Portland Garage Floor

Epoxy Coating

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Adding an Industrial Epoxy Floor Coating to Your Business

Smith & Company Flooring are your trusted professionals if you want to add an industrial epoxy floor coating to an existing concrete floor. Epoxy coatings are a great way to protect your flooring from moisture damage, wear, and tear. Plus, they can be customized to match any style.

Adding an industrial epoxy floor coating to your business can create a safe and comfortable environment

Smith and Company have installed industrial epoxy floor coatings for car dealerships, manufacturing plants, and many other businesses in the Portland Metro Area. Coated concrete is easy to clean, prevents the spread of bacteria, and can hold up to the daily wear and tear of a commercial business. Below is a list of the coatings that are available:

Broadcast systems

This coating provides a decorative look that is perfect for light and medium duty floors. The result is a finished product that is durable, non-slip and offers a design that is visually appealing.

Novolac Systems

This system provides a chemical-resistant flooring product. It provides a mid to high range of chemically-resistant flooring that is able to withstand both acids and some solvents that are chlorine based.

High Build Epoxy Coatings

This process is designed for an industrial setting that has moderate traffic and is prone to chemical spills. The flooring will mask imperfections and spills that can occur in an industrial setting to keep the floor looking fresh.

Thin Mil Coatings

This concrete coating creates a floor that offers superior performance and is available in a variety of colors. The flooring increases light reflectivity and also can reduce the need for maintenance due to it being less porous than other concrete finishes.

ESD Coatings

Electrostatic dissipative (ESD) systems are designed for applications where static control is required. The system will not lose its ability to function as other similar products do over time as has the ability to last in any environment. Available in an assortment of colors that have not been previously available, this system can be designed to fit the needs of any building.

Epoxy/Urethane Mortars

Epoxy mortars are the perfect way to patch, repair and resurface many different flooring materials such as metal, wood, or concrete flooring. The result is a floor that is strong and resistant to more damage. Urethane mortars offer great protection against wear as well as the damaging effects of heat.

Concrete Polishing

Concrete polishing is a cost-effective way to create a great looking floor that is also very durable. The system includes a densifier, waterproofer and a conditioner that create a finished product, perfect for many different applications.

Decorative Concrete

The decorative flooring systems can turn a concrete floor into something that looks like any other type of flooring material. Color, texture and design can be easily added into the concrete flooring system. The use of a concrete sealer, river rock binder, and metallic powder can create a product that not only looks great but will also last a long time.

Paint chip systems

The paint chip system is an industrial epoxy floor coating option that puts paint chips into a concrete flooring to create a unique and special look. The paint chips can be in a random pattern or they can fully cover the concrete flooring. A top coat seals the paint chips to the floor to create a durable product.

Paint chip systems are an industrial epoxy floor coating option

There is no project too big or small for Smith & Company Flooring. If you want to get an industrial epoxy coating installed at your business, be sure to contact the trusted professionals at Smith & Company Flooring for an estimate.

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Painting, Coatings, Polished Concrete & Epoxy Flooring

Smith and Company offers a full line of concrete polishing services for both residential and commercial buildings. We offer concrete repair, epoxy and decorative finishes for our clients.

We have completed projects from 500 – 100,000 Square Feet.

The full scope of our services includes:

  • Broadcast systems – These concrete coating floor systems provide a decorative look that is perfect for light and medium duty floors. The floor is broadcasted with a colored aggregate that is combined with a clear epoxy binder and the result is a finished product that is durable, non-slip and offers a design that is visually appealing.
  • Novolac Systems – This system provides a flooring product that is chemical resistant. It provides a mid to high range of chemically resistant flooring that is able to withstand both acids and some solvents that are chlorine based. This product is perfect for commercial applications where chemicals are used so the floor does not get damaged.
  • High Build Epoxy Coatings – This process is designed for an industrial setting that has moderate traffic and is prone to chemical spills. They are usually between 18 and 3 mils in thickness and can come in a variety of colors. The flooring will mask imperfections and spills that can occur in an industrial setting to keep the floor looking fresh.
  • Thin Mil Coatings – This concrete coating allows industrial settings to create a floor that offers superior performance while also being visually appealing. The flooring increases light reflectivity and also can reduce the needs for maintenance, such as dusting or mopping because it is not as porous as other concrete finishes. It comes in a wide variety of colors, or a clear coat.
  • ESD Coatings – These concrete coatings are designed for applications where static control is required. The electric static dissipative system will not lose its ability to function as other similar products do over time. It has the ability to last in any environment. It comes in an assortment of colors that have not been previously available, and can be designed to fit the needs of the building that it is being used in.
  • Epoxy/Urethane Mortars – Epoxy mortars are the perfect way to patch, repair and resurface many different flooring materials. It can be used on metal, wood, or concrete flooring and the result is a floor that is strong and resistant to more damage. Urethane mortars offer great protection against wear, and the damaging effects of heat. It is a great material for resurfacing floors where a durable material is required.
  • Concrete Polishing – Concrete polishing is a great way to create a great looking floor that is also very durable and cost effective. It can be used in both commercial and residential settings. The system includes a densifier, water-proofer and a conditioner that create a finished product that is perfect for many different applications.
  • Decorative Concrete – The decorative flooring systems can turn a concrete floor into something that looks like any other type of flooring material. Color, texture and design can be easily added into the concrete flooring system. The use of a concrete sealer, river rock binder and metallic powder can create a product that not only looks great, but will last a long time.
  • Paint chip systems – These systems will put paint chips into a concrete flooring to create a unique and special look. The paint chips can be in a random pattern or they can fully cover the concrete flooring. A top coat seals the paint chips to the floor to create a durable product.

 

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What Causes Damage to Epoxy Flooring

epoxy flooring

If you’re having issues with your epoxy flooring or want to avoid future damage to your soon-to-be new floor, check out the leading causes of epoxy floor issues. It turns out that you are likely not the cause of the damage to your floor. The source of most damage to an epoxy floor is from the cement before the epoxy was laid or from the person who installed the floor for you, which is why you always want to work with a professional.

That being said, the preparation and research done before deciding on your floor and the company to lay it is very important. Here are some of the biggest issues to be on the lookout for in the initial stages of floor shopping and installation:

Stained or wet concrete – If your concrete is old and used, chances are some oil, chemicals and water have been spilled on it. Regular concrete is porous and absorbs those liquids, sometimes creating stains and always adding moisture to the concrete. The issue with this is that if an epoxy coating is laid on top of that moisture, it becomes trapped. The liquids can separate from the concrete and pool underneath the coating which causes bubbling and flaking in your floor. Be sure to remove all stains before proceeding with your epoxy floor coating.

  • Tip: To test the moisture level of your concrete floor, tape a piece of plastic onto the floor and leave it for 24 hours. If there is condensation on the underside of the plastic when you untape it, that means there’s too much moisture in your floor to immediately apply epoxy to it. In this case contact a professional like Smith and Company to discuss your options.
  • Tip: When removing stains, make sure to remove any cleaning agents used. These can leave behind residue that can interfere with the epoxy fully bonding to the concrete. Additionally, do not allow cleaners to dry on the concrete, this is just adding more moisture to it. Instead, use a rag or cloth to absorb the cleaning solutions.

Sealant on concrete – If there is a seal on your concrete floor, it prevents the epoxy from properly bonding with the concrete. This will cause bubbles and flakes in your epoxy down the road.

  • Tip: To determine if your floor has a sealant on it, simply pour water on it. If the water beads up and doesn’t soak into the concrete, it probably has a thin sealant on it that will need to be removed.

New concrete – If you’ve recently had your concrete poured, make sure that it has had the proper time to cure before applying an epoxy coat. If not fully cured, the moisture in the concrete (as mentioned before) will cause problems.

Improper installation – Epoxy coating is a science; if not done right, you may end up with a less than satisfactory product. If the coating is not applied at the proper temperature or cooled too quickly, bubbles may form or a “skin” may develop on top of the coating. If improperly mixed, stickiness or a malleable surface may be a consequence.

  • Tip: To avoid installation issues, hire a professional service, like Smith and Company, who has a first-class reputation and years of experience.

Excessive humidity – If the humidity outside is above 60%, it’s not the time to be laying an epoxy floor. Condensation can form on the floor during the cure which causes a dull finish.

  • Tip: Do not schedule your epoxy floor installation during the rainy season or in high humidity climates. Wait for a dry season to ensure the shiny floor you’re paying for.

To sum up, avoid moisture at all costs and hire a professional you can trust. You’ll avoid future damage to your floor and receive the durable product you invested in. If you have any questions about your concrete or our processes, be sure to give us a call and we’ll make sure your concrete is properly prepared for the epoxy flooring you want.

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The Mysterious Epoxy Coating Process Explained!

epoxy coating process

Here at Smith and Company, the epoxy coating process on floors is a specialty of ours. While there are some differences in the process depending on the floor and the use it undergoes, for the most part it’s the same process and we want to share it with you.

Our team starts off by masking off and protecting any surrounding surfaces that do not get coating. Next, we will grind out and fill the cracks and joints with a polyurea filler. Once the filler dries, we grind the floor and the cracks with our large concrete floor grinder to ensure that the floor is properly roughed up, cleaned, and that the pores of the concrete are open for maximum adhesion.

We then vacuum the floor thoroughly to make sure that it is clean, then apply the primer or base coat of material. If we’re installing a decorative flake floor coating, we would at this time broadcast the flakes into the base coat. Once the coating is dry, we clean up  any excess flakes followed by two coats of clear polyaspartic.

With any coating job, the prepping the epoxy coating process is the most important part. It makes all the difference in a coating that stays adhered to the floor versus one that peels up.

Here at Smith and Company, our customer’s satisfaction is our number one priority. If you have any question about the process of epoxy coating or about your next paint job, don’t hesitate to give us a call.

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The Difference between Epoxy Painting and Epoxy Coating

Ever hear a painter mention epoxy painting and epoxy coating and wondered what is so different between the two since both have epoxy mentioned? The difference, in fact, is just in the terminology.

When we reference the term “epoxy paint” we are applying epoxy to a surface that is not a floor. “Epoxy coating” is the applying of epoxy to a floor surface.

Epoxy painting and epoxy coating are essentially the same thing. Both have dozens of different types of epoxy coatings and epoxy paintings and a lot of different circumstances that need to be determined to decide which type of epoxy is the best selection.

epoxy floor coatings

Epoxy itself has been around for decades with many improvements along the way. There are different types of epoxy that are specifically designed to be applied to metal, plastic, drywell, and wood. In addition, there are different types to be applied to concrete floors.

Smith and Company has experiences of working commercial and industrial projects such as hospitals, in which epoxy paint is applied to walls and floors in high use areas. The reason being is that epoxy is much more durable than other types of paint so in the circumstance of these areas having more use, epoxy is the go-to material. It can be applied to a wall, hand railing, stairs, or a large industrial floor.

Also, take into account that some epoxies are extremely flexible and can be applied to surfaces that experience expansion and contraction. Others are very rigid and designed to be applied to surfaces that don’t require flexibility.

Here at Smith and Company, our customer’s satisfaction is our number one priority. If you have any questions regarding your next paint job, our team would love to answer any questions you might have.