Floor Coating Sealers: How to know the difference between them all.
When searching for floor coating sealers there are thousands of products on the market to choose from. Before deciding which product is the best fit for your flooring project, it's important to understand the two basic types of sealers on the market today.
1. Penetrating Sealers
This type of sealer usually does not require alot of prep work before applying the product. The only time one would want to prep (acid etch, diamond grind, shot-blast,etc.) would be when the concrete surface is newly poured and very smooth or power troweled concrete. What does this sealer do? Well exactly as its' name says, penetrate. This type of floor sealer is able to sink deep into a surface profile to create strong adhesion. They usually do not change the color of the substrate and many times are not used as a decorative finish.
No sealer with give 100% stain resistance although they do a good job at not allowing moisture to seep into the floor. Cleanup is easy as well with penetrating sealers. Most households and commercial cleaning products with suffice but be sure to check that your cleaning product is not "too" strong otherwise you run the risk of damaging the floor.
2. Coating Sealers
We have probably all heard of this type of sealer called a coating. Coatings create a film on top of the concrete to which they bond. Coatings come in a variety of colors, shades, and thicknesses. Most coating products usually come with a non skid additive as by default they are slippery.
Maintaining a coating is extremely easy. Because they sit on top of concrete they one can simply wipe or wash away any spills or dirt that builds up on the floor. With coatings it's important that one preps the floor beforehand. Because coating "sit"onto of your substrate they need to be able to grip the floor to create a strong bond. If you have pre existing coatings on the floor or dirt, oil, and grim that is not removed, adding a coating without prepping is just putting a band-aid on the floor. It will work for some time but in the long run those areas will fail.
Coatings can chip over time with use and abuse. Depending on the type of coating you buy will determine the abrasion resistance. Just like concrete if you drop something heavy and it hits a weak spot on the floor you could potentially create some damage. This works the same with a coating. Be sure to use flooring mats on top of coating when using heavy equipment or areas that receive heavy use and abuse.
Coating are usually more expensive that sealers because they usually last a bit longer and create a more aesthetically pleasing result. Many coatings can be built on top on one another. One would usually want to use a primer, high builds coating, and a topcoat to create a layered system. The coatings are chemically formulated to adhere to one another.
It's important to note that there are many different types of coatings on the market. Some are thin, some are thick, some have chemical resistance while others provide a better non slip environment. Depending on your environment, desired finish look, and your budget will determine which type sealer best suits your needs.
Epoxy Central sells a variety of sealers and coatings to meet virtually every type of floor coating need. Check out our easy to install DIY Coating kits here or contact us today to speak with a specialist.
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