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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

Epoxy Flooring vs. Polished Concrete Flooring

Posted on November 15, 2016 by Greg Bell in Concrete with Comments Disabled

Concrete floors have become more popular in the recent years because they’re no longer simply dull and grey. You can polish the surface to a high-gloss sheen or apply colourful epoxy coatings to improve its looks. At The Floor Company, we’ve noticed that our customers are often torn between these two options so here’s a brief explanation of the two types of finishes.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Epoxy Coatings

Epoxy coatings are a great solution if you want to breathe new life into your dull concrete floors. Here are some things you should consider about the floor before you make your choice:

Epoxy flooring is affordable and quick so you can cover a reasonable amount of your floor over the weekend. In comparison, polishing sometimes takes more time and effort.
The coating will protect your floor from chemical spills and other such problems. It also improves the overall durability of your concrete floor.
Epoxy is water resistant so it can protect your floor from excessive moisture.
The coating will also cover most imperfections and cracks on the surface so it’s ideal for old floors and surfaces.
Unfortunately, epoxy isn’t very durable for high traffic areas and can eventually wear off in about 5 years. It may also fade a little if it’s exposed to too much sunlight.
Epoxy also has a tendency to chip and develop scratches over time in high traffic areas and that can compromise the beauty and finish of the floor.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Polished Concrete

Polished concrete flooring is very popular because it hardens the surface of the concrete and makes it more resistant to wear and tear. Here are some other benefits of this finish:

Polished concrete floors are very durable and can easily last for over a decade without the need for refinishing.
The surface, especially if it’s polished to high-gloss sheen, has 100% light reflectivity. It will brighten your property.
Polished floors are flatter and don’t have as many imperfections.
They can also withstand moisture, sunlight, and temperature changes well.
Unfortunately, polishing is sometimes more expensive than epoxy coatings and isn’t a DIY job. You will have to hire a professional for the task.

For information on epoxy or polished concrete flooring and 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.

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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!

Architectural Concrete Floor Finishes

Posted on September 16, 2016 by Greg Bell in Blog, Concrete with Comments Disabled

Concrete floors have steadily grown in popularity over the past few years. They are relatively affordable, durable, low maintenance, and very versatile. You no longer have to deal with the drab grey look that’s only suitable for warehouses and roads because there are different kinds of architectural floor finishes available now. At The Floor Company, we customize the floor finish according to the preferences of our customers. Here are some of the more popular finishes available to you.

Polishing

Polishing is one of the most popular finishes for concrete because the resultant floor can look stunning. There are different levels of polish available and they range from a flat matte finish to a mirror-like gloss. We can also add aggregates of natural stone to the concrete mixture, which can create a beautiful pattern to the floor.

–>Check out our Gallery Here<—

Stains

Concrete stains are the easiest and one of the most affordable ways to customize the look of the surface. They’re also very durable because the acid stains sink into the concrete and bind with it. The colour won’t fade, chip, or stain easily, especially if you apply sealers and concrete floor wax on the surface. You can transform the look and feel of the floor in a matter of days.

Coatings

Coatings are similar to a layer of paint on the walls but they’re specially formulated for concrete floors. You can choose between latex, epoxy, and polyurethane coatings; latex being the cheapest and least durable; and polyurethane the most durable and expensive. They can be applied quickly and easily in a matter of days with no effort. In fact, many DIYers apply epoxy coatings on their floors during weekends.

Stamping

Stamping is more common in outdoor installations than indoor floors. They add design and texture to the surface and ensure they it’s not slippery when wet. With stamping, we can mimic the look and feel of different materials like brick, natural stone, and even concrete pavers. We can also create unique designs that’ll make your property stand out. These architectural floor finishes can only be applied when the concrete is wet and hasn’t cured.

For information on architectural floor finishes 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

Industrial Flooring Options in Ottawa

Posted on August 12, 2016 by Greg Bell in Concrete with Comments Disabled

Floors in industrial premises undergo considerable amount of wear and tear so they need to be resilient and durable. Concrete is a great option for industrial flooring but these surfaces do need finishing for added protection. There are many options available to you and some finishes are better than others in an industrial setting. At The Floor Company, we recommend the finishes listed below.

Epoxy Flooring

Epoxy flooring is very popular because it is affordable and relatively easy to apply. Epoxy floors are also quite durable and won’t damage easily with chemical spills. The surface is also very easy to maintain so you just need to sweep and mop it up to make sure it’s clean and presentable. Epoxy coatings need proper surface preparation before application because you can’t apply the epoxy over uneven or damaged substrate. The concrete underneath should be in good condition.

The application also takes a little time because the epoxy needs to cure between coatings. Once it’s completely cured and installed, you can expect the flooring to last for 3 to 5 years without problems.

Concrete Polishing

Concrete polishing is also a very popular way to finish a floor in industrial properties. It’s much more durable than epoxy coatings, though it’s also more expensive to install. Polishing hardens the surface and makes it very dense. This ensures any chemicals or oils don’t sink into the surface. The concrete just isn’t porous or soft enough to sustain stains.

There are many levels of polishing; so you can choose from a matte finish to a glossy shine based on your requirements. The higher grade of polish would require finer grits and more time so it can be more expensive. Polishing floors also takes time because the surface must first be prepared and all cracks must be patched before a contractor can polish it.

The time and labor involved makes concrete polishing a more expensive alternative to epoxy floorings. However, polishing lasts much longer and is more durable. It’s also more suitable for industrial environments. The upfront cost might be high, but the cost of maintenance is very low and the floor can last for a very long time.

The Floor Company

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

Phone:(613) 706-6664

How to Find Garage Flooring Contractors in Ottawa

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

Garage floors need to be tough, durable, and resistant to considerable amounts of damage. They should be able to handle oil and chemical stains, high traffic, impact from tools, etc. Not all floors can endure this amount of wear and tear. However, to get good results, you need right garage floor contractors in Ottawa. We at The Floor Company have put together a small guide to help you choose the best possible contractor.

Decide What You Want

Before you hire a contractor, carefully consider what you want. You should determine your budget, research the variety of coatings available, and decide just which coating and floor you want for your garage. That would help you narrow down the list of garage floor contractors in Ottawa and save some time on the search.

Ask Around

If your friends or neighbours have recently remodeled their garage, you should ask them for suggestions and recommendations. Because they have personal experience with their chosen contractors, they can give you an honest opinion. You can note down the names of contractors they recommend and mark contractors they disapprove of. This will help you stay clear of bad experiences and low quality work.

Look Online

Most garage floor contractors in Ottawa will have their own websites or listings on platforms like Yelp and Google+. You can add the highest rated contractors to your list and research them. Be sure to read the online reviews and explore their website because that would help you shortlist the best contractors.

Get Quotes

After you’ve shortlisted all contractors, call them or contact them through their online forms for quotes and details. You can also prepare a list of questions that would address your specific concerns and requirements. Most contractors would be perfectly willing to answer your questions and provide estimates. They’ll also provide references to previous clients if you ask.

At this point, all you need to do is study the quotes, compare different contractors, and make your decision. If you follow these steps, you’ll be able to hire the best garage floor contractors in Ottawa.

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, 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

Shot Blasting Services in Ottawa

Posted on March 10, 2016 by Greg Bell in Concrete with Comments Disabled

Concrete is porous and vulnerable to the elements just as several other flooring materials are. While concrete flooring is more resilient than other options, you still need to make sure it is properly prepared before applying a sealer or coating to it.

When the time comes to finish a concrete floor, you need to completely strip the concrete surface to ensure that the new coating will properly adhere to the surface. Shot blasting is one way to achieve this and we at The Floor Company feel that it’s the best option for preparing concrete floors in commercial locations.

What is Shot Blasting?

Shot blasting is a one-step method of removing surface coatings and debris from the concrete and prepare it for coatings and overlays. This process will strip, clean, and profile the surface, making it ready for whichever treatment you wish to use. Shot blasting machines will often have a wheel with paddle-like blades that propel steel shots towards the concrete surface. These shots travel at high velocity and will forcefully remove the surface layer of dirt, grime, residual coating, and other debris.

Shots used in the process come in different sizes, depending on the kind of profile you want on the surface. Bigger shots will penetrate deeper and have a much more powerful effect. Conversely, smaller shots won’t penetrate as much and will just remove a thin layer of the surface of your commercial concrete floors.

What are the Advantages of Shot Blasting?

Shot blasting is a very convenient way to remove the surface layer of concrete. There are several advantages of using this as opposed to other techniques, such as:

The surface profile is generally very rough as a result of shot blasting. This leads to better adhesion as the coating with penetrate the rough surface and settle in securely.

There’s no water or liquid involved and the surface is dry and clean. Because of this, we can immediately start working on the surface after the blasting is done.

There’s no dust as our vacuum attachments immediately direct dust and debris away, leaving behind a clean surface.

For more information on shot blasting and preparing your commercial location 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.

The Floor Company

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

Phone:(613) 706-6664

What Are The Different Types of Garage Floor Coverings?

Posted on October 27, 2015 by Greg Bell in Concrete with Comments Disabled

Concrete is very resilient and can stand up to all kinds of abuse if it provides the right protection. The garage floor has to endure traffic, oil spills, heavy objects falling on it, and other such problems. To maintain its looks, it’s essential to apply a good, resilient coating to it. There are three ways to go about this. You can apply a latex paint on the floor, add an epoxy coating, or apply polyurethane.

At The Floor Company, we recommend our clients to consider their needs and requirements carefully before choosing a garage floor coating. Let’s consider the options:

Latex- This is the most affordable coating available to you. Latex is very easy to apply. It’s essentially like paint and you need to do nothing but use regular rollers and brushes to apply a coat onto the floor. Unfortunately, if you want something this affordable, you’ll need to compromise on the quality.

Latex coatings are susceptible to peeling and chipping. You’ll also need to apply several coats of it to get an even finish. In essence, it’s great for a quick, cost-effective application, but not so great for resilience and durability.

Epoxy – While this coating is slightly more expensive than latex, it’s still quite affordable. This material is resilient and will last for several years. You’re essentially coating your garage floor in plastic when you apply this material. The finish is very glossy, sleek, and smooth, giving your garage a clean look.

This material won’t lift, is very durable, looks great and has many colour and finish options. However, the application process is complicated and should only be done by a professional concrete floor coating team.

Polyurethane –This is the coating to choose for the professional garage. It has a very high level of durability and can resist chemical and oil spills very well. It’s also available in a variety of colours and finishes for an attractive garage. However, this coating is more expensive and might not be for the regular home garage. The application process is very complicated as well and you’ll need to hire a professional concrete floor coating team.

For more 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

Blog

All posts tagged polished concrete floors

Advantages and Disadvantages of Epoxy Coatings

Advantages and Disadvantages of Polished Concrete

What is Shot Blasting?

What are the Advantages of Shot Blasting?