self levelling concrete | The Floor Company
ETHAN@THEFLOORCOMPANY.CA | TEL: 613-866-7990
Serving Ottawa, Belleville, Peterborough and Renfrew

Blog

All posts tagged self levelling concrete

What Makes Gypcrete A Popular Flooring Option? 

Posted on November 25, 2016 by Greg Bell in Concrete with Comments Disabled

Gypcrete or gypsum concrete has been around for a while but has recently gained a considerable amount of popularity as a lightweight alternative to traditional concrete. This material has several advantages, which is whgypcrete-flooring-ottaway designers have architects often use it in multi-story buildings and multi-family units. At The Floor Company, we believe that gyrpcrete is popular because of the following advantages it offers to property owners and these include:

  1. Weight

Traditional concrete floors are very heavy and this increases the weight of every floor that’s piled on top of another. If you compare the weight of the two, you’ll see that 1.5 inch slab of Gypcrete material weighs 13 pounds per sq ft, which is much lighter than the 18 pounds of traditional concrete of the same size. The light weight flooring will reduce the pressure on the building’s framework and make it more secure and stable.

  1. Affordability

Gypcrete is much more affordable than traditional concrete. With the latter, you need to pay for the material, specialized tools, and for many hours of labor. Gypcrete doesn’t require much time or effort to install so it’s an affordable option for people looking for an alternative to traditional concrete.

  1. Easy and Quick Installation

The Gypcrete system is designed for easy and quick installation. You can cover a floor of 20,000 sq ft in a single day and start applying the finishing touches to the surface after 48 hours of the installation. While Gypcrete isn’t a DIY-friendly material, you will still save considerable amount of money on the installation costs. The quick installation process will also minimize the downtime so you can use your property quickly.

  1. Fire Codes

Gypcrete materials offer one to two-hour fire barrier, as is required by code. It does provide adequate fire safety and will help slow down its progress through the property. This will allow residents more time and room to escape and minimize the overall damage.

Like all building materials, Gypcrete does have some disadvantages though most property owners consider them an acceptable trade-off. You should consult with a concrete flooring expert before you make your decision.

For information on Gypcrete 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

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:custom concrete floors polished concrete

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