Below are listed some of the products and more common combinations that are used for different situations.  For more information on each of these coatings click on PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS and you will go to the technical section explaining about these.  For information on what systems have been commonly used in what industry click on SYSTEMS THAT WORK BY LOCATION and that will bring you to the technical section on this.

GENERAL CONCRETE CONSIDERATIONS FOR NEW CONCRETE

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Many papers, even books have been written about concrete.  These guidelines are intended as a check list ahead of time for new construction.. if one or another item seems of greater importance it is wise to discuss this in more depth with you architect, engineer and builder ahead of time.  there are many though in general:

1. 1. MIX DESIGN
      1. 1. have as low a water/cement ratio as you can. 0.45 is pretty good.  The less water put in the mix the less that has to come out during the cure – ie shorter time to when you can coat the concrete.  This is discussed more in MOISTURE VAPOR TRANSMISSION
      1. The mix should NOT contain chloride accelerators.

1. 1. FLATNESS
      1. This is commonly specified by “F” numbers, with Ff being how flat the surface is and Fl being how level (sloped or not) the surface is.  The Flatter it is the better the coating surface will look.  Coating a wavy floor gives a shiny, perhaps colored, wavy looking floor.  This is discussed more in FLOOR FLATTNESS.

1. 1. FINISH
      1. In general a smooth troweled finish is the best, not over troweled or burnished black as this is difficult to work with.

1. 1. CURE
      1. We would like a “wet cure” when possible.  The builder is responsible to get a good finish on the concrete and so may need a curing compound to assure this.  All of these need to be removed ahead of any coating work.  A dissipating cure and seal is the least costly, a traditional cure and seal is more so and a silicate more so yet.  The concrete cure time is dependent on many factors discussed in MOISTURE VAPOR TRANSMISSION.  We have ways of dealing with a need to be on a surface ahead of the usual cure time, though there is some cost to this.  For fast patches using Gill 33 to speed up the concrete is a good idea.

1. JOINTS
   1. Joints are cut to relieve stress on the concrete curing the cure process so the slab face does not crack as the concrete shrinks.  This shrinkage continues for a year or so and is discussed in more detail in JOINTS  and  JOINT PULL APART

SYSTEMS

EPOXY SEALERS

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EPOXY COATINGS

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URETHANE COATINGS

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DECORATIVE

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HEAVIER INDUSTRIAL

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WALLS AND TANK LINERS

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PRODUCTS

PREPARATION PRODUCTS

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EPOXIES

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URETHANES

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POLYUREA

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POLYESTERS AND VINYLESTERS

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Many available depending on usage situation

SPECIALTY

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SOLVENTS

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