Services
Concrete Preparation
The Essential Foundation for Strong, Durable, and Long-Lasting Floors
Whether you choose polished or coated floors, it all starts with the proper foundation. Concrete preparation is the first step in any successful flooring installation, ensuring your surface is clean and ready for whatever comes next. Quality concrete preparation is essential for a durable and long-lasting floor finish, from grinding and smoothing to patching and cleaning. Advantage Coating specializes in expertly prepared concrete surfaces, setting the stage for floors that perform beautifully in any environment.
Why Proper Concrete Preparation Matters
Enhanced Durability and Performance:
Preparing concrete before applying coatings or finishes ensures that your flooring will last. From heavy equipment and foot traffic to temperature changes and chemicals, well-prepared concrete can stand up to it all. Proper preparation addresses surface flaws like cracks, uneven areas, and contaminants that can compromise the integrity of your flooring, leading to increased longevity and durability.
Better Adhesion for Coatings and Finishes:
Even the best coatings or polished finishes need a solid surface to adhere to. Concrete preparation removes contaminants, smooths imperfections, and creates the ideal concrete surface profile (CSP) for coatings to bond securely. This results in a stronger, more stable finish that helps resist chipping, peeling, or bubbling over time, keeping your floor looking its best.
Safety and Structural Integrity:
Proper preparation improves the look and durability of your floors, as well as their safety and structural integrity. Smoothing out uneven surfaces and filling cracks prevents tripping hazards and reduces stress on your floors, keeping your space safer for employees, customers, or visitors.
Types of Concrete Preparation Techniques and Their Applications
Every concrete surface is unique, and the type of preparation needed depends on factors like its condition, the environment, and the intended finish. Here’s an overview of essential concrete preparation techniques and how they serve different applications:
Concrete Grinding
Concrete grinding smooths rough or uneven surfaces, creating a consistent foundation for coatings or finishes. Advantage Coating uses specialized diamond-grit grinders to remove dirt, grease, and surface coatings, making it ideal for floors that need a fresh start.
- Commonly Used On: Floors previously coated, uneven, or looking to achieve a CSP 1-2.
- Why Choose Grinding: Grinding is essential for achieving a smooth surface, allowing for optimal adhesion of coatings and minimizing risks of coating failures.
Concrete Shot Blasting
Shot blasting cleans and preps concrete by propelling small steel balls at the surface. This removes contaminants and creates a texture that promotes coating adhesion.
- Commonly Used On: Bare concrete and floors looking for a CSP 3-7.
- Why Choose Shot Blasting: Shot blasting is the preferred method for preparing heavily contaminated surfaces or newly poured concrete that requires profiling for optimal coating adhesion.
Surface Patching and Crack Repair
Cracks, pits, and surface imperfections compromise concrete’s strength and can cause coatings to fail. Surface patching fills these flaws, ensuring a level, strong foundation.
- Commonly Used On: Damaged floors, aged concrete, and spaces with heavy erosion.
- Why Choose Surface Patching: Patching addresses underlying issues that can weaken your floor over time, extending the life of your finish and improving safety by removing trip hazards.
Moisture Testing and Vapor Barriers
In environments with high concrete moisture content, moisture can compromise concrete and cause coatings to lift or bubble. Moisture testing identifies potential issues, and vapor barriers are applied to limit alkalinity and the transmission of moisture through concrete to help prevent future damage.
Common Methods of Testing:
- Calcium Chloride Test: This test measures the amount of moisture vapor emitted from the concrete surface over a specified period.
- Relative Humidity Test: This method involves drilling small holes into the concrete and measuring the internal relative humidity levels.
Advantage Coating always recommends 3rd party testing before installing resinous flooring unless a moisture-tolerant product is used.
Industrial & Manufacturing
Preparation ensures that floors can withstand machinery, forklifts, and foot traffic, reducing repair costs and downtime.
Retail & Showrooms
Smooth, well-prepared floors enhance the appearance and longevity of finishes in retail spaces
Healthcare & Education
Proper preparation creates a seamless, easy-to-clean foundation in spaces where cleanliness and safety are priorities.
Food & Beverage
With moisture-resistant coatings and thorough preparation, food production areas can achieve a clean, sanitary floor that’s ready for heavy use.
Why Advantage Coating
is Your Partner for Concrete Preparation
Quality floors begin with the proper preparation, and Advantage Coating brings the experience, tools, and expertise needed to prepare your concrete for success.
Contact Us Today for Your Free Facility Evaluation
Ready to start with a solid foundation? Contact Advantage Coating for a free facility evaluation, and let’s prepare your concrete for lasting success.