Coating concrete is simple, right? All you have to do is use an alkaline-resistant primer, apply a good topcoat, and you’re done.

The truth is that it isn’t exactly that simple, especially if it is a repaint project where the substrate is grazed and cracked. Maybe there is even some rusted rebar showing itself. You may be tempted to patch and caulk the problem areas and then use the primer and paint just like you did in the first place. Then again, you may decide to throw some elastometric on it or, if you already have elastometric on the floor, you do it again and you’re done.

But it really isn’t that simple and that is something that concrete floor owners throughout Minneapolis & St. Paul have found out really fast. It is not as simple as what some may thing because there are so many things that can go wrong.

One reason why things go wrong is because the individuals painting the concrete do not understand the surface that they are painting. Sure, concrete has been around for a very long time (the Romans used it to build the pantheon, Coliseum, baths, aqueducts, and many other structures), but people still don’t fully understand it. The main difference between the concrete of today and that used by the Romans is that today’s concrete is poured, whereas the Romans used a stiffer and dryer material that required hand-layups. Today’s products are also modified with fibers and resins, as well as reinforcing steel. There is also the fact that concrete structures, even flooring, can be handed over to a painter who coats it with unknonwn materials.

If concrete is new and you want it painted, you do not necessarily have to wait for the 28 days of curing to be complete. The cure period is when the concrete reaches its maximum compressive strength. This is something that you may want to talk to your Minneapolis floor coating company about if you are considering colored concrete. There are different types of stains that work well so you can have the color that you want with a lot of the hassle. They will know what type of coloring can be used on your specific type of concrete. Any sort of testing and procedures can be performed so you do not find yourself with a mess after you are done. Sometimes individuals forget to test an area and then they have a larger disaster on their hands when it comes to the color of their floor. Perhaps there are grease spots that start to bleed through. There are many things that can happen that result in the job having to be done all over again.

Through professional installation, issues, such as high moisture content and low pH can be addressed. These issues can be addressed in the right way so that you do not have to worry about the paint job not working. The end result is a floor that looks fantastic for the long-term. Measures can also be taken to make that same floor stronger so it stands up to the traffic it receives.