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

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

Decorative Staining For Indoor Concrete Flooring Systems

Posted on February 17, 2016 by Greg Bell in Concrete with Comments Disabled

Decorative staining for indoor concrete flooring systems make room for a wide range of designs to be achieved when it comes to both interior and exterior spaces. These floors come with the look of natural stone, and they have an attractive and interesting high gloss finish. You can choose from a wide array of colouring options and design possibilities when it comes to decorative concrete flooring systems.

How Does Decorative Staining Work?

Decorative stains for indoor concrete flooring are applied after the concrete has been cured. It is possible to apply stains to older concrete, yet repairs and cleaning may be necessary. The colour of your choice and its intensity determines the stain mix. You, or the project manager, will have to decide on a colour and how intense it will be. After the chemical reaction that makes the colouring possible has taken its time to complete, the floor then gets washed and left alone to dry. After this step, a protective resin has to be applied on top. This is what gives the glossy look to the concrete floor.

The Finished Look

The finished look of decorative staining is indeed very stylish and classy. While it is glossy, it is also non-slip which makes it an ideal solution for homes and commercial shops. Depending on your preferences, indoor concrete flooring systems and their decorative designs can be textured or flat, and have many different colours and patterns. Decorative stained concrete is the one feature that will make your home, office or shop stand out from the crowd. You will surely get many compliments and questions on your stunning new space and floor.

How to Maintain Stained Concrete Floors

In case you are looking for low maintenance alternatives to other flooring options, you can’t avoid concrete floors. Everything is easy to clean and maintain with these kinds of floors. No matter where the indoor concrete flooring system is being placed, whether the home or workplaces, harsh chemicals and cleaners are no longer required. You can just clean your concrete floor with warm water and a mild soap.

Indoor concrete flooring systems can be applied in both your home and workplace. It doesn’t matter where you would like this type of flooring, it will look sleek and modern.

If you would like more information about concrete flooring systems, contact one of our installers today for a free estimate or for any questions you may have. Be sure to also check out our concrete flooring gallery to view many more options available to you.

The Floor Company

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

Phone:(613) 706-6664

The Many Advantages of Concrete Flooring Systems

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

An increasing number of homeowners and builders are recognizing the advantages of concrete as a flooring option. This flooring system might be a little difficult to install at times, but it’s very easy to maintain and offers a wide range of benefits. At The Floor Company, we often recommend concrete flooring systems to clients who want resilient and low-maintenance flooring. Here are some of the advantages of this system.

Durability

Concrete is very durable. In fact, you can easily expect it to last as long as your home stands. There’s very little that can damage concrete and if it is damaged, it can be repaired without too much effort or expense.

Maintenance

Concrete flooring systems are very easy to clean and maintain. The day-to-day maintenance requires nothing more than water and a mop. You would need to seal it once in a few years with a sealant, but that is quite affordable as well. You can apply epoxy coatings or polyurethane coatings depending on the kind of wear and tear you expect. For example, epoxy coatings are great for normal wear and tear in residential use. Polyurethane is great for industrial use where you might have chemical spills and high traffic.

Sound

One of the best advantages of concrete flooring systems is their ability to dampen sound. Unlike wood floors that creak and can be loud, concrete floors tend to be quieter. This can be a great way to dampen the noise coming from the upper floors.

Design

Most people hesitate to install concrete flooring systems because they don’t want a “dull grey” floor. Today, there are several design options available to you. They are:

Stained concrete – Concrete can be stained in different colours and designs to give you the look you want.

Stamped concrete – Here, the concrete is stamped with different kinds of designs and patterns. This option is best used in outdoor applications.

Polished concrete – You can polish concrete to a high-gloss or install a matt look on your floor. Some contractors can add aggregates to the concrete and then polish the floor to give it a unique, interesting pattern.

As you can see, concrete flooring is a great option for both commercial and residential use. For more information about concrete flooring systems 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

4 Most Common Causes of Damaged Concrete Flooring

Posted on December 22, 2015 by Greg Bell in Blog with Comments Disabled

Concrete is a very resilient flooring material. It can bear a considerable amount of wear and tear. It’s low maintenance and can come in a variety of forms and designs. But it’s not perfect. Concrete, while resilient, comes with its set of problems. These problems can turn something pretty and alluring into a mess. At The Floor Company, we have found that some problems are more common than others. These are listed below:

Cracks

This is the most common problem with concrete. It’s especially true for the poured-in concrete floor. Like several materials, concrete expands and contracts on the basis on temperature variations. If the variance is extreme, the concrete is liable to crack. Concrete can also crack if the ground underneath it isn’t even.

There are several reasons behind cracks but repairing them is usually easy. Most cracks are just on the surface, though some can be a symptom of deeper structural problems. You need to inspect the crack thoroughly to avoid future problems.

Dusting

If you spot a fine layer of dust on your concrete floor, you face a problem called dusting. This is essentially concrete particles that haven’t mixed in with the rest of the material completely. This can happen if there’s too much water in the mixture or not enough cement on the surface.

High traffic areas are more prone to dusting than other places. To avoid this, the concrete should be allowed to cure completely during the installation process. You also need to ensure that the mixture of cement, aggregate, and water is ideal for proper curing.

Spalling or Scaling

If you notice a white, flaky patch on your concrete floor, you should immediately call a professional. This is a sign of scaling. While sometimes scaling is just a cosmetic problem, it can also result from structural damage. If a professional looks at it, they’ll be able to determine if it’s just a problem with the surface or something more serious. Scaling should be addressed as quickly as possible because there’s always a chance that large chunks of concrete will separate from the surface.

Corroded Concrete from Winter Salt

The City of Ottawa has switched to a new chemical base for it’s road salts in recent years. The result is less corrosion to our cars but more to concrete. With our concrete systems you can protect your concrete as well as repair damage previously done.

For more information on concrete flooring damage or to get an estimate, you can contact us today.

The Floor Company

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

Phone:(613) 706-6664

UV Stability and Resistance in Concrete Coatings

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Greg Bell in Concrete with Comments Disabled

Exposure to sunlight and the UV rays are often a grave concern with reference to concrete coatings. Some coatings can fade or yellow over time because of the exposure to the sun. This significantly shortens the lifespan of the coatings, and forces you to change them regularly.

There are some coatings that are more resistant to wear and tear than others. If you want a longer life for your concrete floor coatings, we at The Floor Company, recommend that you consider your options carefully.

Epoxy Coatings

Epoxy has several advantages. It’s more affordable than other options available to you in the market. It’s also easier to handle and apply than other common concrete coatings. Unfortunately, for all its conveniences, epoxy coatings are actually very susceptible to the harsh outdoor weather and UV rays. Within a few years, you may see a distinct yellow or amber tinge to the epoxy coating that can turn your beautiful, polished finish into something not so perfect.

While there are some UV resistant epoxy coatings available in the market, they don’t stand up against the other products available in the market. If you want to use a coating on the floor that might be exposed to sun, it’s a good idea to avoid epoxy when sealing outdoor work.

Urethane Coatings

This is a more expensive coating but it certainly delivers in terms of performance. This coating is a little more time consuming to apply. However, it is highly UV resistant and doesn’t yellow easily. You can expect 5 to 8 years of durability from this coating.

This coating is great for floors with high traffic and is also chemical and stain resistant. This concrete floor coating isn’t as hard as epoxy so it’s a little more resistant to stains. As its UV stable, it doesn’t fade, and it’s also more resistant to temperature variations.

Other surfaces like latex and vinyl aren’t as resistant to UV rays and temperature variations. They shouldn’t be used in outdoor applications if you want a durable surface that looks good as well.

For more information on coated, UV resistant 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, Peterborough,Belleville and Durham, simply 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 Best Kinds of Concrete Floors for Commercial Properties

Posted on November 23, 2015 by Greg Bell in Concrete with Comments Disabled

Your commercial property flooring will see a lot of wear and tear. The flooring receives a lot of traffic and your customers may not be too careful with commercial floors, (dropping things, dragging heavy carts on it, etc.) You need a resilient concrete floor that will withstand all the wear and tear, last for a long time and be easy to maintain.

As commercial properties are large, you will also want something that would be affordable but looks great. At The Floor Company, we believe that concrete is your best option. Within concrete flooring, there are several options available.

Epoxy or Polyurethane Coating

This is one of the best examples of combining beauty with function. Epoxy and polyurethane coatings are very resilient. These coatings have great chemical resistance, can be installed quickly, have the ability to bear high traffic and heavy loads, and will last for a long time.

Of the two concrete flooring options, epoxy coatings are more affordable and easier to apply. The polyurethane coating is resilient and won’t fade as easily. Regardless of which coating you choose from the two, you’re likely to see great results. The best part is that these coatings can be stained in different colour options.

These are the most common coating options but there are several others available in the market. You can talk to our concrete-flooring experts about which coating would be ideal for your commercial environment.

Polished Concrete

This is also a very attractive option to most commercial property owners. In fact, polished concrete is very popular amongst retail store owners. Polished concrete flooring is slightly more expensive up-front because of the polishing process. The installers will use diamonds of various levels to achieve a desired level of shine. These floors can be very finely polished to attain a mirror-like finish. View more samples of polished concrete flooring in our gallery here.

Polished concrete is very resilient as its surface is treated with densifiers during the polishing process and the sealers are added on top of it. This surface is ideal for commercial applications because it lasts for a long time, can bear heavy traffic, and is easy to maintain.

For more information on coated and 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

When To Use Self-Levelling Concrete

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Greg Bell in Concrete with Comments Disabled

There are few instances more frustrating than when the renovation of a structure with concrete floors is underway, and then you find out that the flooring surface is either pitted or out of level.

In most circumstances, a general contractor will simply trowel conventional concrete or grout from a bag mix onto a rough surface to smooth it out or add too much water and pour the concrete to level it. This may look fine at first, however, concrete doesn’t bond well to existing concrete without a massive amount of effort put into surface preparation and failure of the new surface is guaranteed over time.

A little-known secret is that epoxy is actually a much better bond maker with concrete than with concrete itself. Epoxy can be used to prime a concrete slab to prepare it for a concrete patch or self-levelling concrete.

First, the surface is prepared via grinding or shot blasting, depending on the level of damage that currently exists within the floor. Then, 100% solids epoxy is squeegeed onto the floor and sand is thrown into the wet coating until rejection. (Definition: “Until rejection” means the surface is completely over saturated with sand and you can no longer see the epoxy.) This creates a nice rough surface for the new layer of concrete to adhere to. It also provides a built-in vapor barrier.

If the surface being repaired is to be a wear layer or a surface that will receive no further flooring of any kind, then an epoxy based, rather than concrete based, self-leveller can be specified. Epoxy based self-levellers are similar to the epoxy primer described above, in the way they bond, however instead of broadcasting sand into a primer, the applicator will mix smaller sized sand with epoxy and pour it onto the floor. This will result in a level, smooth, visually appealing and contamination resistant surface. Not only that, this type of self-leveller is more impact resistant than concrete versions.

Self-levelling concrete is better suited to areas that need to be levelled or smoothed to prepare it for further flooring such as hardwood, linoleum, tile or other traditional flooring types.

The key thing to remember here is that when levelling out old concrete floors, the most important thing is to prepare the surface and remove contamination. Without this necessary step, your efforts will most likely be in vain.

Contact a qualified flooring contractor today to have your concrete slab evaluated and a system specified.

Blog

All posts by Greg Bell

The Most Common Problems with Concrete Floors

The Process of Repairing Concrete Flooring

What is Shot Blasting?

What are the Advantages of Shot Blasting?

Durability

Maintenance

Sound

Design

Cracks

Dusting

Spalling or Scaling

Corroded Concrete from Winter Salt