Category: Floor Decoration
What Is Concrete Coating?
It can be daunting to choose the right one for your project when it comes to concrete coating. You will be greeted with a sea of options, each with a unique combination of performance, economy, appearance, and ease of application. The challenge is to find the best solution for your concrete needs while also ensuring that you are getting the best value for your money. Here are some things to keep in mind when shopping for a concrete coating.
Benefits
The concrete coating is a great option for various purposes, from walkways to pathways and warehouse floors. A concrete coating Grand Rapids, MI offers the best in design freedom. These coatings can be mixed to meet any requirement and even be smooth and polished to create a unique design. Because of its durability, the concrete coating is a great choice for high-traffic areas. It is also ideal for pathways, as it is more resistant to abrasion than floor tiles.
A concrete coating can also protect against wear. It is because concrete has a high degree of resilience. Unlike floor tiles, concrete coatings do not chip or peel from abrasion, and it is also resistant to chemicals, moisture exposure, and heat. It can also withstand the toughest conditions, such as high-speed traffic, heavy loads, and other pressures. Many applications call for a concrete coating, and the available options range from simple colors to custom designs.
Epoxy coatings provide an additional layer of protection, and they can also make the concrete floor more attractive. Depending on the type of coating you choose, you may want to consider the daily use of the surface and its overall look. An epoxy coating on concrete floors is a great choice for many residential and commercial settings. These coatings are easy to maintain and provide superior resistance to several factors. In addition, you can choose a custom coating if you have a budget to create a unique design.
Cost
If you want to make your garage, patio, or pool deck look glam, you might consider adding a concrete coating. These coatings can increase the value of your property, as they will protect the surface for many years. They can also add to the aesthetic appeal of your commercial space. In addition, you can customize your concrete coating so that it’s easier to clean and less slippery. If you’re thinking of putting one in your garage, here are some things you should consider before looking at the cost of this project.
The cost of a concrete coating varies by product. High-performance urethane and polymer sealers cost around $2 to $5 per square foot. Acrylic-resin and chemically reactive penetrating sealers can cost between $1.45 and $3.50 per square foot, but more than water-based epoxy types. These products improve the durability of the surface of concrete but can cause it to yellow over time.
Application
The application of concrete coatings has never been easier with the proliferation of new products. Today’s manufacturers constantly strive to meet the market’s need for new, improved coating formulations with faster curing, lower VOCs, and better surface adhesion. They also offer various decorative options, including mix-in pigments that achieve special visual effects. Here are some tips for choosing the right concrete coating:
The first thing to know about concrete coatings is that they can delay concrete deterioration by as much as four years. The right coating should be selected depending on the concrete type, function, and location. If your coating is misapplied, it could result in expensive and unsatisfactory results.
Depending on the type of concrete coating, the thickness and bond strength of the concrete surface are the two primary factors to consider. If you want to increase the bond strength of the concrete coating, use a dolly or another tool with a gauge. A coating’s pull-off strength should be 200 psi or higher, with a higher value obtained for steel surfaces. To ensure a strong and durable coating, follow all manufacturer recommendations for surface preparation and thickness.
Inexpensive Home Improvements
Time can really take a toll on your home, just like it does on everything else in life. After years or possibly even decades, you’ve come to the realization that your dwelling is in dire need of some home improvements. Unfortunately, you’re on a budget and can’t spare every expense on this. Luckily, there are a few inexpensive ways to make your house look stunning once more.

Start With Your Floors
The tiles that make up your floor take a beating on a daily basis with every step you take, so it’s no wonder that they’re likely no longer in the best shape. Thankfully, you can schedule a floor polishing Queens NY appointment with professionals who’ll know exactly how to bring them back to life. This is a great and inexpensive way to make your floor look new. Perhaps it’ll look so shiny you’ll even be able to see your face in it!
Apply Some Coats of Paint
Similarly, the paint on your walls is likely to start chipping or showing other signs of wear and tear over time. It’s likely that there are layers of dust and other dirt particles laying on top of it too. You can easily give your abode a fresh look by painting your walls with several new coats of paint.
The great thing about repainting your walls is that you’ll be able to easily cover up the dirt and grime on them. Additionally, doing so gives you the opportunity to change the color of the paint inside your house. If planned carefully and done right, this can make your dwelling look completely different than it did before.
There are several inexpensive home improvements that you can use to completely transform your home. Scheduling a polishing for your tiles and repainting your walls are just two examples.
3 Benefits of Ipe Wood in Outdoor Applications
For those who work on outdoor projects, such as improving an outdoor living area, finding durable materials to create objects that can withstand the elements remains problematic. Locating weatherproof materials can be challenging when resourcing natural materials used to construct your garden furniture, including tables and chairs, the wood used for garden beds and more. However, many homeowners have discovered manufacturers who produce different garden products created from a tropical hardwood called Ipe. Ipe wood ranks highly for outdoor applications, such as wood decking and building siding, fencing and furniture building, among many uses. Three essential benefits come from using Ipe wood in outdoor projects.

1. Extremely Durable Wood
Many builders seek Ipe wood, utilized in such garden elements as bison ipe woods cubes and others, because of its extreme durability. The durability comes from the fact that Ipe possesses one of the hardest woods available. The hardness helps ensure that anything made from Ipe wood will last, even if used in outdoor settings, where the elements typically damage most ordinary wood products.
2. Naturally Waterproof Wood
Waterproofing wood for outdoor use often means utilizing several harsh chemical products. Happily, Ipe wood contains natural waterproofing characteristics. Therefore, using Ipe when constructing patio tables and chairs or for your garden fence, for instance, makes sense because you will not need to replace them due to weather damage for many long years.
3. Low Maintenance Wood
Because Ipe has a naturally occurring waterproof quality and hardness, the wood makes an excellent building material for outdoor designs because it requires little maintenance. No toxic waterproofing chemicals are needed, nor covering it up when the weather gets rainy because Ipe can withstand these common scenarios most outdoor furniture must undergo with ease. Furthermore, it even guard against pests who try to utilize it for a home, and even fire, because of its remarkable naturally inherent qualities.
Ipe wood provides many benefits to those seeking long-lasting outdoor products. Not only durable, but it also withstands the elements without the use of chemicals and remains beautiful looking for many years of enjoyment outside your home.
Choosing Between Water and Oil-based Polyurethane Finish For Hardwood Floors
The job begins with choosing the right top coat, whether you’re preserving brand new hardwood flooring or restoring ancient ones. To determine the finish that is ideal for your floor, get to know the variations between finishes.
While there’s a vast number of hardwood species with their distinct look and appeal, one common thing they all require is a protective finish.
It can, however, be a little daunting to pick the right topcoat for freshly built hardwood flooring or adding finish to boards in a state of disrepair.
After selecting your Denver hardwood, you’ll find that wood floor finishes have ranging comfort, longevity, and glossiness, one of the vital aesthetic appreciations.
Make your determination a little simpler by learning the fundamentals, all outlined below, of the two most common kinds of hardwood floor finishes.

Polyurethane Water-Based Finish
It is ideal for floors needing a transparent finish that dries rapidly and is easy to clean and apply; has minimal odor and a very sleek and glossy finish.
However, the high-gloss version amplifies every scuff on the surface.
While polyurethane, based on the water, appears milky, it will be clear when dried and does not leave a yellowish residue like some finishes.
Although many homeowners opt for high-gloss polyurethane, satin, and semi-gloss selections as well.
Water-based polyurethane, made of synthetic resins, is a solid finish that absorbs moisture reasonably well, but please dry your floor immediately after a spill.
Overall, it’s simple to maintain floors; just a moist mop or broom will do the trick, and no wax is ever needed.
Polyurethane Oil-based Finish
This is ideal for areas that encounter heavy traffic, and it is inexpensive, durable, moisture resistant, and relatively easy to care for.
However, it dries slowly, releases volatile organic compounds, is flammable, and may turn a yellowish shade yellow over time.
Oil-based polyurethane’s power and durability render it appealing for commercial facilities, but a lot of houses with busy foot traffic have that finish as well.
Fortunately, the tough features ensure that you won’t have to refinish the floors frequently. And it’s easy to maintain and clean the dirt with a moist mop, sweep, and vacuum.
Polyurethane, based on oil, has a slight amber or yellowish tint, which increases over time, giving the floor an amber-like color. It comes in satin sheens high and semi-gloss.
For the project, you will need to give quite a bit more time than water-based polyurethane and clean up with mineral spirits.
Usually, each coat takes up to 10 hours to dry with a three-coat max recommendation.
After the last one, you will have to wait at least 48 hours to walk in shoes on the floors and four days to fill the rooms with furniture again.
The Advantages of Laminate Flooring
Installing new flooring is a great way to boost the visual appeal of your home. There are a number of types of flooring to consider, such as hardwood, carpet, and laminate. Although some homeowners worry that laminate flooring may look artificial, high-quality laminate flooring is available that appears almost identical to hardwood once installed. Laminate flooring offers several advantages that the other options don’t.
A Low Cost
Laminate flooring is made from a composite of wood that has been pressed together. A laminate with the image of hardwood is then laid on top. When compared to hardwood, the construction process is less expensive, which means it costs less for the buyer. Laminate can be installed more quickly than hardwood, so you’ll save on labor costs.
Easy Installation
Laminate flooring is very easy to install. Pieces of laminate are designed to fit together. They each have a groove and tongue, so they click and lock together. The installer doesn’t need to apply glue to make them stay in place. Additionally, laminate flooring material is softer than hardwood, so it’s easy to cut pieces into the appropriate size with a small saw.
Excellent Durability
One of the main downsides of hardwood flooring is that it can get scratched and dented easily. Laminate flooring is manufactured to resist this type of damage. Hardwood floors can also get stained easily, and once the damage is done, it can be expensive to repair. Laminate, on the other hand, has an outer layer that prevents stains from reaching the composite material below. If you do spill something, cleaning it up is simple.
Before settling on a type of flooring, you should research all your options, so you can understand the pros and cons of each. Beautiful floors can increase the overall value of your home, so you want to make a wise investment. When doing a search for laminate flooring Lewisville, look for a reputable company like Design Floors. An experienced professional can make sure you receive floors that will look amazing for years to come.