Though concrete is a hard and reliable building material, it may become dowdy and colorless when used in the processing of buildings like floors and walls. Generally, there are many houses, buildings, warehouses, and other constructions in which concrete is used for floors. The floors made of concrete require a type of coating to become eye-catching and safe from other natural forces. Painted concrete floors are the traditional way of making the concrete floors more beautiful and safe from damages.
Painting on concrete is normally done to cover, protect, and beautify a certain area. For example, a colorant is used to hide the spot after repairing a crack. In exterior areas, the paint often erodes and the area requires repainting. Fresh concrete should never be colored before at least 28 days or the time recommended by the manufacturer. Making painted concrete floors is a lengthy process in which the floor is prepared before applying the final paint to the floor. The cleaning of the floor surface is the most important part of the whole process. In this, the floor is cleaned and de-greased before painting. Many chemical solutions (check out simple green at Amazon) are available in the market for cleaning purposes. The coating on the painted concrete floors depends upon the future use of the painted surface and its location.
Based on the age of the floor, it is checked to use any curing compound for it. Newly prepared concrete floors have many curing compounds that may interfere with the adhesion of the coating of the paint on concrete. The coating should be applied only after the complete removal of any moisture from the surface. If the concrete is hard and rigid then the paint must be applied weekly to the floor. For achieving better results, the use of an acid etcher (check out at Amazon) is necessary. After applying the acid etcher on the floor, the entire surface should be cleaned away with water. Once this process is finished, the painting of concrete floors can be started. The proper amount of paint and coating depends upon the use of flooring.
For general maintenance of dry or wet floors, epoxy-based paints are the best. If someone needs a non-skid floor then silica sand should be mixed in epoxy. The floor painted by the mixture of epoxy and silica sand can be difficult to clean. Higher gloss finishing is used for achieving high security against abrasion and other chemicals. This type of glossy finishing can be received by using a two-component topcoat.
One should not put-on the curing composites to the concrete, which has to be painted. It will create problems for the paint to bond with the concrete properly. Concrete paint which is also referred to as cement paint, is a kind that absorbs so much moisture that comes up through the concrete. If it vaporizes and is not locked underneath the surface then it can cause the paint to erode. Painting of the inner concrete is easy and requires no need of any professional help. There are various options available in the market for coating and painting of floors. One can choose from them according to his/her choice and taste to add color and ambiance in the room.
How To Stain Concrete Floors
Staining concrete is one of the most famous applications for renovating concrete slabs. Most of the homeowners and builders use stained concrete floors in buildings and houses to receive beautiful outcome including colors, ease of application etc. on cement flooring and other substrates. Concrete staining divulges a luxurious wealth, having everlasting and flake proof color that cannot be achieved from any other coloring standard. Staining can be applied on most of the existing concrete for making it an ideal solution to rejuvenate dreary surfaces.
In order to know how to stain concrete floors, one must collect all the information and knowledge about concrete staining. Once homeowners see the beauty and ease of maintenance of decorative stained colored floors, they get impatient to remove their ragged carpets and yellowed tiles to reveal the concrete beneath. However, these newly bared floors need to be cleaned thoroughly before applying staining on them. Slight imperfection in cleaning the chemically stained floors can prove to be costly. Acid stains are translucent when compared to paints and coating of concrete, which are opaque and can hide many problems. Any unwanted dregs can possibly appear through the newly stained surface. Therefore, it is necessary to clean them properly.
How to stain concrete floors safely
Some chemical strippers are harmful to breathe and apply, especially if one is working in a surrounded environment. One should be sure to read the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) written on the product to check for possible harms and side effects to health. Some of the products may contain flammable fuel, which can be hazardous to use around the floor cleaning machines. There may be a risk of electrical spark, which could ignite a fire or cause an explosion. One should be careful that if the chemical stripper he/she using is not environmentally safe then it must be dispose-off properly. One can keep the product in plastic buckets and then take the bucket back to the warehouse where he/she can put them into a hazardous waste container for discarding.
How to stain concrete floors in the best way
There are a few secrets behind achieving great results of staining concrete. One should be conscientious for preparing the surface to ensure the removal of containments or blemishes that could spoil a staining process. First, always apply a test sample of staining on a little area of the surface to be treated. Many variables can affect the final color. Therefore, the test should be done to get an accurate preview of the final look.
Staining a concrete floor depends on the skill level and the complexity of the project. At the time of staining, it is necessary to understand the basics from surface preparation to final finishing for achieving the perfect stained concrete floors.
One should not expect constancy or perfection in color because variations are natural in this process. Apply sealer on the newly stained surface to protect it from damages and reapply protective coating when necessary.
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