A protective coating from Walttools can give your concrete the protection it needs to keep it looking good for many years. Besides protection, a good concrete coating can enhance the look of a finished surface. For example, darkening and adding color depth, highlighting or enhancing colors, adding gloss for lighting effects, etc. can be done with concrete coatings. A concrete coating applied properly creates a smoother surface that repels moisture and is much easier to clean. The cleaner the floor or concrete countertop is, the more sanitary it is. So, in a nutshell, concrete coatings make concrete more durable, protect decorative features, enhances the look, and make it easier to maintain.
What is the difference between a concrete coating and a concrete sealer? Technically, they are all “sealers”, but a concrete coating is a certain class of sealer. Our definition of concrete coating here is a resinous substance that is liquid or semi-liquid and hardens in time to a clear or pigmented smooth surface. Concrete coatings are generally more viscous and may have a higher solids content, which results in thicker applications. Some coatings may be at least twice as thick as a concrete sealer. Many coatings or topping compounds for concrete can be used indoors or outdoors. Each coating has its own unique set of properties. Coating technology over the past thirty years has advanced, like most products. Some others applications of concrete coatings entail going over existing tile, other coatings, wood, stone, etc. We are just going to talk about coating concrete as the variables of other substrates become difficult to write about in terms of recommendations. You can contact or customer service team if you have further questions at 888-263-5895.
The first step in selecting a coating is the evaluation of the concrete substrate. The surface must be clean, structurally sound (the strongest coating will not hold against a slab shifting or settling), free of oil, grease, or other materials that will interfere with the bonding of the coating (any sealer, even curing compounds and possibly silanes, can obstruct the adhesion).
If the surface has defects (cracks, spalling, or unlevel areas) that may have to be addressed. Concrete rescue can be used to patch or level out distressed areas. Don’t use an inferior crack filler or concrete re-surfacer because if the re-surfacer fails, so will the coating.
Surface preparation is extremely important when it comes to coatings. Even freshly poured concrete should be mechanically profiled. The surface prep can be done in a few different ways. First, you can acid etch the surface if there is not coating present. Walttools produce a safe acid etcher compared to muriatic acid. If etching, it should be neutralized with a dilute ammonia solution and thoroughly cleaned. Second, you can sandblast the surface to create a micro profile for the coating to attach to. Vacuum, blow, or pressure washes any sand and residue off the slab. Third, you can use a floor sander to mechanically profile the surface to accept concrete coatings. This may be just a buffer with a diamond or sanding pad.
How easy is the system to apply? – Some systems require more skill or practice than others. This is your own personal comfort level or confidence. If you are a tradesman or experienced DIYer, any of our systems should be straightforward.
Is the coating going to be in constant contact with chemicals? – Call to get a recommendation if this is a factor.
Is it a high traffic area or one with a lot of wheeled equipment turning etc.? – Select a high abrasion product?
Are there going to be very heavy loads on the floor? – Select a coating with higher elongation properties. Harder or thicker does not solve this problem.
Indoor or outdoor? – Some coatings yellow or degrade in the presence of sunlight. They can all be used indoors, unless near a large window or UV source.
What kind of turn-around time do you need? – Some coatings take longer to apply, recoat and return to service.
Matte or Glossy? – Walttools coatings come with varying degrees of gloss. You can also use our matting agent to reduce the gloss of any of our coatings. You can’t increase the gloss of a matte finish unless you coat over the top with a glossy coating.
Economics? – Contractor Source carries the best coatings at the best prices, so rest assured you’re getting value for your money. Some systems are more expensive, consider the coverage to get an idea.
**If the coating is in a home or other occupied areas consider a low-solvent or solvent-free system to reduce odor and flammable fumes.
Detailed individual product information, application procedures, and videos, if available, are on the product pages. We will go over some general characteristics below to help save you time in selecting the best product for your application.
TI Epoxy HP is a 100% solids epoxy coating for concrete. This system has a cycloaliphatic ring which makes it less likely to amber in sunlight. It is also highly chemical resistant. It will create a thick build and is probably the most difficult coating to apply. Epoxy coatings of this type darken the floor and are high gloss. Because of the thickness applied, it is more expensive per sq. ft. Epoxies, even cycloaliphatic, are not recommended for outdoor use. No solvents and mild odor.
Epoxy 1040 Bond coat is a moderate solid, water-based, low gloss epoxy for concrete. This is only good for indoor applications. It is very easy to use, as it too can be rolled on with a standard paint roller. Water-based epoxy creates a moderate film thickness. The water-based epoxy also has moderate chemical resistance, as well as abrasion resistance. These have a very low odor which makes them ideal for occupied or confined spaces. Even so, always have adequate ventilation with any coating product.
Epoxy 1055 is similar to 1040, but has a higher solid content and leaves a more glossy finish. This can only be used indoors, also.
Acrithane is a high-solids, urethane, acrylic coating for concrete. This is a solvent-based system and it is flammable. Acrylic urethane coatings create durable, high-gloss surfaces. Chemical resistance is moderate. This is good for the outdoors as it will not degrade since an aliphatic isocyanate is used as the cross-linker. Acrithane is a two-component system that can be simply rolled on.
Polyaspartic 85 is a polyaspartic coating for concrete. Polyasprtic 85 is 85% solids and 15% solvents, so there will be some flammable fumes. Polyaspartic coatings have a shorter pot life and quick tack-free time. Recoating and return to service is the quickest with this system. It can be rolled on, so application is fairly easy. Polyaspartic concrete coatings have excellent chemical resistance, good abrasion resistance, and hardness. Bond strength is good with an adequate profile. It can be used outdoors or indoors. Polyaspartic 85 is on the pricier side, but the coverage is good, which brings costs down. This creates a very high-gloss finish.
Ultrathane 1000 is a single-component, polyurethane coating. This concrete coating/sealer is very easy to use as there is no measuring and mixing components. There is no pot life to worry about and application is easy and forgiving. It will leave you with a nice semi-gloss finish. The properties of single-component urethane coatings are good, but not quite that of their two-component cousins. This is a water-based product with low odor and low VOC. This is a great sealer for good protection and for the money, with much better chemical resistance than typical acrylic sealers. Two coats will be necessary in most cases. Good for indoor or outdoor applications.
WBU–G is a medium-solids, two-component, water-based, polyurethane coating. The WBU exhibits excellent bond, abrasion, and chemical resistance. This decorative coating is also good for outdoor or indoor applications. Easy to apply and it rivals many solvent-based systems. Low odor with low VOC. This coating will darken the substrate and leave a high-gloss finish. If you wish not to darken the substrate, but want a high-gloss coating, then you can apply WBU-M as the first coat.
WBU-M is similar in nature to the WBU-G above but is matte finish with one coat, eggshell finish with two coats, and semi-gloss with three coats. it’s very forgiving with the application due to the lower gloss level. These water-based polyurethane coatings exhibit excellent water and stain resistance even at lower thicknesses. These are a great value. This polyurethane concrete coating has a fast dry time with moderate pot life. Making application and return to service easily.
