Tips on Applying Floor Coating
Anyone who has done it can tell you that applying floor coating is not that simple on the first few tries.
You have to be methodical, patient, and be very conscious about the timing.
Coating your concrete floor is not an easy task, which is why sometimes homeowners would opt to hire a professional to do the job for them.
Companies would automatically hire professionals for this but homeowners have the chance to do it themselves.
If they do apply the coating on their own, however, they might want to gather a few tips on how to it first.
Consideration For Your Concrete Floor: It matters that the concrete floor you want to coat is inside your home or outside.
It matters if it's not only the floor you are planning to coat.
You also want to coat your wall, which should be brought to attention because the surface you are planning on coating this time is vertical, not horizontal.
It matters if your floor has cracks and holes here and there.
It also matters what kind of concrete the floor is.
Factors like these, though they may seem a little petty, are important.
This is because different kinds of concrete would require a different kind of coat.
The acid stain you want, for example, may not be compatible with your concrete floor and you've only realized this when it's already too late.
Considering factors such as these is the reason why some homeowners would rather let a professional do the coating.
Curing the Concrete: Curing is the method which keeps the concrete moist during the period wherein it is gaining strength.
This is done by preventing the loss of moisture from the concrete.
There are also many factors to consider which method to use to do the curing correctly.
There are many forms of curing, like water curing and impermeable-membrane curing.
One thing stays common among the different methods though.
The curing period stays between 28 to 30 days before the concrete will develop full strength.
Cleaning the Concrete Thoroughly: Acid washing comes as the recommended method in cleaning the floor and preparing it for coating.
Just mix muriatic acid with five times the amount of water to remove the stains and dirt on the concrete.
Neutralize with a rinse mixture of 1 pound of baking soda and 5 gallons of water, then rinse the area thoroughly.
You can check the floor if it's clean afterwards by sticking a strip of duct tape on it and peeling it away.
If the strip is dust- and dirt-free, then you can go on with the coating.
If not, clean the floor again.
Application of Floor Coating: There may be a need to apply two coats on a previously untreated floor.
Apply the second cot when the first becomes dry enough.
Another tip when applying the coat is to do it section by section.
And as you move from one section to another, try to keep a wet edge so there won't be any clear seems when it dries.
These are just a couple of tips we can use to apply floor coating more diligently and correctly.
However, it is still recommended that you let a professional do this unless you are confident enough that you can coat your concrete floor correctly.
You have to be methodical, patient, and be very conscious about the timing.
Coating your concrete floor is not an easy task, which is why sometimes homeowners would opt to hire a professional to do the job for them.
Companies would automatically hire professionals for this but homeowners have the chance to do it themselves.
If they do apply the coating on their own, however, they might want to gather a few tips on how to it first.
Consideration For Your Concrete Floor: It matters that the concrete floor you want to coat is inside your home or outside.
It matters if it's not only the floor you are planning to coat.
You also want to coat your wall, which should be brought to attention because the surface you are planning on coating this time is vertical, not horizontal.
It matters if your floor has cracks and holes here and there.
It also matters what kind of concrete the floor is.
Factors like these, though they may seem a little petty, are important.
This is because different kinds of concrete would require a different kind of coat.
The acid stain you want, for example, may not be compatible with your concrete floor and you've only realized this when it's already too late.
Considering factors such as these is the reason why some homeowners would rather let a professional do the coating.
Curing the Concrete: Curing is the method which keeps the concrete moist during the period wherein it is gaining strength.
This is done by preventing the loss of moisture from the concrete.
There are also many factors to consider which method to use to do the curing correctly.
There are many forms of curing, like water curing and impermeable-membrane curing.
One thing stays common among the different methods though.
The curing period stays between 28 to 30 days before the concrete will develop full strength.
Cleaning the Concrete Thoroughly: Acid washing comes as the recommended method in cleaning the floor and preparing it for coating.
Just mix muriatic acid with five times the amount of water to remove the stains and dirt on the concrete.
Neutralize with a rinse mixture of 1 pound of baking soda and 5 gallons of water, then rinse the area thoroughly.
You can check the floor if it's clean afterwards by sticking a strip of duct tape on it and peeling it away.
If the strip is dust- and dirt-free, then you can go on with the coating.
If not, clean the floor again.
Application of Floor Coating: There may be a need to apply two coats on a previously untreated floor.
Apply the second cot when the first becomes dry enough.
Another tip when applying the coat is to do it section by section.
And as you move from one section to another, try to keep a wet edge so there won't be any clear seems when it dries.
These are just a couple of tips we can use to apply floor coating more diligently and correctly.
However, it is still recommended that you let a professional do this unless you are confident enough that you can coat your concrete floor correctly.
