something you want to avoid, three options are below (from Amazon) to give you an idea of what you'll be looking for. An additional option leads to a plastic tray (lipped edge) to place under a motor that leaks oil, a grill that leaks grease, or a shovel/snow blower that may rust on the floor.
REFETONE Indoor Doormat, Front Door Mat 24 "x36" Absorbent Rubber Backing Non-Slip Back Door Mats
Small Boot Tray Shoe Matt Tray for Entryway Indoor, 2 Pack Wet Shoe Tray for Floor Protection
CCS uses one of the most robust repair compounds available. Specifically engineered to repair concrete, it is 4X stronger than the concrete itself and can be applied and ready for grinding in 5-15 minutes. We guarantee that pitted repairs will not pop out. However, cracks can return no matter what you hear… regardless of who says it or what product is used. Because our products are so strong, if your concrete goes through the same process that initially caused the crack, it may crack next to our repair, but the repair compound will not crack. Our experience, over hundreds of thousands of square feet of resurfacing, has shown that cracks on a good foundation (garages, basements, porches) tend not to return. Still, cracks on an unstable foundation can reappear.
You need to know the answer to the following three questions to answer this question. Is your concrete surface in like-new condition (no pitting or cracks)? Is your project area above the floodplain? Do you have a plastic vapor sheet under your concrete (newer homes should have this feature, per the ACI)? If you can answer all three of these questions in the affirmative, you do not need a moisture barrier. ~ Note that applying the Armidex moisture barrier/ concrete densifier will add one additional day to the installation of your project.
There are three primary benefits to applying the Armidex moisture barrier / concrete densifier, the most obvious being to hold back moisture (up to 25psi). Moisture within the earth, below your concrete slab and coating, can rise in an attempt to evaporate. This moisture can push against the coating without a barrier, causing it to blister or crack over time. This is considered a failure of the concrete itself and not a failure of the coating, as it is meant to be impermeable (not allowing moisture to enter the concrete from above). The densifier aspect of this step does exactly as it sounds... it densifies the concrete, giving it added strength. It is during this process, any salt or other contaminants are pushed up and out of the concrete. This is important, as these contaminants can press against your concrete coating, damaging it from underneath. Should this happen, the damage to the concrete can continue and lead to the coating separating from the concrete substrate. This is not an indication of the coating failing but rather a failure of the concrete itself. Though adding Armidex to your project does not guarantee the coating won't separate, it is a nice insurance policy, as it reduces the chance of this type of concrete failure.
We offer seven standard hybrid vinyl chip (1/4 "+1/16") color options. These are more aesthetically pleasing than the standard 1/4" chips used by others and offer fuller, more complete coverage for your concrete coating.
Hiring and retaining top-quality talent has become a challenge for most companies. Here at CCS, we have found that you get what you pay for in this industry. We pay our highly qualified team toward the top of the pay scale, as they bring the level of experience you want for your coating installation and client experience. We know this can affect our overall quoted price, but when we take care of our team, they take care of you. Our installation team has been doing this for years and takes the time to make sure the coating is being mixed and applied according to manufacturer instructions. Simply put, they know their craft and don't cut corners. Further, we believe you deserve the highest priority and care regarding communication and responsiveness. While CCS is not the cheapest option, we are the BEST!
All coatings should be cleaned at least twice yearly with a power washer (up to 2,000 psi). Keep in mind they are not stain-proof. Chemical spills and mineral deposits (oil, grease, leaves, etc) should be cleaned within a day or two. Protect the concrete coating from sharp metal edges, and do not let heavy items strike the surface. If you use plastic edges (shovels, furniture, etc), the surfaces will look great for many years. Push brooms, water, and Simple Green or Dawn dish soap can remove most dirt and debris. Complete cleaning instructions are provided with all CCS quotes. NOTE: Do not use citrus cleaners, as they can dim their surface prematurely.
All materials are purchased from Wisconsin-based companies, and we maintain strong, personal relationships with them. We've done our homework, comparing in-state and out-of-state suppliers. We found we can provide you with the best representation when it comes to our installers, not only using superior materials but also receiving excellent training directly from those we buy from.
Different types of coatings are covered under different warranty lengths. The formal, electronic quote includes all details.
If you decide we are your contractor, scheduling depends on when we receive your 50% deposit. If you send the deposit right away, your project will go into our production queue accordingly. Jared, Managing Partner for Production, will be your contact person from scheduling through the installation process. He does his best to schedule based on your timeline, but it is on a first-come, first-served basis (weather-dependent).
Because weather plays a large part in our projection schedule, our scheduling process is managed in stages. Jared will call you sometime during the last week of the month before the month you are scheduled. For example, if you are scheduled in June, he will call you the last week in May. During this call, he will assign your project to a week during your scheduled month. He will then call you again a couple of days before your scheduled week starts to let you know what day of the week our team will be arriving to start your installation.
