Clean and dry concrete basements, apart from offering an enhanced living space, provide a safe storage for homeowners’ possessions. But, the appearance of cracks on the concrete is quite a dissuading factor for making use of this extended living are of the house. Cracks in a basement lead to humidity and moisture caused by leaking [...]

Clean and dry concrete basements, apart from offering an enhanced living space, provide a safe storage for homeowners’ possessions. But, the appearance of cracks on the concrete is quite a dissuading factor for making use of this extended living are of the house. Cracks in a basement lead to humidity and moisture caused by leaking water. Cracks are indicative of structural problem of the basement. Nevertheless, it is possible to stop such leakage of water thru cracks by injecting epoxies and thus repair the wall structurally.

Here are the advantages of injecting epoxies to cracks:
• Cracks get sealed from water.
• Epoxies have better tensile strength than concrete.
• The application of epoxies repair the concrete structurally.

All Concrete Cracks

The basics first: All concrete basement walls crack.
Such cracks are caused due to shrinkage during the process of curing when water in the mix gets evaporated. As a result, the concrete gets stressed and the only way it can escape the concrete is thru such cracks. Generally such cracks develop soon after a foundation has been cast. But, in most of the cases appearance of such cracks is not a pointer to structural defects of the foundation.

Structural Cracks in Concrete Basement Walls

It is too difficult to confirm thru visual inspection that the crack in basement is as a result of structural defect. Yet, here are a few helpful hints that generally enable a fairly accurate assessment. If the width of the crack exceeds half an inch, there is all the likelihood of its being a structural crack. Horizontal cracks are a sure pointer of structural problems. Likewise, cracks that run down diagonally, especially from an inside corner are as a result of structural defects. Yet, at the same time diagonal cracks that appear near the corners of windows or those occurring at points where the foundation “steps down” and are less than half inch wide having nothing to do with the structure.

In case you are unable to assess the nature of crack, it’s better to hire the services of a professional engineer to make an accurate assessment. By using a crack stress gauge, the nature of crack can be accurately determined. Here’s how this can be summed up.

Signs of a structural crack
• More than 1/2 “ in width.
• It is horizontal.
• It runs on a severe diagonal.

How the Concrete Basement Wall Crack is repaired

The repairs of a crack in the basement are carried out from the inside of the basement.
The epoxies in liquid form are injected into the cracks. An epoxy is a two component materials and both are mixed before being injected. The mixed components get cured to form a hard and strong material that reinforces the wall. As a matter of fact characteristically the epoxy yields a higher compression and tensile strength than the concrete itself. Once the epoxy gets cured, there will be no leakage of water.

How the Epoxy Injection is performed

Step 1. Attach Surface Ports;
Using specially prepared surface paste attach the plastic injection ports directly above the cracks. Depending on the severity and length of the crack, maintain a distance of 6-12 inches between each port.

Step 2. Seal the Crack Surface –
Having attached the ports, cover the rest of the crack with the same paste. This is not for making the crack waterproof but just to store the epoxy in the crack enabling it to react and thus get hardened.

Step 3. Injecting Epoxy into the Crack –
The process of injecting epoxy is started from the lowest surface port. A mixer that matches the epoxy cartridge is inserted into the port. The epoxy in a semi liquid state flows thru the crack. It continues to flow along the length of the crack before coming out from the next port. As soon as you see it coming out of the next port, stop injecting into the current port and move to the next higher one. Simultaneously plug in the first port to prevent leakage of epoxy. Keep following the same procedure till all the ports have been filled up.

Epoxy Cure Time

As soon as the two parts are mixed, the process of curing gets started. They attain a semi-rigid state in about 20-30 minutes. After many days they begin to get hardened. Usually it takes about seven days for reaching the final curing strength.
Limitations:
• Epoxies cannot be used for concrete block walls.
• It’s not possible to use these for repairs of floor cracks.

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Application of an external coating on any object adds to its life and gives it a better finish. Till about two decades ago, only industrial products were coated with suitably formulated chemicals. The intention was the same: To protect an item from atmospheric pollution and thus enhance its life. Aesthetic looks came as a bonus! [...]

Application of an external coating on any object adds to its life and gives it a better finish. Till about two decades ago, only industrial products were coated with suitably formulated chemicals. The intention was the same: To protect an item from atmospheric pollution and thus enhance its life. Aesthetic looks came as a bonus!

With the advent of technology and the introduction of new materials for manufacturing, a number of chemical products were formulated with the same intention: Enhancement of durability and aesthetic appeal. Now we have a suitable coating material for almost anything and everything from industrial products to floors. Floors need coatings to enable them to resist day-to-day wear and tear brought in by scratches and other damages likely to be caused by household chemicals or mechanical abrasions.

There is quite a variety of epoxy-based floor-application. You have epoxy concrete floor paint. Its application is easy and can be cleaned very easily. For large industrial floors or warehouses and auto shops it’s now customary to apply a coating of industrial epoxy floor coatings. They give a shiny look, are odorless and thick enough to prevent the floors from damages likely to be caused in any industrial unit. But, it’s slippery when wet. Rough coat epoxy concrete floor paint has anti-skid properties with a tan color. This is rather thin but solvent based. Then we have an epoxy floor coating with water as a bonding agent. Compared to other epoxy floor coatings it is very thin, being water bound. An epoxy floor coating with water bond is unable to conceal floor-cracks. Being user friendly and economical it is ideally used for residences.

Garage is certainly an extension of your home, if not a part of the home. Just as we maintain our living room, bathroom or kitchen, a garage too needs to be taken care of. It need not be used as a dumping ground for obsolete tools and tackles. This can be made a beautifully looking colored place by covering its floor with an appropriate coating to withstand day to day damages caused by oil, dirt and water. There is a wide choice of colors to give it a shiny new look all the time. Apart from the aesthetics, the treatments also add to the life of its floor. You might have noticed the application of these coating at auto body shops and car dealerships.

Here again you have a choice of coatings. An epoxy coating is the most durable as it jells well with the concrete flooring, whereas Polyurethane resists chemical leakages. All that leakage of fuel, oil and greases make the floor too shabby and inconvenient to wash. Even repeated washings with water fail to give it a clean look. Why not simply cover the floor with a coating of latex paint? It is very economical. And imagine the volume of water and physical labor that you will save! Surely, early morning you would prefer to be greeted by a clean and shiny floor.

Likewise, even the floor of a swimming pool may be given a coating to give it a healthier and a brighter look. There is a choice of three types of coatings for the pool: acrylic, epoxy and rubber based.

Acrylic paint is easier to handle and can be applied to any kind of surface. This is a perfect coating for all the places where you anticipate periodic painting. Its average life varies from two to three years.

Epoxy coatings are more durable and thus more expensive too. They would easily retain themselves for seven to ten years. Average cleaners and chemicals do not affect it nor do ultra violet rays.
Availability in different colors coupled with low cost and easy application makes chlorinated rubber a preferred coating for swimming pools. But, it’s not as durable and would last for just about three to five years.

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I’m guessing you want to make your floor looking all tidy and neat, just like it is in a upscale restaurant. And this can be done with ease, if you have the right paint for that job. When you pick the right epoxy floor paint, you will be a witness to something extraordinary. The mess [...]

I’m guessing you want to make your floor looking all tidy and neat, just like it is in a upscale restaurant. And this can be done with ease, if you have the right paint for that job. When you pick the right epoxy floor paint, you will be a witness to something extraordinary. The mess and everything that is going with it will be the thing of past. You will have a clean and great looking area to enjoy in.

Many people do not know that excessive cleaning and rubbing of the floor surface will damage the top layer and the flooring will deteriorate in time. And since the floor is prone to peeling and cracking, the situation may go from bad to ugly. And this is what happens to a lot of people. I hope you are not one of them. And to prevent this, you are better of with a quality epoxy paint that will protect your floors from all sorts of influences. No moisture will be able to slowly disintegrate it, the cracks won’t appear if you drop something on it and there won’t be a stain left on epoxy coating, because you can clean everything off of it. It’s just that simple and that easy.

The best way to protect your garage, for example, is to get the best epoxy paint. Of course, you also have to do the work right, but we will talk about that later. For now, you need to visit a local shop or internet store and get the right paint. Do not allow your efforts to go to waste just because you picked the lousy product. I know you don’t want to see your tires peeling off the top layer. And you don’t want to see a small oil drop ruin the entire look of the flooring.

You need to pick the product that has the right ingredients and suits your needs. If you have many cracks in the flooring, you have to use epoxy paint because it will adhere much better then other materials. And when you follow the instructions carefully, you will have one great and durable floor to enjoy in. Why should you choose a cheaper solution? It will look like a good deal in the start, because you won’t have to pay higher amount of money at the store. But you will definitely have to pay a lot more later. Just when you realize how bad this cheap paint you bought is. Then you will have to spend money again, just to fix or make another coating of your garage floor.

If you bought epoxy from the start, you would have save money. The statistics say that that is the cheapest solution, when you compare how much you pay for the paint and how many years it will endure. Epoxy will be there for 7 to 10 years, while that cheaper product will look good only for 5. That is a big difference. And this is why the best paint for the floor is epoxy paint. If there is anyone who tells you otherwise, you come to them again in a year or two and take a look at the flooring they got. If it still looks good like the first day they did it, be my guest and take that cheap product.

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There are a lot of question that are related to garage, concrete and epoxy. One of them is can a epoxy paint that is used on a garage floor be used on a concrete. And the answer is quite simple really. I am surprised when people ask me that, it’s one of those questions you [...]

There are a lot of question that are related to garage, concrete and epoxy. One of them is can a epoxy paint that is used on a garage floor be used on a concrete. And the answer is quite simple really. I am surprised when people ask me that, it’s one of those questions you don’t have to think about at all. It’s natural that you can use it on the concrete, because epoxy floor paint is made specifically for it.

While that first answer is quick and straightforward, there are some other factors you may want to know about. The thing is, you can’t simply apply the epoxy to the garage floor, because not all concrete floors are capable to accept the paint. Yes, you have to take care of the procedure, but I am not talking about that right now. It’s not the bad procedure that causes some concrete floors to not accept epoxy paint.

You won’t be able to use it on a sealed concrete because it is treated with special compounds that keeps all the moisture outside. The reason for this is concrete protection, of course. And while the compound is usually used on walls, there are some people who choose to use it on the floor and seal it. This is something you probably know about your own garage floor. If you are not a house owner, you should ask a previous one. Because once it is sealed, you won’t be able to apply paint to it. You can do a test to check this out, in case you don’t want or can’t contact the previous owner.

You have to take a glass of water and spill it onto a floor you want to redo. If the water stays on top of the concrete, you have a sealed floor there. But if the cement absorbs the water, you have a concrete that will be able to adhere with epoxy paint. But don’t be worried if it is sealed after all, because you can remove the seal.

When you do all the preparation considering sealing and checking concrete flooring, you can then clean the area you plan to work on. The procedure is then the same as with any epoxy floor coating. You have to take care of few things, but we won’t go through them since we already did that last time.

One new thing I could say is that a can of primer could be used before the paint. It will kill the grease and help with adhesion. And while doing the work, use a roller brush since it will cover a wider area and help you finish faster. Also, a layer will be much more equal then when using a regular brush. Just add one by one layer until you are satisfied with the look. This is how you will get perfect epoxy floor coating for your concrete flooring.

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We use epoxy floor paint on those floors that have to endure heavy traffic, from vehicles and humans. Most popular areas are garage and basement, but it is not unusual to find epoxy paint on shop floors, laundry room floors, concrete slabs, kennels, brick pavers or pole barns. The wide range of use is caused [...]

We use epoxy floor paint on those floors that have to endure heavy traffic, from vehicles and humans. Most popular areas are garage and basement, but it is not unusual to find epoxy paint on shop floors, laundry room floors, concrete slabs, kennels, brick pavers or pole barns. The wide range of use is caused by the floor finish which can resist many types of dirt like oil, grease, water and similar messes. A tough epoxy resin helps to make this possible. And this mixture is what makes it the most cost effective choice for most floor coatings.

You will be able to find three different types of epoxies. First are 100% solids which do not have any solvents that can evaporate, they are totally pure. Next come the solvent based epoxy paints that will adhere and penetrate quite well. The drawback is that they are dangerous to health and when you work with them, you have to ventilate the area. It is not recommended to breathe the fumes that emanate. And at last, we have water based paints that are a lot cheaper but also thinner. They maintain anti slip texture and are not hazardous at all. But unlike previous two types, they need a lot more ventilation to dry up.

Before applying the epoxy floor paint, you have to clean the floor and clean it good. You can use brush and you can get yourself a floor buffer to clean it. I know that floor scrubber is not something you might have, but you can easily rent one. It will pay off for sure, since cleaning floors before applying paint is a tough job and it needs to be done well. There should be no debris left, and no moisture on the floor you want to decorate.

You can use warm soapy water on concrete surfaces to get rid of the oils. Oil is quite stubborn and won’t go away so easily. But you have to clean it because it can create bubbles in the coating, and that won’t do you any good. When it comes to soluble contaminants, a degreaser could be your best friend. Scrubbing it over the area and rinsing it should be a process that you will repeat few times. The best way to know your floor is finally clean is to check the water. If it doesn’t stick to the floor, you managed to do it all right.

To get rid of the moisture, leave the floor to dry overnight. The next day is the painting day. Make sure that there isn’t any moisture left by putting a plastic bag on the floor. If tomorrow you find small drops on water on it, it means that you will have to wait a bit more. It is important that it’s all dry, because you don’t want to have any bubbles in your epoxy coating. Choose a day that will be warm, but not a day just before the rain, since then will be a lot of moisture in the air.

You will need 2 or 3 coats to prepare for a good finish. Make sure there is a clean cotton rag to clean the drips. Apply the paint with the same thickness through the entire surface. Once you have it all finished, you can polish the new flooring. Now you have a tough and durable garage that is resistant to all the salt and acids.

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If you are working on your garage, you probably want to find the best option to decorate and protect its floor. Epoxy paint is one of the best solutions out there since it can preserve your garage floor for a long long time and it can add a special glow that no other coating is [...]

If you are working on your garage, you probably want to find the best option to decorate and protect its floor. Epoxy paint is one of the best solutions out there since it can preserve your garage floor for a long long time and it can add a special glow that no other coating is capable of.

I hope you will find some useful information on my blog and that you will be informed enough to do your own epoxy flooring. It’s very easy to make your own shiny floors, you just need to know how it is done, what are the steps to be taken and which paint to buy. I will cover all that on this blog so you will surely get all the information you need. If there is anything more you want to know, you can write a comment on this blog and me or some of the readers will gladly help you.

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