5 Tips For Successfully Installing Polyaspartic Floor Coatings

Polyaspartic coatings were first launched in the early 1990s by Bayer Material Science, one of the world’s top chemical corporations. This new technology discovery was first used as a corrosion-resistant steel coating for bridges, including other usages exposed to harsh environments.

What are polyaspartic coatings?

In technical terms, the word “polyaspartic” is referred to as “aliphatic polyurea.” Polyurea coatings are now well-known among the public at large, thanks to their use as tank linings and spray-on truck bed liners. Polyaspartic coatings are frequently thought of as a form of polyurea coating. This coating is commonly utilized as protective coatings for resinous concrete floors nowadays.

Polyaspartic coatings require a different approach than some other polymer coatings. Polyaspartics should be blended and processed differently than other forms of coatings, not just because they have a shorter working period.

Understanding these distinctions is critical to ensuring the success of your polyaspartics installation. Before you start your next polyaspartics installation, think about the following:

In terms of pot life and working period, polyaspartic reacts differently than epoxy coatings. As a result, it will take more time to gel in a pail and less time to solidify after being poured out. Pour in only the quantity your crew can cut in and apply completely within a few minutes to avoid losing the wet edge.
 

Make sure your “cutter” doesn’t get ahead of the main floor installers. Cutting in/edgework is commonly done by epoxy installers before the squeegee and finish roll teamwork. If your cutter goes too far ahead, the product all along corners will begin to cure just before the rest of the crew comes up due to the polyaspartic’s rapid set time. This implies you won’t be able to fit the remaining material right into the pre-cut corners, resulting in a noticeable seam or texture and thickness difference between both the edges and the main floor.
 

Use a squeegee that is smaller, around 12″ to 18”. Although it may take a bit longer, it will produce lesser “bird baths” than what a 24″ or larger squeegee will produce. The squeegee operator must set the polyaspartic application thickness rather than relying on the roller to spread the coating. Over-rolling and an uneven look will result if you rely just on the roller to generate the finished thickness.
 

The wet material ribbon should not be squeegeed into anything. Or else it will result in a change in the cured shine. Maintain a small pool of wet material right in front of the squeegee at all times. Also, always begin the ribbon pouring of the following mix into the moist material you’re dealing with

Even if the work is modest, such as a home garage, do not consider doing the installation on your own!

Always get professional assistance for high-quality flooring like Garage Floor Coating of Nashville. Solid expertise in concrete preparation, application technique, crack repair, and product selection, is much too valuable to be overlooked. Using untrained “contractors” who sell one-day installs or low-quality product kits while trying to save money is a pricey error.

Cheryl Wheeler