Decorative coatings glossary

A

Acid etching

A way of preparing concrete by washing it with a mild acid to roughen the surface. It is quicker and cheaper than grinding, but many installers prefer diamond grinding because it opens the concrete more evenly and helps coatings bond.

See also: Diamond grinding, Surface preparation

B

Base coat

The first full coat of a floor system after the concrete is prepared. In a flake floor, the flakes are broadcast into the wet base coat. In a metallic floor, the base coat sets the background color for the design.

See also: Primer, Topcoat

Broadcast

Throwing flakes or quartz sand by hand into a wet coating so they cover the floor. A full broadcast covers the base coat completely, and the excess is scraped and swept off once it cures.

See also: Flake floor, Quartz floor

C

Concrete overlay

A thin cement based layer applied over existing concrete to resurface it. Overlays can be stained, textured or stamped to look like new concrete, stone or tile.

Concrete surface profile

How rough the concrete is after preparation. Coatings need the right amount of texture to grip. Industry guides describe it on a scale from very smooth to very rough, and each product lists the profile it needs.

See also: Diamond grinding

Cove base

A curved strip of coating that runs from the floor up the bottom few inches of the wall. It makes a seamless, easy to clean edge and is common in garages, kitchens and commercial spaces.

Cure time

How long a coating needs to harden fully. A floor can feel dry to the touch long before it is fully cured. Installers usually give separate times for light foot traffic, moving furniture back in and driving on the floor, and these change with temperature and humidity.

See also: Pot life

D

Diamond grinding

Preparing concrete with a floor grinder fitted with diamond tooling. Grinding removes weak surface material and old coatings, and opens the pores of the concrete so primers and coatings can soak in and bond. Most installers consider it the most important step of the job.

See also: Surface preparation, Concrete surface profile

E

Epoxy

A two part resin coating: a resin (part A) and a hardener (part B) that react when mixed. Epoxy forms a hard, durable layer that bonds well to properly prepared concrete. It is used for garage floors, commercial floors and decorative metallic designs.

See also: Mixing ratio, Polyaspartic

F

Flake floor

Also called a chip or broadcast floor. Colored vinyl flakes are broadcast into a base coat and sealed under a clear topcoat. Flake floors hide dirt and small imperfections, add grip and are the most common coated garage floor.

See also: Broadcast, Topcoat

Freeze and thaw cycle

The repeated freezing and thawing that concrete goes through in cold climates. It makes slabs and joints move, so installers in places like Canada and the northern US often choose more flexible coatings for garages.

See also: Polyaspartic

G

Grind and seal

A finish that keeps the look of natural concrete. The slab is ground smooth and protected with a clear sealer instead of a colored coating.

See also: Polished concrete

Grout coat

A thin first coat that fills the small pores and pinholes in concrete. It helps stop air escaping from the concrete into later coats, which can cause bubbles.

See also: Outgassing, Moisture vapor barrier (MVB)

H

Hot tire pickup

When hot tires lift a coating off a garage floor, usually after driving on a hot day. It is most often caused by poor surface preparation or a coating that was not designed for vehicle traffic.

See also: Diamond grinding

M

Metallic epoxy

A decorative floor where metallic pigments are mixed into clear or tinted epoxy and moved while it is wet, creating patterns that look like marble, water or stone. No two metallic floors are the same, and the exact pattern of a photo cannot be copied.

See also: Epoxy, Self leveling

Microcement

A thin cement based coating troweled onto floors and walls for a seamless, modern look.

Mixing ratio

The exact proportion of part A to part B that a two part coating needs. Getting it wrong, or forgetting one part, can leave a floor soft or sticky that never cures properly.

See also: Epoxy

Moisture testing

Measuring how much moisture is in or coming through a concrete slab before coating it. Too much moisture can push a coating off the floor, so many installers test every slab with a meter or test kit.

See also: Moisture vapor barrier (MVB)

Moisture vapor barrier (MVB)

A coating applied directly to the concrete that blocks moisture rising through the slab. It protects the floor system above it from moisture related failures such as bubbling and peeling.

See also: Moisture testing, Grout coat

O

Outgassing

Air escaping from porous concrete while a coating cures. It can leave small bubbles or pinholes in the finished floor. A grout coat or primer that seals the concrete first helps prevent it.

See also: Grout coat

P

Polished concrete

Concrete ground in stages with finer and finer diamond tooling until it shines. No coating sits on top. It is very durable, but the concrete stays porous, so oil can soak in over time.

See also: Grind and seal, Diamond grinding

Polyaspartic

A fast curing coating often used as a topcoat or for one day garage floors. It is usually more flexible than epoxy and resists yellowing in sunlight. Its short working time takes skill and planning to install well.

See also: Epoxy, Topcoat

Polyurethane topcoat

A clear protective coat applied over epoxy to add scratch, chemical and UV resistance.

See also: Topcoat

Pot life

How long a mixed coating stays workable in the bucket before it starts to harden. Some products give installers well under half an hour, which is why mixing small batches and working fast matter.

See also: Cure time, Mixing ratio

Primer

The first coat that soaks into prepared concrete and helps the rest of the system bond. On many floors, a moisture vapor barrier or grout coat does this job.

See also: Base coat, Moisture vapor barrier (MVB)

Q

Quartz floor

A floor made by broadcasting colored quartz sand into resin and sealing it. Quartz floors are very hard wearing and slip resistant, so they are common in commercial kitchens, locker rooms and busy entrances.

See also: Broadcast

S

Self leveling

A coating or underlayment that flows out flat on its own. Self leveling products are used to smooth uneven slabs and to create the glassy surface of metallic floors. They can wrinkle or fail to level on a cold slab.

See also: Metallic epoxy

Surface preparation

Everything done to the concrete before the first coat: cleaning, grinding, repairing cracks and holes, and testing for moisture. Installers often say prep is most of the job, because a coating can only hold as well as the surface under it.

See also: Diamond grinding, Moisture testing

T

Topcoat

The final clear coat that protects a floor system. It sets how glossy the floor looks and how well it resists scratches, chemicals and sunlight.

See also: Polyaspartic, Polyurethane topcoat

U

Urethane cement

A very tough flooring system that handles heat, chemicals and constant washing. It is used in commercial kitchens, food plants and other places where standard coatings fail.

V

VOC (volatile organic compounds)

Chemicals that evaporate from some coatings as they cure. Some countries and states limit them strictly. Low VOC or solvent free products can have shorter working times, which changes how installers work.

See also: Pot life

Products and methods vary between manufacturers and installers. For advice on your own floor, ask an installer to look at your slab in person. Spot a mistake? Let us know.