FAQ’s
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What Coating Is Best For Residential Garage Floors?
Residential spaces can benefit from epoxy or polyaspartic coatings. When it comes to a garage, our team will ask you about the activities that take place in your garage and recommend the best option. Epoxy is more affordable, but polyaspartic cures faster and is UV-stable.
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Are Coated Floors Slippery?
When floor coatings are wet, they can be slippery. However, coating companies can add texture flakes or grit to improve traction on the floor. Adding grit is important for garages, pool decks, warehouses, and kitchens.
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How Do You Maintain Coated Floors?
The maintenance on your flooring is easier once the coating is applied. Regular sweeping and mopping is all you will need to keep the floor looking its best. If spills occur, you can use a gentle cleaner to wipe away the liquid. Avoid abrasive cleaners or brushes on your coating.
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If My Concrete Cracks, Will The Coating Crack?
If the subfloor begins to crack, the coating should not crack. Expansion joints will be used when applying the coating to help prevent cracks or dips in the coating over time.
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Can You Repair Small Damages Without Redoing The Entire Floor?
While most drops on the floor won’t damage the floor coating, we can repair small damages easily. Dents or dings in your floor can be filled to ensure a smooth finish and will not require a complete redo of the garage or basement floor.
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How Do I Maintain A Pool Coating?
Once you have a pool deck coating, you will still need to perform proper maintenance to keep the coating looking new. You will need to clean the coating with a gentle cleaner to remove stains or stubborn debris. Sweeping or using a leaf blower will also be helpful to remove outside debris and keep the coating from becoming damaged. Make sure to address stains promptly, maintain the inside of your pool, and trim landscaping to keep your coating in pristine condition.
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Are There Different Coatings For Residential And Commercial Pools?
Yes, commercial and residential pools will need to meet different needs and see different levels of foot traffic. Applying coatings to commercial and residential pools should consider the climate, the foot traffic around the pool, and what the pool is made out of. Commercial pools will need to withstand more chemicals than residential pools as they see more people and germs than a pool at your home.
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Can You Paint A Pool Deck?
If the pool deck is damaged or exposed to consistent sunlight, painting is not the best option for protection. Painting concrete does not hold up as well as other coatings and can begin to flake after just a few weeks under the sun. Paint also doesn’t hold up well against moisture, which makes it extremely problematic for pool decks.
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Will Polyaspartic Fade Or Change Color?
Since polyaspartic is UV resistant, it will not experience discoloration or sun fading. Even in direct sunlight, polyaspartic won’t turn yellow or lighten in color. Polyaspartic will remain vibrant throughout its lifespan, making it a great choice for outdoor areas or garages that are exposed to UV rays.
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Is Polyaspartic Resistant To Chemicals?
Yes, polyaspartic is resistant to chemical damage from gasoline, oil, cleaning solutions, and more. Because of the polyurethane and other chemicals in the coating, it is unable to be deteriorated by strong chemicals. Using polyaspartic in an auto body shop, medical setting, or chemical production warehouse are also good applications for this floor coating.
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How Much Do Polyaspartic Garage Floors Cost?
Due to its versatility and durability, polyaspartic is more expensive than epoxy or paint. However, the price of a garage floor coating is also dependent on the size of your garage, the company you work with, and the equipment they are using. Cost will be determined by the square footage of your garage. Typically, polyaspartic coatings run at about $5-7 per square foot. Speak with the Diamond Custom Coatings professionals to get a free quote and more accurate pricing.
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Does The Climate Impact What Patio Coating I Will Need?
Yes, the weather on the day of application and the climate through the rest of the year can change what coating will work best for your patio. Those with extreme weather fluctuations will require a coating that is able to expand and contract without cracking. More moderate climates will benefit from any coating type, but a coating for an outdoor setting should always be the most durable option. Our experts recommend polyaspartic coatings for patios that are fully exposed to weather.
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Are Wood Patios Able To Be Coated?
Yes, wood can be treated with a variety of coatings. Sealants, epoxy, paint, and stains can be applied to wood patios to protect their natural beauty. Applying coatings to wood will make it moisture resistant, stain resistant, and durable.
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Will Coatings Cover Up Stains Or Discoloration?
Depending on the color and opacity, coatings will cover staining that has occurred on your patio. Dark colored polyaspartic or opaque epoxy is the best option to hide uneven coloring or grease stains. Proper surface preparation before applying the coating will provide the most uniform appearance.
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Should Garage Paint Be Flat Or Glossy?
While homeowners can choose whatever finish they prefer, garage coatings typically look best when they are glossy. Reflective finishes also provide some benefits, like better visibility when driving into the garage. A glossy finish will have higher durability and stain resistance as well, making it great for keeping a low-maintenance garage.
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Do I Need To Prime The Floor Before Painting?
In order for the garage paint to last, you need to prepare the space properly. Cleaning, sanding, and repairs need to be completed before applying the first coat of paint. It is best to choose a primer that is highly rated by other professional painters in order for the paint to adhere. Many popular brands like Behr, Rust-Oleum, and Kilz have concrete primers that are perfect for these projects.
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How Many Coats Of Garage Floor Paint Are Needed?
For most residential garages, two coats of paint are recommended in order to obtain durability. Two coats will lower the risk of flaking and peeling that comes from heavy foot traffic. Always refer to the paint manufacturer’s instructions for best application.
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Can I Apply Garage Floor Coatings Myself?
In order to ensure the longevity of a floor coating, it needs to be installed by a professional. Proper floor preparation, application, and curing time are all essential to getting a quality floor coating. Professionals will be able to apply the coating evenly and promise proper adherence. Professionals also have access to higher quality products rather than DIY kits offered on the average consumer market.
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Do Coatings Make The Floor Slippery?
Some coatings can be slippery when wet, especially epoxy. There are options for mix-ins to add texture to the flooring to improve the traction of the floor. If you are putting a floor coating around a pool or in a highly populated work area, it will be best to use polyaspartic or add some texture mix in.
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How Long Do Garage Floor Coatings Last?
With proper care and maintenance, floor coatings can last for up to 10 years. The quality of the floor coating will play a role in how long the coating will last before it may start to chip or flake. When you perform proper cleaning and maintenance, you can extend the life of a coating up to 5 years. Typically, polyaspartic coatings last longer than epoxy. Floor paint doesn’t last as long as either of the bonding options.
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How Often Does My Coated Floor Need To Be Cleaned?
Once you have a coating applied and it is fully cured, you will be able to clean it. Cleaning dirt and debris off the floor frequently will limit abrasion that can wear down the coating. Depending on the area, a light cleaning once a week will be enough to protect your floor coating. Businesses, workshops, or pool decks will need to be cleaned daily. Deep cleaning should be done at least once a month.
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Can A Floor Coating Be Applied To Wood?
Yes. However, since wood is more porous, the coating may not last as long as if it were applied to concrete. The wood surface should be properly prepared, cleaned, and primed before application to achieve the most optimal results.
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How Long Does It Take For Epoxy Coatings To Cure?
Epoxy will be dry and walkable after 24 hours, however, the full curing process could take multiple days. You should avoid heavy furniture or cars on top of the garage floor for at least 48 hours just to ensure the curing process has begun. Different temperatures and humidity levels can impact curing time. Hot climates may experience a faster curing time because heat speeds up the chemical reaction. Colder climates may experience longer curing times because the liquid is unable to evaporate.
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What Surfaces Can Epoxy Be Applied To?
Because of the versatile nature of epoxy, it is used for many projects and on many surfaces. However, its protective properties and benefits are only applicable when fully cured. This means that applying epoxy to certain walkable surfaces may not yield long-lasting results. For protective coatings, epoxy can be applied to concrete, metal, and stone. Other creative projects like electronics, jewelry, or furniture can feature epoxy to hold components together or make them resistant to dust and moisture.
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Are DIY Kits Affordable?
Yes, this is the biggest reason that homeowners choose to go this route rather than a professional application. Depending on what is included in your kit, the price can fluctuate between $300 and 900. While this may seem fairly expensive, the labor costs and added steps from a professional will add a few hundred dollars to this price.
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What Is The Difference Between Professional And DIY Installation?
Professional installers will use professional application tools and expensive grinders to prep the space. A professional team may send multiple people to the job site to ensure that all steps are completed at the correct time. During DIY installation, there are no professional grade tools to help you cover a large area. However, a DIY application can be completed at a time that is convenient for you, whereas professionals have to come around other projects and during business hours only.
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How Long Does It Take To Coat A Floor?
From start to finish, a floor coating could take up to 3 days to be usable. Preparation is a crucial step in coating adherence, so this time should be factored into the floor-coating process. Cleaning, grinding, and repairs need to be done in advance, so this could extend the overall time it takes to coat the floor. Applying the epoxy or polyaspartic liquid will take just a few hours to complete, but drying and curing can take into the next day. Businesses should allot at least 4 days to have a floor coating service completed.
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Will A Coating Crack In Cold Temperatures?
When done correctly, a coating should be able to flex with temperature fluctuations without cracking. If the proper preparation and application steps are taken, your floor coating should not crack for many years. Epoxy is more prone to cracking than polyaspartic, so if your business is subject to weather or extreme temperatures, consider installing polyaspartic. Polyaspartic will still be durable while being able to flex during different weather or production conditions.
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Is The Floor Coating Process Dusty?
During the preparation for a floor coating, the concrete may be ground down to help ensure proper adherence. A professional team will use specialized tools to keep dust and fumes to a minimum. Vacuums and professional grinders will trap the dust, keeping it from circulating in your home or garage.
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Will A Coating Protect My Basement During Flooding?
Yes, if excess moisture or water gets into your basement, the coating will prevent it from seeping into the concrete and foundation. However, floor coatings should not be your only line of defense against basement flooding. While a coating won’t have to be replaced after a flood like carpet, it can’t protect the water from damaging furniture or seeping to other parts of the home. Having a basement coating will make cleanup and rehabilitation after a flood much more feasible.
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Why Is A Basement Coating Better Than Carpet Or Tile?
For starters, it is resistant to almost everything that can damage your carpet, including water, waste, paint, pet hair, chemicals, UV light, scratches, toys, heavy items, and more. Coatings are able to be cleaned and repolished quickly, so they stay looking new for much longer than carpet. While tile is more durable, it can easily be stained and scratch. These small imperfections can make the tile floors look old or worn even in just a few years.
Basement floor coatings allow you to enjoy your basement without worrying about upkeep and cleaning constantly. They easily wipe down and can have patterns that hide dirt and debris. Coatings can also cover up imperfections that were on the subfloor. Cracks, dents, stains, or UV fading will be hidden when a professional coating is applied.