3M Colorquartz™ Garage Floor Coating

EXISTING SURFACE FAQ

1. My garage floor is pitted, what causes this and can it be repaired?
   1. Pits or spalls are caused by rocks in the concrete that have absorbed water and, when frozen, expand. This pressure literally pops the concrete surface off, this damaged is permanently repaired as part of our installation process.
2. My garage floor has cracks, what causes this and can it be repaired?
   1. There are several reasons concrete cracks, understanding and developing a solution that will repair or work with the movement of the crack is important in the long term durability of our coatings

INSTALLATION FAQ

1. Do you use acid to prepare the floor?
   1. Industry standards no longer consider acid etching to be an acceptable way to do surface preparation. When you acid etch the concrete you attack the cement that holds together the concrete. This weakens the substrate and so reduces the quality of the overall system. Additionally since concrete is very porous, no matter how thoroughly it is rinsed, it is impossible to get the entire residue out of the surface, this will present an adhesion problem in the future. Also there are ecological restrictions involved with waste removal which could prohibit the use of acid etching and other chemical methods. After applying an acid wash the acid is typically washed down the drain. Not only does it require a lot of water, it can be dangerous to plants and grasses in your yard, not to mention the damage it can do to our rivers and lakes - and our people!! Even "neutralized" acid introduces many harmful chemicals into our water system. Concreations does not recommend nor does it endorse the use of acid etching to prepare the concrete. That is why we only use mechanical surface preparation to ensure your floor will last for years.
2. How do you prepare my floor?
   1. All floors are prepared by the use of our unique concrete profiling equipment. This equipment gives us unmatched consistency and the control to properly prepare, profile and correct surface defects.
3. How long does the installation take?
   1. Installation is normally done within 3 days, but may vary depending on the condition in your garage.
4. Can I finish my own floor?
   1. Our Colorquartz coating is not a DIY project. We do provide preparation services for the DIY installers of solid color coating systems.(Please visit our DIY page)
5. What does the homeowner need to provide during the installation?
   1. We will bring our own power, tools, and supplies. Access to an electrical outlet is needed during the time we are not there to power our climate control system and alarm.

COATING FAQ

1. Are finished floors slippery?
   1. No, we follow installation guidelines for commercial buildings that require the flooring to have a measurable amount of slip resistance. In addition to the actual surface texture, any spills on your floor are easily wiped up and nothing penetrates into the surface. This means that even when oils are spilled, you simple wipe it up and it's good as new.
2. What is the best method to clean my new floor?
   1. We recommend mixing 5 – 6 ounces of CLEAR ammonia per gallon of water in a mop bucket. A large headed string / rag mop works best, with a wringer mechanism on your mop bucket. Special Note: We highly recommend against the use of any soap based product, as these leave a film which not only reduces the shine in the floor, but can also become slippery when the floor gets damp or wet.
3. Another company quoted me a "granite" looking coating is that the same as yours?
   1. No, the confusion comes from the use of the "granite look". While both systems use epoxy, we use the epoxy as the binder that bonds the Colorquartz to the concrete. The Colorquartz is the material that gives our floors a significant durability advantage as well as being the real beauty of our floors. Other systems use a paint chip to simulate a granite surface, this is actually less durable than the epoxy which they rely on for their wear surface. Not only is our material several times more durable than other systems, it is 10 times the thickness. A solid color "granite look" coatings is typically 8 to 12 mils thick, where our coatings measure a minimum 125 mils.
4. How long will my floor last?
   1. Beyond actual physical damage, quartz based coatings cannot be worn thru and can only be removed by mechanical means.
5. The Colorquartz floor sounds very strong. What can damage it?
   1. Anything that breaks the concrete can damage the coating. If a heavy item like a sledge hammer strikes with enough force, the concrete will fail. Anytime the concrete fails, the coating could be damaged.
6. I'd like a quartz based floor but it just isn't in the budget, do you have any other options?
   1. Yes, you could have us prepare your floor and you can apply an epoxy paint product (just like other contractors install) for about half the total cost of what they would charge. This type of product is as easy to install as painting your wall.

www.ConcreteRenewal.com
612-559-3939

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