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General Design Application Durability Product
Application
How is the concrete prepared before the application?
When preparing concrete for installation, Concrete Texturing uses a combination of
Muriatic Acid, grinders, sanders, and pressure washers, depending on what is required to create the ideal
profile. Chemicals are used to remove such items as oil, adhesives or paints.
How much thickness will this product add to my concrete?
Total thickness is typically 1/16 – 1/8 inches. When applying this product
we are more concerned about getting the acrylic to penetrate the concrete
than building up the surface. If the surface needs to be substantially
built up beyond this range other products on the market can be used as
a base coat with the acrylic concrete texturing applied as the top coat.
With this product, thicker does not mean better. Actually the thinner
it is applied the better the flexural properties. Flexibility is very
important to allow for expansion and contraction of concrete during freeze/thaw
cycles. When the acrylic concrete is applied 1/16” to 1/8” thick it is
allowed to move with the concrete as opposed to against it, such as other
products like tile, slate, pavers or concrete patches.
Can cracks be repaired?
There are many methods to repair concrete cracks and a wide range of cost. The method used to repair a crack is determined by many factors including, but not limited to, the purpose for repairing the crack, size, budget, and material going over the crack (tile, coating, etc…).
Regardless of the method used to fill a crack, there is the possibility of the crack retracing itself or re-appearing. Whenever possible the crack should be worked into the coating pattern. The repaired crack should be placed in a grout line of the coating design. If cracking is an issue, Concrete Texturing may recommend a flagstone pattern. Since we free cut our flagstone we can trace along any crack making it a grout line within a flagstone pattern. Since our grout lines are a little recessed, the crack is less visible. The crack is also much easier to repair if it opens up again in the future.
Should controlled joints be covered up?
Concrete must be allowed to expand and contract with temperature changes. Joints provide a controlled crack for movement. Thus all expansion joints are left in place and should not be filled with concrete.
Caulking can be placed over the cracks inside the control joints to prevent water from getting underneath your concrete surface and creating damage. However, if a coating is being applied over concrete, the expansion joint or control joint should still be worked into the design. (This type of caulking is not available in retail shops. Retail caulking typically has a short life and will prune over time and pull from the edge.)
How long do you have to
stay off the surface once it is applied?
After the sealant is applied you must stay off the surface completely for
24 hours. All items that need to be permanently placed on the finished
surfaces, such as boxes or light furniture must not be placed on the
surface for three days. Heavier furniture and appliances should stay of
the surface for five days while vehicles should stay of the surface for
seven days.
Durability
How does it stand-up against oils, stains, salts and discoloration?
Every Concrete Texturing application is finished with a seal coat. The seal coat makes the surface non-porous resulting in a surface that will not discolor or show extreme fading due to UV (ultra violet) rays. Most stains caused by drinks, food, oil and grease will wash off.
When a spill does occur you should clean up the surface as soon as possible. Any stain left on the surface for long periods of time is more difficult to remove and will potentially become part of the surface. Potted plants should be elevated above the surface to prevent rings. Watered plants should have a pan or saucer underneath to catch water over flow and prevent hard water stains from working there way into the surface.
Pans should be placed underneath vehicles that constantly leak. The oil from the vehicle will wash off, however constant oil and cleaning will prematurely wear the sealant. Highly corrosive materials should be prevented from touching the surface. Items such as battery acid and radiator coolant could cause the acrylic concrete to discolor.
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Will it wear or chip off? The special formulated concrete material is extremely durable, but it is not indestructible. As a rule of thumb, if it can scratch or damage traditional concrete, chances are it will damage your Concrete Texturing surface. Exercise caution when moving or placing heavy things on the surface.
Visible wear does not typically occur as long as you reseal the product when wear begins to occur. This includes vehicle traffic on driveways. |
When should a seal coat be reapplied?
Your surface should be re-sealed every 2-4 years depending upon sunlight, cleaning and traffic pattern. A good time to reseal is when the surface becomes dull or difficult to clean, and/or when water can immediately penetrate the surface. Once a fresh coat of sealant is applied, colors are
brought back to full intensity and the surface is made easier to clean.
The Product
There seems to be many manufacturers of acrylic or polymer concrete material. Which product is the best?
Although most companies claim they have a revolutionary or unique product, there is very little distinguishable difference between products among leading manufacturers. Even if there was a difference manufacturers cannot control each independent company and their installation techniques. There is a considerable difference in craftsmanship and each company should be judged on there own merits and craftsmanship, not the merits of the manufacturer.
Concrete Texturing recommends the consumer conduct some research: Call the Better Business Bureau and Registrar of Contractors, talk to customers and go see previous installations.
This is a permanent product. It is very costly to remove if the installer makes a mistake. Be prudent and know what you are purchasing.
What warranty and service is provided?
Concrete Texturing offers a 2-year limited warranty from fading and delaminating.
Installation - Testimonials
