An Epoxy Garage Floor for Beauty and Durability

If you’re thinking of refinishing your garage floor, why not consider epoxy? Garage floors need to be durable and stain-resistant, and epoxy floors deliver. They can also be very pleasing aesthetically.

Even if your garage floor is cracked, pitted, or stained with motor oil, it can be easily and effectively restored by a contractor who deals in resinous coatings. This isn’t a DIY project – there are kits out there that will purport to give you professional quality epoxy garage floors, but the reality is that the DIY variety isn’t much more than paint. Professionally installed epoxy floors don’t just consist of a coating that sits on the surface. The genuine article actually bonds with the existing concrete for a tough, beautiful surface that might even outlast the rest of the garage!

The condition of the original floor doesn’t matter. The process of installing an epoxy floor begins with a thorough cleaning, in which the contractor employs special compounds and industrial grinding equipment to eradicate every last trace of dirt while also evening out the surface of the original concrete. You’d never be able to do this type of surface preparation yourself, and this is yet another reason why a DIY epoxy flooring kit won’t give you lasting results.

Once the original floor has been restored, the installation process begins with the application of the epoxy coating. You can choose from a virtual rainbow of colors, and even mix in chips that will give a flecked appearance if you like. Another benefit of epoxy garage floors is that you can add aggregate that will result in a slip-resistant coating. Once the epoxy is applied, you’ll have to let it dry for a few days, so you won’t be using your garage right away. It will be well worth the wait, though. In less than a week, you’ll have the garage floor of your dreams – stain resistant, durable, remarkably easy to clean, and made to last.

Now you’re going to have to decide what to do with your garage. You could use it to park your car, of course. But with your stunning new floor, maybe you’d rather use it for that man-cave you’ve always wanted!

Here’s another thought – there’s no reason why you have to stop with the garage. Any high-traffic area has potential. You might want to think about installing a low-maintenance floor in your kitchen, bathroom, or rec room, and you can’t go wrong with epoxy!

Stained Concrete Floors for a Great First Impression

What’s the first thing people notice when they enter your place of business? We’re betting it’s your floor – if it’s gorgeous and well-maintained, your customers or clients see you as committed to excellence. If you have a floor that’s cracked, pitted or discolored, the impression you’re giving is considerably less than favorable. Covering it up with carpet that’s going to get dirty or show stains probably isn’t the greatest idea, either.

If you’ve been thinking of doing some renovations or improvements at your business, it makes perfect sense to start with that old floor. Why not think about using stained concrete? This is an extremely durable, cost-effective way of creating a low-maintenance type of flooring that can look like marble, quartz, natural stone, and virtually any other high-end building material you could imagine, but at a fraction of the cost of the genuine article.

Stained concrete gets its distinctive appearance because of special dyes that are added to the concrete mixture. There are two basic kinds of concrete stain – chemical and water-based.

A chemical stain (sometimes also referred to as an acid stain) incorporates the use of phosphoric or hydrochloric acid, and is the best type of stain to use if the intention is to have the floor appear natural, or to achieve earth tones. The acids cause pockets to open up in the concrete, and then mineral salts enter and create a chemical reaction. The effects can be quite stunning, although sometimes surprising – putting it this way, there’s not going to be a pattern that you can predict down to the last detail.

Water-based stains differ from chemical stains in that they’re non-reactive. In this regard, it’s a little easier to predict how the stained concrete floor is going to look than it is with chemical stains. If there’s a down side, it’s that the overall effect won’t be quite as dramatic. The color, however, will be nice and uniform.

If your floors have seen better days, have become pitted, cracked, discolored or otherwise damaged, stained concrete can be a fabulous way to give your place a new, fresh look. You don’t have to have your old floor taken out – stained concrete can be used to resurface and restore your old floor. With the modern techniques for acid stained concrete or water-based concrete dyes, your floors can welcome your customers with style and flair.

A Look at Options for Concrete Coatings in Minneapolis

Homes and businesses across Minneapolis, in addition to the rest of the country, are turning to concrete as a beautiful, durable and cost-effective material for flooring. If you like the style of concrete, as well as the other benefits that come with it, you may be interested to know all about concrete coatings.

Minneapolis retail, municipal and residential areas often include concrete in outdoor areas, but also in garage floors, kitchens and restrooms too. Here are some examples of common and useful concrete coatings in Minneapolis.

Polished Overlays for Retail Floors: The next time you walk around a shopping mall, in a store, or office space, take a close look at the floor. More and more of these areas are including polished overlay concrete coatings. The reason is, a polished overlay looks great and provides excellent function.

A business can create a custom design, such as geometric patterns or even corporate logos in a wide range of colors, while still maintaining an easy to clean surface with no seams. For areas that receive a large amount of foot traffic, this is particularly useful.

Epoxy Garage Floors: In addition to general retail settings or offices, you will find epoxy concrete coatings on Minneapolis garage floors, including automobile showrooms. The most important reason to choose an epoxy concrete coating is the ability it has to keep an area clean. When dealing with possible oil leaks and tire marks, this is a vital concern. For those reasons, epoxy coatings are also growing in popularity for home use.

On a side note, concrete coatings offer Minneapolis business and homeowners an opportunity to save time and money by installing an overlay on top of an area that already has concrete. For garages that have minor creaks or chips, or have been exposed to staining, this is a far more convenient option than completely replacing a concrete substrate.

Outdoor Concrete Overlays: Of course, concrete is very common in outdoor areas, and high quality concrete coatings in Minneapolis make perfect sense because of the climate. Concrete is commonly seen as a very durable surface, but it can be damaged as a result of harsh winters and very hot summers – both of which Minneapolis residents know all too well.

There are many more options for concrete coatings in Minneapolis. To learn more about what may work for you, contact a trusted professional.

Why Concrete Repair and Restoration Is Better than Replacement

Concrete is a long-lasting and durable material for building. Of course, like any other material, concrete is not perfect. There could be many different reasons you may need to deal with a crack or surface that is no longer level. But, instead of a complete replacement of your concrete, instead consider repair and restoration. Why? Because you will save time, energy and money.

Obviously, one of the most important benefits of repairing concrete flooring when compared to completely replacing it is that repairs are often quicker and less expensive. You do not have to use heavy machinery to rip out large amounts of concrete, prepare the surface again for new product, and install a completely new floor. This may include damage to surrounding areas – especially landscaping if you are attempting to replace an outdoor surface. Every step in that process takes time and money. A much more efficient way is to repair it.

Furthermore, many people think that the only way to add a custom style or color to their concrete surfaces is with a complete replacement. However, that is far from the case. You can still create a decorative design with concrete resurfacing because there are many colors and textures to choose from. If you prefer, you can make your concrete floor look like stone, tile or wood rather than installing those actual products.

When looking at your options, there are plenty of how-to books and online articles that will direct you in ways to repair or restore a concrete surface. However, unless you are an expert, it may be smarter to leave the job to a trusted professional. A quality concrete contractor will be able to diagnose the cause of your issues and can make sure to address them directly.

It is possible that your cracks could be the result of a larger issue below the surface of the floor. It is important to know if concrete repair and restoration is in fact the best way to handle your issues. Plus, using an experienced contractor will save you from making rookie mistakes that could result in another concrete repair or restoration project sooner rather than later.

Concrete is certainly durable and easy to maintain, but there are times it will need patch-ups. Instead of jumping into a time consuming and expensive replacement, consider concrete repair and restoration instead.

Exterior Decorative Concrete Overlays for Perfect Restoration

Everyone knows that stamped concrete can be a perfect medium for creating or restoring old concrete surfaces. Unless you’re a concrete contractor who’s passionate about his or her work, you might not think about the ways you can give a facelift to many surfaces using exterior concrete overlays.

Are you the proud owner of a home pool? You may have gotten many years of use out of your pool, only to end up with a cracked concrete decking that is unsightly and also interfere with the enjoyment of your pool. In the same way that stamped concrete overlays can resurface a driveway, concrete overlays can be put to use to repair and refinish your pool deck as well.

If your pool is past its “best before” date, consider a concrete overlay as a means of repairing and even adding a new look to your pool deck surround. Perhaps you’d like to have a stone effect, using a cobblestone pattern with multiple hues or even a nice smooth textured finish that is easy on bare feet? You don’t need to rebuild when all you have to do is refinish. We’ll take care of your cracked pool deck using our concrete overlay system– your pool will delight you the way it once did with this superlative refinishing technique.

Concrete contractors love what they do, and they know that exterior grade concrete overlays can not only revive your pool area, they can give a much-needed facelift to your entire outdoor living space. Why not think about re-doing those tired old areas? The possibilities are endless.

You will also find as with any exterior grade decorative concrete product, that the restoration is superbly resistant to water, weather and wear if installed correctly.

Contact us at Concrete Coatings Unlimited to discuss the many possibilities for your outdoor space. We’d love an opportunity to talk with you about your visions and aspirations for your pool and patio area. Call us at 952-292-3581. Our staff has a wealth of experience in the field of exterior concrete overlays, and we’ll be pleased to assist you. Don’t hesitate – let’s get going on your project!

Stamped Concrete Overlays for Your Renovation Project

Does your pool or patio area need a face-lift? Most people who haven’t been living on another planet for the past few decades know about the benefits of stamped concrete when it comes to building patios or pool decks, driveways and more.

However, stamped concrete overlays in Minneapolis are also ideal for most repair jobs – driveway repair, patio repair, pool deck repair, you name it; stamped concrete overlays can offer new life to just about anything. An overlay gives you all the benefits of a full stamped concrete installation, but it’s applied over your existing concrete.

Your existing concrete is cleaned, and then the overlay mix is applied using a gauge rake, which is a special tool that ensures the layer is applied evenly. Then the same process is followed as if the contractor had been working from a new installation – the stamping process begins. You can choose virtually any pattern or texture you like, so the overlay mimics more expensive building materials like marble, brick, or sandstone.

Additionally, you can add other effects that customize the look of your project – if you want to add leaf motifs, footprints, or other whimsical effects, it’s up to you.

Inside your house, concrete overlays can be employed as a means of refinishing a tired rec room floor, or improving the appearance of your kitchen with the addition of customized countertops.

If the existing concrete is significantly damaged, with serious cracks or settling, stamped concrete overlays may not be appropriate. Your contractor can advise you. In most cases, a stamped concrete overlay can be applied in thicknesses of up to three quarters of an inch.

If your concrete needs a facelift, or if you’re contemplating new construction, contact us at Concrete Coatings Unlimited for your many options. We’re passionate about decorative concrete, and we’d welcome an opportunity to talk with you about your aspirations and visions for any space in your Minneapolis home. Bring us your hopes and dreams. Call us at 952-292-3581. Our staff has a wealth of experience in the field of decorative concrete, and we will be pleased to assist you. Don’t hesitate – let’s get going on your project!

Stained Concrete Floors Could Be Right for Your Home

What’s the first thing you think of when someone suggests concrete floors for your home? You probably look at them with a little shock on your face. Who would want concrete for their flooring? Actually, in the modern day, concrete is very popular, and that’s for very good reason. It is attractive, stylish, elegant, and durable. If you are looking for a flooring option, then you may just be surprised at what stained concrete floors have to offer. Here are some of the advantages that may make this option right for your home.

According to Houzz, stained concrete floors can be very sustainable. That’s because if your home is already built on a concrete slab, then that material can be refurbished, stained and polished. You don’t have to waste time, the environment, or money on new materials. People have found these flooring options ideal for any room in their home, including hallways, living spaces, and more.

Stained concrete floors are extremely easy to maintain. They only need to be mopped when dirty and you don’t even have to worry about using special cleaning materials. The floors will look attractive with you doing very little to make sure they continue looking good. Additionally, concrete is very long lasting. You will not have to worry about replacing it ever few years like you would with carpet or tile.

Affordability is definitely a benefit of this type of flooring. It is much lower in price even if you have to have new concrete laid down. The stain can look like natural stone, and the staining will make it easy for you to match the floor to the rest of your home décor. The cost of the floors will change depending on the options you choose, but it is certainly much more affordable when compared to natural stone and other choices.

When you are looking for the right flooring option for your home, there is a very good reason to consider stained concrete. It has numerous advantages, including affordability, beautiful style, versatility, and very easy maintenance. So, do not discount this flooring option just because you had the wrong idea of what concrete would look like. When you are ready to consider stained concrete floors, then all you have to do is contact Concrete Coatings Unlimited and find out more about the options you will have.

Why Choose Decorative Concrete for Pool Decks?

If you look at home design and décor websites, like Houzz, you will see the same thing over and over again when it comes to swimming pool style. You will see that the premier choice for the pool deck is decorative concrete. Why is this such a good choice? What does it have to offer? Let’s explore this choice a little more.

The first advantage of decorative concrete is that it is very cost effective. It is economical, and it still offers a variety of finishes, colors, and styles so that it will fit in perfectly with your home and yard. Concrete is much more affordable when compared to traditional options like pavers or flagstone.

The second advantage to choosing decorative concrete pool decks is that it offers versatile style. Just because this material is affordable doesn’t mean it will look boring or plain. In fact, decorative concrete can be styled and colored to look just like the more expensive choices. You will pick from a variety of different patterns, colors, and styles. You will not be limited no matter what idea you have had of reputation that concrete may have garnered.

Decorative concrete is easy to maintain as well. It doesn’t require a lot of time on your part, keeping it looking good. All that you have to worry about is having it resealed every few years and it should maintain its beautiful look.

A final reason to consider decorative concrete is that it is environmentally friendly. Concrete doesn’t cost as much as other options and it is an abundant material. You won’t be taking anything away from the earth. Additionally, it doesn’t require creation that leads to waste byproducts. Because concrete is so durable, you won’t have to worry about replacing it any time soon and it won’t be an environmental or financial hardship.

If you are trying to decide on a material for your pool deck, you should definitely consider decorative concrete. It can be designed to match whatever style or décor you want and it will fit in perfectly with its surroundings. It can even be any color you would like. Because of all this, the concrete is affordable, stylish, and even environmentally friendly. If you would like to consider decorative concrete for your own pool, then it is time to get in touch with Concrete Coatings Unlimited. They will help you choose the right style and design for your pool and home.