Achieving flawless floors starts with the proper preparation of your concrete surface. At Custom Concrete Prep and Polish, we believe that thorough concrete surface prep is crucial for the success of any flooring project.
Here’s why concrete surface preparation is the essential first step to flawless floors and how we ensure your project begins on the right foot.
Why Is Proper Concrete Surface Preparation Critical?
Proper concrete surface preparation is essential for installing any flooring. Skipping this crucial step can lead to a host of problems, including:
- Peeling
- Bubbling
- Cracking
- Unevenness
- Discoloration
Without adequate preparation, the coating compound cannot penetrate the pores of the concrete. Dirt and debris can obstruct this process, hindering the compound’s ability to bond with the substrate effectively.
Over time, areas where the compound fails to adhere properly will lift, causing damage to the floor. These problematic spots often show discoloration, indicating underlying adhesion issues.
Why Concrete Surface Preparation Matters
Let’s examine why concrete surface preparation matters:
Ensures Proper Adhesion
For any flooring material to adhere correctly, the underlying surface must be clean and free of contaminants. Dirt, dust, oil, and old adhesives can interfere with the bonding process, leading to loose or shifting flooring. Proper surface prep removes these impurities, creating a clean slate for new flooring to bond securely.
Creates a Smooth, Even Surface
Surface prep addresses imperfections such as cracks, holes, and uneven spots in the concrete. By smoothing out these irregularities, we provide a level base that prevents issues like gaps, bumps, and uneven wear in your new flooring. This step is crucial for achieving a seamless and professional-looking finish.
Extends the Life of Your Flooring
A well-prepared surface helps extend the life of your flooring. Proper adhesion and a smooth base reduce the risk of damage and wear over time. This means your flooring will not only look better but also last longer, providing you with greater value and fewer maintenance costs in the long run.
How Do You Prepare the Surface?
Surface preparation involves removing existing flooring and prepping the substrate for a new coating. This means stripping away all old flooring or coatings and thoroughly cleaning the substrate.
Contractors typically fix minor imperfections and cracks in the substrate before roughening it slightly to improve adhesion. Let’s take a closer look at the stages of this process.
What Are the Stages?
Surface Assessment
The condition of the substrate determines the next steps. If the flooring is in good condition, moving forward is straightforward. However, visible cracks or rusting rebar may indicate the need to replace the slab.
We also perform a moisture check when assessing a surface for coating. Rising dampness can impact adhesion, even if all installation steps are followed correctly. This simple check helps us identify and address any moisture issues.
Removal of Old Coatings
Removing old coatings is essential, though time-consuming. While old coatings may seem stubbornly adhered, they will eventually fail, marring the look of your new coating.
If you were re-coating the surface every few years, this wouldn’t be an issue. However, since commercial settings typically see five to ten years between replacements, it’s worth the extra effort. We use power tools to remove the old coating without damaging the substrate.
Remove Surface Contaminants
If there are no old coatings, the cleaning stage becomes even more important. We carefully remove old grease, oil, and other contaminants that may interfere with the new coating’s adhesion.
Even non-greasy substances can affect the new coating, potentially interacting with the sealant and causing damage from underneath. This issue may not be visible on the surface and will only become apparent when the coating fails prematurely. Therefore, we ensure all contaminants are removed before proceeding.
Removing Loose Parts
Small areas of crumbling concrete are manageable, but extensive crumbling may require a new slab. We remove loose bits from minor problem areas to prevent them from flaking away over time.
While epoxy can hold cracked concrete together well, crumbling concrete creates weak points. We remove these parts and fill in the holes to create a solid foundation.
Fill in Cracks
Concrete naturally cracks over time. Surface-level cracks are generally not serious, but significant cracks across the entire slab could indicate deeper issues or foundation problems.
Epoxy coatings can hold a slab together as long as it is mostly sound. During the demo and surface preparation steps, we fill in minor cracks and imperfections.
Profile the Surface
With the surface solid, it’s time to profile it. This process roughens the surface, providing more area for the epoxy to grip, allowing for both chemical and mechanical bonding.
Clean Away Any Debris and Dust
At this stage, we vacuum away dust and debris. This ensures the surface is as clean as possible for the final stages, avoiding discolored patches or low adhesion points.
Dry the Surfaces
The final preparation step is to ensure the floor is dry before applying the coating. Moisture can prevent adhesion, as it evaporates during curing and may create small holes. Additionally, excessive moisture can interfere with curing time and cause flash corrosion if there is any exposed metal in the flooring.
Contact Us Today
Ready to achieve flawless floors? Start with the best surface preparation from Custom Concrete Prep and Polish. Our professional team is ready to help you create a perfect foundation for your new flooring project. Contact us to schedule a consultation.
