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Polyaspartic Coating Benefits

Posted on December 29, 2016 by Greg Bell in Concrete with Comments Disabled

Polyaspartic coatings are a relatively new product in the concrete coatings market but experts don’t hesitate to recommend them to customers. This coating is considered a great alternative to epoxy and delivers a reliable performance. Polyaspartic polyurea is essentially a subgroup of polyurethane.

Until people discovered its applications as a concrete coating, it was commonly used in interior pipes, liquid containment, spray on bed-liners, etc. At The Floor Company, we consider this coating to be highly effective and recommend it to our clients based on the benefits listed below.

Resistance
One of the best qualities of polyaspartic coating is its ability to resist wear and tear. It is more resistant to abrasions, light to moderate impact, chemicals spills, punctures and dents, stains and watermarks, and slightly increased temperatures compared to any other coating available in the market today. This ensures the surface is also very durable and won’t need any resurfacing or finishing treatments regularly. Polyaspartic coating is also UV resistant so you can be certain it won’t fade under the sun’s rays if you apply it on outdoor surfaces.

Application

Epoxy and other such coatings take a long time to dry and that increases the cost and downtime. Polyaspartic coatings dry quickly so it’s possible to install the entire floor within a day or two. This coating doesn’t emit much odour and has little to no VOC so it can safely be applied to floors in hospitals and medical facilities. The application process will have no impact on the indoor air quality so you can continue to use the building even as the coating is being applied

Customizable

Polyaspartic coating is highly customizable and can be adjusted according to your requirements. If you need more skid-resistance, you can ask the installer to formulate the coating application to provide more skid resistance. The coating can also be altered to offer more antimicrobial properties if needed. You can choose different decorative finishes to enhance the look and style of your floor. The top coat will alter the colour and design of the coating according to your preferences.

For information on industrial flooring options or to get an estimate, you can contact us at The Floor Company. If you’re calling from Ottawa and surrounding areas, dial 1800 461 3121. If you’re calling from Kingston, Bellevielle, Peterborough and Durham, dial 1877 277 9877. You can also email us at info@thefloorcompany.com or fill in this contact us form.

The Floor Company

Address: 1117 Newmarket Street, Unit B, Ottawa, ON K1B 4N4

Phone:(613) 706-6664

The Process of Polishing Concrete in Ottawa

Posted on October 26, 2016 by Greg Bell in Blog, Concrete with Comments Disabled

Concrete is a very versatile flooring material, which is why it has become so popular with residential and commercial property owners in the recent years. It’s a low-maintenance, resilient, and durable surface that can easily be customized according to the property owner’s requirements and preferences. One of the most popular ways to customize this surface is concrete polishing in Ottawa. At The Floor Company, we follow the process described below to get the best results.

Determine the Condition of the Concrete

The concrete surface needs to be in good condition to ensure that the polished floor will look good. The polishing process tends to amplify any cracks and dents on the surface so it’s important to repair the existing concrete before attempting to polish it.

Prepare the Surface

The surface needs to be clean before polishing so technicians will remove all traces of sealers, coatings, carpet glue, etc before they start the process. They’ll also remove any debris like loose stones and dirt from the surface. This isn’t a concern with newly installed concrete floors as contractors only need to add densifiers to the surface to make it ready for polishing.

Rough Grinding

The next step is to rough grind the surface to ensure the floor is completely level and doesn’t have any bumps and dents. As mentioned before, polishing will magnify any flaws on the surface, including unevenness and rough grinding can eliminate most of this. 1 – 5 rounds of the grinder will help to ensure that the floor is ready for the next step in the polishing process.

Hardner

After rough grinding, the technician will apply densifier or hardner to the surface to ensure it is solid and dense. Concrete surfaces can be porous and soft and won’t accept polishing easily. A hardner will ensure the polish is even and clean without any patches of dents. It will also ensure the floor is resilient enough to not break under pressure.

Final Polish

After the hardner sinks in and cures, the technicians will apply the final layer of polish. The concrete polisher will move from one grit to another in a step-by-step process until they achieve the desired level of polish. You can choose between flat, satin, semi-polished, and high gloss finishes for the concrete surface. View our gallery here for more details and images of the different kinds of finishes you can have.

After the floor is completely polished, the technician will apply a coating to protect it from scratches and damage. Concrete polishing in Ottawa will leave the floor more susceptible to scratches and coatings will provide an essential layer of protection. After the coating dries, your floor is ready for use.

If you would like to get a free estimate, contact us today!

Dust Control and Concrete Floors

Posted on September 26, 2016 by Greg Bell in Concrete with Comments Disabled

Concrete floors naturally emit dust and powders, especially when they’re freshly installed. This dust can settle on furniture, compromise the environment, and require regular cleaning and maintenance. Concrete dust is especially noticeable in high-traffic areas where the floors endure considerable amounts of wear and tear. At The Floor Company, we recommend sealers and waxes to help with dust control from concrete floors. Here’s what you can do to address this problem.

Choose the Right Coating

Concrete coatings protect the concrete surface from wear and tear, scratches, and other such damage. They form a seal over the floor that contains the dust and reduces the amount that’s generated. Unfortunately, not all coatings and sealers are effective and cheap ones don’t even have a lifespan of 6 months. Concrete sealers and coatings should be chosen carefully based on their quality and performance rather than their price because repairing the damage or replacing the seal will only add to your expense. Our concrete flooring experts recommend a list of products like the Ashford Formula to help reduce dust formation.

Keep Track of Wear and Tear

You need to keep track of wear and tear because eventually, the coatings and sealers will erode. You’ll need to apply a fresh layer to ensure the concrete surface is protected. If you don’t reapply the coating, traffic and footfalls will eventually start to erode the surface and cause an increase in the amount of dust. Some coatings and sealers last longer than others so it’s a good idea to consult with our experts before you make a choice.

Maintenance

Even if you apply high-performance densifiers and sealers to the surface, you’ll need to maintain it to ensure it remains in good condition. Excessive scratches, dents, and chips will hamper dust control from the concrete floors. You can place mats and carpets in high traffic areas, refresh the coating more often, and ensure the floor is cleaned and mopped regularly. This would reduce the amount of dust generated and ensure your property remains clean.

For information on dust control in concrete floors or to get an estimate, you can contact us at The Floor Company. If you’re calling from Ottawa and surrounding areas, dial 1800 461 3121. If you’re calling from Kingston, Belleville, Peterborough and Durham, dial 1877 277 9877. You can also email us at info@thefloorcompany.com or fill in this contact us form

Summer Maintenance Tips for Your Concrete Garage Floor

Posted on August 24, 2016 by Greg Bell in Blog with Comments Disabled

Concrete garage floors are quite easy to maintain and don’t require much care and attention from property owners. However, you can extend the life of your garage floor with a little TLC, and in turn save some money in the long run. At The Floor Company, we recommend that you take the following steps to clean and maintain your concrete garage floors.

Use Recommended Cleaning Solutions

It’s easy to be careless with concrete garage floors because they’re very resilient and durable. However, some coatings and finishing wax on your floor aren’t as resilient as the original concrete surface itself. When you clean your floors, you need to use agents that are recommended by the contractor or the coating and wax manufacturer. This will preserve the coating and seal for a long time and ensure you won’t have to reapply them too often.

Proper Cleaning Process

Garage floors can become dirty very easily because of chemical spills and oil stains. The grease can accumulate over time and cause permanent damage to the surface. One of the best ways to avoid this is to clean the floor thoroughly. You won’t be able to do a thorough clean as often as you like, but two to three times a year is ideal.

Summer is a good place to start because the weather is very favourable. You can remove all of the unattached items present on the floor, and sweep and scrub the surface. This will remove all of the accumulated dirt and grime from areas that you didn’t have access to before.

Floor Sealer

If your floor isn’t polished, you need to apply a floor sealer to protect the concrete from stains and grease. Sealers, even impregnating sealers, can erode over time and need to be reapplied. Summer is a great time for this because no moisture will be trapped underneath the sealer solution and it will dry quickly.

You can also apply wax over the sealer as an added protection against grease and oil stains that are prominent in garages. These coatings will wear off based on the quality of the product so you should choose something that’s long lasting.

For information on concrete garage floors or to get an estimate, you can contact us at The Floor Company. If you’re calling from Ottawa and surrounding areas, dial 1800 461 3121. If you’re calling from Kingston, Belleville, Peterborough and Durham, dial 1877 277 9877. You can also email us at info@thefloorcompany.com or fill in this contact us form

The Floor Company

Address: 1117 Newmarket Street, Unit B, Ottawa, ON K1B 4N4

Phone:(613) 706-6664

Polished Concrete Vs. Tiles – Which is Better?

Posted on June 27, 2016 by Greg Bell in Blog, Concrete with Comments Disabled

Both polished concrete and tiles are great options for residential and commercial flooring. Both are hard, relatively low maintenance floors and can be very versatile. We at the The Floor Company have polished concrete in many projects and our clients have always asked us how tiles compare to polished concrete floors. Hopefully this post will answer your questions on the matter.

Durability

Polished concrete floors are very durable and with proper maintenance will last you a lifetime. Tiles are also durable but they’re a little more fragile in comparison to concrete. If you drop something heavy on a tiled floor, it’s likely to crack and chip. With proper maintenance, tiles are quite durable as well but you need to be careful and make sure nothing heavy falls on the floor (this is something to keep in mind for industrial and commercial locations.

Design

Both tiles and polished concrete some in a variety of colours and finishes but polished concrete can actually be customized to your preferences. You can choose any colour or design you want because your options are unlimited. With tiles, you can only choose from the inventory the seller might have. A good contractor will be able to add any design or pattern you want to your concrete floor so all you need to do is explain your preferences to them.

Sustainability

Both tile and concrete floors are quite eco-friendly and sustainable so you can install either of them in your property without guilt. Concrete flooring can be constantly refinished to improve its looks after the polish has somewhat faded. But the tiles need to be replaced if the finish has worn off or they’ve cracked and chipped. That has a greater impact on the environment than concrete flooring.

Maintenance

Both are low maintenance floors but polished concrete requires a little more care than tiles, especially in high traffic areas. Polished concrete doesn’t require sealers or waxing, but it’s a good idea to dust and wet mop the surface regularly. You need to make sure that there’s no dirt or grime build-up on the floor. Tiled floors are relatively easily to maintain but you do need to carefully clean the grout to maintain its looks.

For information on polished concrete or to get an estimate, you can contact us at The Floor Company. If you’re calling from Ottawa and surrounding areas, dial 1800 461 3121. If you’re calling from Kingston, Belleville, Peterborough and Durham, dial 1877 277 9877. You can also email us at info@thefloorcompany.com or fill in this contact us form

The Floor Company

Address: 1117 Newmarket Street, Unit B, Ottawa, ON K1B 4N4

Phone:(613) 706-6664

Are Concrete Floors Pet Friendly?

Posted on April 19, 2016 by Greg Bell in Blog with Comments Disabled

Pets bring happiness to the lives of their owners. They’re wonderful companions and can be very entertaining as well. Most pet owners want their faithful companions to be comfortable in their homes. That’s why when you’re choosing a floor system for your home, you might want to consider a pet-friendly option.

There are several types of flooring systems available in the market, some of them are ideal for households with pets and others are not. At The Floor Company, we believe that concrete floors are great for homes with pets and here are some reasons why.

Easy to Clean- One of the best advantages of concrete floors is that they’re very easy to clean. All you need is a broom, a rag, or a mop and your floor will be clean within minutes. That can be very helpful to pet owners because pets have a tendency to shed fur, drag in mud and dirt and litter the floors.

Pet Stains and Odors- Even a well-trained pet can cause a mess inside the house. Unfortunately, some floors can absorb these pet stains and develop odor over time. Most concrete floors have a seal over them that prevent liquid and stains from sinking into the surface. You can be certain that the odor or the stains will be easily removed. If the floor isn’t sealed, you can use products available in the market to remove the stains.

Won’t Trap Fleas, Mites and Dander- Unlike carpet or wood flooring, concrete flooring has a sealed and smooth surface that won’t trap fleas, mites, and dander. These things can create an unhealthy environment in your home. Pet dander can be easily cleaned and the fleas and mites won’t have any place to hide on concrete floors.

Scratch Resistant- Pets are fond of running around and being active. Unfortunately, their enthusiasm can be very apparent on some floors. Claws can scratch the surface and leave behind unsightly marks. However, this isn’t the case with concrete floors. They’re naturally scratch resistant and some seals and coatings can make them scratch proof.

As you can see, concrete flooring is ideal for your pets. For more information on concrete floors or to get an estimate, you can contact us at The Floor Company. If you’re calling from Ottawa and surrounding areas, dial 1800 461 3121. If you’re calling from Kingston, Belleville, Peterborough and Durham, dial 1877 277 9877. You can also email us at info@thefloorcompany.com or fill in this contact us form.

The Floor Company

Address: 1117 Newmarket Street, Unit B, Ottawa, ON K1B 4N4

Phone:(613) 706-6664

Common Questions about Concrete Floors ANSWERED

Posted on April 11, 2016 by Greg Bell in Concrete with Comments Disabled

Concrete floors have been around for a long time, but only recently have they become more popular. An increasing number of people are installing these floors in their commercial as well as residential properties. That’s because the technology has evolved. Concrete floors are no longer dull and boring.

They can be stained, etched, stamped, and polished to a glossy shine. These treatments have made concrete floors very popular. However, people are still uncertain about this flooring option and have questions. We at The Flooring Company have put together a list of some common questions our clients ask us.

Do Concrete Floors Crack?

Concrete can develop minor cracks, especially if it’s not installed carefully. These cracks usually add to the aesthetic beauty of the concrete. However, if you want a smooth, flawless finish, there are several topical treatments available that will hide the cracks. Overlays and coatings will also give your floor an even finish.

Do Concrete Floors become Cold?

This is a major concern for people in Canada. Yes, concrete can be cold because it has the ability to absorb the temperature of its surroundings. So, in cold environments, it’s cold and in warm environments it can be warm. It has the ability to store and retain heat that can easily help you keep your home warm. You can keep the windows and doors open to let sunlight in or install radiant heat cables under the floor. These steps will keep the floor warm and comfortable.

Is Concrete Hard on your Feet?

Concrete is a hard floor so it can be hard on your feet. You can resolve this problem by adding area rugs and other such floor treatments. Area rugs wouldn’t cover the entire floor but would offer your feet some comfort. Hard floors are actually preferable for commercial use. After all, they provide a smooth, even surface for heavy foot traffic and vehicles like forklifts. The hardness of concrete is the reason behind its durability and resilience. It’s also the reason why these floors are easier to maintain.

If you have any more questions on concrete floors or to get an estimate, you can contact us at The Floor Company. If you’re calling from Ottawa and surrounding areas, dial 1800 461 3121. If you’re calling from Kingston, Bellevielle, Peterborough and Durham, dial 1877 277 9877. You can also email us at info@thefloorcompany.com or fill in this contact us form

The Floor Company

Address: 1117 Newmarket Street, Unit B, Ottawa, ON K1B 4N4

Phone:(613) 706-6664

Concrete Repair in Ottawa

Posted on March 31, 2016 by Greg Bell in Concrete with Comments Disabled

Concrete flooring is very resilient. It will last for several years with little care and maintenance. All you need to do is refresh the coating on your commercial location floors every few years and they will last for a very long time. However, in all its resilience, concrete can still get damaged. At The Floor Company, we’ve seen several different kinds of damage on concrete floors; but most of these can be repaired by concrete professionals. the floor company concrete repair ottawa

The Most Common Problems with Concrete Floors

There are different kinds of damage that can occur on concrete floors. If we don’t understand the source of the damage, we may not be able to repair it fully. In some cases, you need to address the underlying cause of the problem before the surface can be prepared. Here’s a list of the most common problems.

Cracks and damage caused by freezing, thawing or moisture.
Dents caused by heavy objects falling on the parking garage floors.
Staining due to oil spills or chemical spills on floors without the proper coating.
Scaling caused by inefficient sealing or curing in freezing temperatures.

The Process of Repairing Concrete Flooring

Once you’ve identified the problem, you can move onto repairing it. You should be very meticulous in your repairs if you want to make sure the results last for a long time. Here’s what you need to do:

Measure the damaged area carefully and make sure that you don’t miss any spots. If the concrete surface isn’t level, you don’t need to mark and chip away at the floor. You should use a floor leveling compound for that.

You need to remove the damaged surface with a chipping hammer. If the damaged area is large, you might need professional tools to remove it.

The surface needs to be rough and clean so that the repair mixture will bond correctly. You should brush away the debris and wipe it with a wet cloth.

After this, you need to apply the repair mixture onto the damaged area of the the concrete flooring.

For more information on repairing your commercial concrete floors or to get an estimate, you can contact us at The Floor Company. If you’re calling from Ottawa and surrounding areas, dial 1800 461 3121. If you’re calling from Kingston, Belleville, Peterborough and Durham, dial 1877 277 9877. You can also email us at info@thefloorcompany.com or fill in this contact us form.

The Floor Company

Address: 1117 Newmarket Street, Unit B, Ottawa, ON K1B 4N4

Phone:(613) 706-6664

Concrete Surface Preparation

Posted on January 26, 2016 by Greg Bell in Concrete with Comments Disabled

When it comes to making an investment to protect your concrete floor, one of the most important aspects that quite often goes overlooked is the type of preparation that the floor will require in order to ensure that your investment pays off for the long haul. There have been many debates over the years about what kind of surface prep is the minimum requirement for various coatings, overlays, or sealing systems.

custom concrete floors polished concrete

Muriatic acid etching is often prescribed as the minimum requirement for surface preparation of concrete prior to installing any kind of paint, coating, overlay or self-leveling concrete. Muriatic acid etching is sufficient prep for light-duty areas that will receive regular thin mil paint or sealers but it is nowhere near enough preparation when installing a coating or any kind of concrete or gypsum based product.

When installing anything other than paint, it is extremely important to implement surface preparation technologies such as diamond grinding or shot blasting. Shot blasting, the more aggressive of the two options, is often prescribed when installing thicker systems, usually 20 mils thick or more. The reason is because shot blasting your floor will leave an aggressive pattern after the surface preparation is complete. However, this is idea for proper adhesion of any non-liquid floor topping system.

For less aggressive needs, such as paint removal, mastic removal or glue removal, grinding is sufficient surface preparation. In other cases, when you are installing a coating or a paint that is thinner in nature, grinding is the best way to go in order to ensure a smooth finish and proper adhesion.

At The Floor Company, all of our surface preparation equipment is backed up by HEPA grade vacuum systems designed for concrete and construction dust.We have grinding and shot blasting solutions for any size of project. Contact us today for a quote

The Floor Company

Address: 1117 Newmarket Street, Unit B, Ottawa, ON K1B 4N4

Phone:(613) 706-6664

Self-Levelling Epoxy Floor Makeover

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Greg Bell in Blog with Comments Disabled

In the world of decorative concrete flooring and concrete floor rejuvenation, it would be a challenge to find a more drastic change in less time than getting a self-levelling epoxy floor installed.

It might seem almost counter intuitive that a mix comprised 50% of sand would be self-levelling but that is exactly the case here. Sand is added to epoxy in order to allow it be installed up to 20 times thicker in one go compared to liquid applied epoxy alone.

The sand serves as a “motivating” factor in the process. As the sand settles, it displaces liquid epoxy to the surface where it lays out and flattens, creating a near perfect level surface. The sand also creates an aggregate matrix within the coating. This piled up sand results in a highly impact resistant concrete floor.

Given the fact that so much thickness can be added to the floor in one go, we will often find ourselves installing it on surfaces that, just days before the building owner was considering ripping out and replacing. Doing so would have resulted in a much higher cost. Not only that, what you end up with when you replace a concrete slab is a smooth surface, however, one that is unprotected and will end up just the same as the one that’s just been replaced.

In the end, save for any contamination or structural issues, coating a floor with a self-levelling epoxy is by far the best choice for the long term because of; less interruption to room access but also financially short term and long term.

Check out the photos below for a better understanding of just how far you can take a floor from beatdown to new.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

To ensure your concrete and coating contractor is able install self-levelling epoxy, test your floor for compatibility before making an investment. While epoxy is usually a great way to go, it takes a professional to ensure that you aren’t better served with one of the many other materials out there today.