Stain Tech | San Antonio Concrete Staining

Polyurea Polyaspartic Coatings

Polyaspartic Garage Coating in San Antonio

When discussing alternatives to epoxy floor coating, polyaspartic garage floor coating is receiving significant attention. This type of coating is relatively new and are rapidly becoming a favorite for installers based on various factors.

Typically, most of the buzz surrounding the polyurea garage floor coating is its moniker as the 1-day coating. This means you can install the floor coating today and use the floor tomorrow (sounds revolutionary!). 

But if polyaspartic is not epoxy, what is it exactly? Is it a better alternative for your garage floors? To learn more, read on and call us today to speak with a San Antonio garage flooring expert.

What Exactly is a Polyurea Garage Floor Coating?

Polyurethane has various subgroups, and polyurea is among them. 

The floor coating has two product components that cure when mixed (which is pretty much like epoxy). The mixture catalyzes or cures very quickly to form a hard surface. 

Compared to epoxy, the mixture has much better flexibility and is low on volatile organic compounds. But the cure rate for the polyurea garage floor coating is more impressive, which is below five seconds and hardens within five minutes. 

While the fast cure is advantageous for businesses that can’t wait too long, it’s not appropriate for DIY. You need specialized tools and skills to apply the coating properly. Otherwise, you may not like what comes out of it.

On the other hand, polyaspartic is polyurea with a slowed-down cure rate to allow practical application. But even with the slowed-down cure rate, the coating requires experienced and professional hands. 

Is Polyurea Polyaspartic Coating a Good Option for Your Garage Floor? 

The biggest advantage polyurea garage floor coating has over epoxy flooring is application temperatures. You can apply it when temperatures are as low as -30°F or as high as 140°F. You don’t have to wait until the conditions are favorable to have your good quality garage floor.

Its high cure rate means you can use the floor one day after application, reducing the costly wait time that can affect your business. Epoxy takes longer – between 3 and 5 days. 

In addition, the polyurea polyaspartic coating leaves an appealing crystal clear finish with water repellent qualities. This protects your floor from the damaging effects of moisture. The coating is high abrasion and scratch resistant, making it ideal for busy places. 

Other important characteristics are the coating’s chemical and stain resistance. The crystal clear finish allows you to work comfortably without worrying about chemical burn marks, oil stains from your battery, and oil spills (a problem in most garages). 

The floor coating is fully UV-stable, and you won’t see any yellowing associated with sun exposure. A polyurea polyaspartic coating on your porch stays looking fantastic for longer without deterioration or unsightly marks on the floor surface. 

We all want our garage floors or places of work to have beautiful floors. Like epoxy floors, the polyurea polyaspartic coating has a high gloss finish and a mirror-like appearance. This keeps the surface looking premium and clean. 

Is Polyurea Polyaspartic Coating Ideal for All Types of Surfaces? 

Indeed, the Polyaspartic/Polyurea Floor Finishes (1-day service) sound too good to be true for most people. But is it?

There is no doubt this new concrete floor coating has advantages – but is it a good fit for all concrete floors in all conditions and locations?

One thing to keep in mind is that not all concrete cures are the same, which determines if polyurea polyaspartic coating will be recommended.

Concrete will vary in terms of porosity and moisture transmission across different places. A high moisture transmission and over-porous concrete will not do well with polyurea polyaspartic coating. But why is this so?

Since polyurea polyaspartic coating is not moisture mitigating, it peels when installed on a high moisture transmitting concrete. So what do you get?

Usually, the result is a brittle surface that looks like something you never intended.

To avoid such a situation, hire a professional to determine the porosity and moisture level of the concrete.