Polyurea & Polyaspartic

Beware of the Risks: Applying Polyaspartic or Polyurea Coatings Directly to Concrete

When it comes to enhancing the aesthetics and resilience of your garage floor, garage floor coatings offer a fantastic solution. Among the various options available, “1-day polyaspartic” and “1-day polyurea” concrete coatings have gained popularity. These systems utilize fast-curing polyurea or polyaspartic compounds as both the primer coat (applied directly to the concrete) and the clear top coat to complete the installation in a single day.

However, caution is necessary. There are notable drawbacks to consider when these coatings are used as primer coats directly on concrete, particularly in the presence of moisture.

Moisture Matters

A significant concern with applying polyaspartic or polyurea coatings directly to concrete is their limited ability to tackle moisture-related issues. Unlike moisture-mitigating coating systems capable of penetrating deeply into the concrete substrate, polyaspartic and polyurea coatings struggle to achieve adequate penetration, especially in moist conditions.

Why Penetration is Hindered

This limitation stems from the fast-curing nature of polyurea-polyaspartics. The rapid cure rate and deep concrete penetration are inherently incompatible. Achieving deep concrete penetration and bonding necessitates sufficient time for the coating to penetrate—a slower cure rate is essential for this.

Complex Chemistry

Moreover, polyurea-polyaspartics exhibit intriguing chemistry that behaves counterintuitively. These coatings cure even faster in the presence of moisture, whether from the concrete itself or ambient humidity. Given concrete’s porous nature, moisture rises through a process called moisture vapor transmission (MVT), exerting upward pressure on the inadequately penetrating primer, leading to delamination of the thin coating.

Expert installers typically measure concrete moisture levels to determine the appropriate coating based on the readings. Elevated moisture levels often require a moisture vapor barrier as the primer coat rather than a polyurea-polyaspartic. Unfortunately, 1-day installers skip this crucial step, opting to use quick-curing polyurea-polyaspartic products for both primer and top coats to meet their promised timeframe.

The Illusion of Warranty

Despite known risks, 1-day installers in the garage floor coating industry offer warranties ranging from 15 years to a lifetime. However, a closer inspection of the warranty exclusions reveals a notable lack of coverage for moisture-related issues. Consequently, when delamination occurs due to moisture, the warranty becomes void, leaving homeowners responsible for costly repairs.

A Superior Coating Strategy

At East PA Garage Floor Coating, we understand the critical importance of addressing moisture-related concerns to ensure the longevity and performance of your garage floor coating. That’s why we employ a comprehensive approach, starting with our proprietary Moisture Vapor Barrier (MVB) system.

Our MVB system is meticulously designed to effectively combat moisture-related challenges by penetrating deep into the concrete substrate, creating a robust moisture barrier. This guarantees superior penetration, adhesion, and durability, even in environments with high moisture levels and hydrostatic pressure. Additionally, we apply two 100%-solids polyaspartic clear coats for unmatched protection against wear, UV rays, and chemical spills. And this applies to all our full flake garage floor coatings.

Quality Takes Time

Unlike 1-day coating companies, we prioritize quality over speed. Our MVB primer coat is a slower curing product that allows for deep concrete penetration and superior bonding. We allocate a full day for penetration, returning on Day 2 to apply the dual polyaspartic topcoats.

Backing Our Promise

At East PA Garage Floor Coating, we stand behind our products and installation process with an industry-leading warranty covering all moisture-related issues and staining from automotive fluids and hot-tire transfer. Our unwavering commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction ensures that your garage floor investment is safeguarded.

In conclusion, while 1-day polyaspartic and polyurea coatings offer quick installation, they come with significant risks when applied directly to concrete. We prioritize quality over speed, offering a superior solution through our proven Moisture Vapor Barrier system. Choose East PA Garage Floor Coating for a garage floor coating that truly stands the test of time.