Unique Risks To The Adhesion Of Concrete Coatings Exist. In The Northeast, Regional Climate Conditions play an undisclosed role. Know Your Risk!

Regional location affects the choice for coating vs. covering, due to extreme seasonal climate changes. Most significantly, the Freeze-Thaw cycle in the northern regions of the U.S. adversely affect surface adhesion due to the consistent expansion/contraction of the concrete surface. Coating products are made to be elastic, but the repetitive cycle wears down adhesion at a quicker pace. If surface preparation is inefficient, climate changes will effect adhesion at a much quicker pace.

Many other unique risks exist that could compromise a coatings bond to its concrete surface. To keep it concise, listed below are the primary risks that homeowners not only need to be aware of, but need to accept the repercussions of such an event occurring, which could be costly. Unfortunately, many times these concerns arise when the installation has already been completed. 

• Seasonal Freeze / Thaw Cycles
• Humidity & Moisture—Below The Substrate & In The Air
• Hot Tire Pick Up / Hot Tire Stamping
• Chemical Degradation
• Scratching, Peeling & Bubbling
• Weak Or Contaminated Substrate
• Inefficient Preparation / Contractor Incompetence

Garage flooring needs to be durable, due to homeowner usage purposes: automobiles, outdoor equipment, toolboxes, oil & chemical spills, heavy-duty household storage, just to name a few. There are many contemporary flooring options available to spruce up that garage floor, even with trendy color combinations. Most interestingly, these trendy & durable options are available without the exorbitant cost and process of coatings installation.

Let’s be honest, a polyaspartic floor coating with a glossy sealed clear coat finish looks terrific when applied with competence—key word, competence. However, let’s be honest, twice—it will also cost an arm & a leg, as well as set your mind to the task of continuously looking forward through seasonal changes in hope that adhesion doesn’t fail, which is the risk that you’ve signed up for, most assuredly when living in the northeast region. 

The question must be asked: Once all risks are laid bare, is the coating a value at its cost? Only the consumer can answer that question! Unfortunately, consumers are not provided full disclosure to consider the risks associated with concrete coatings. By comparison, the top branded premium garage floor tiles, which include limited lifetime warranties and eliminate coating risks, are priced below the cost of Polyaspartic coatings. Premium brands can be costly, but durable value brands do exist!