New flooring can positively impact the appearance and feel of a home or business. Everything looks and feels fresh. Imagine walking on stained, flattened carpet compared to freshly installed flooring. It makes a big difference! Concrete coatings are a great flooring choice for both homes and commercial spaces. They work great for both interior and exterior spaces. So, the big decision is to turn your concrete coating project into a DIY project or call a professional installer.
Your choice to do it yourself or hire a professional concrete coatings company can affect the outcome, longevity, and cost-effectiveness of your concrete coating. If you have already decided that concrete coating is the right choice, then you are probably familiar with its many benefits. To reap all the benefits, explore which option will be best for you – DIY or professional installation.
What Are Concrete Coatings and Their Benefits?
Concrete coatings, as their name suggests, are coatings available to install over concrete floors. There are different product types available, such as epoxy, polyaspartic, and polyurea coatings. They provide flooring that is durable, stain-resistant, and fade-resistant. At Concrete Coatings Hawaii, we use Penntek’s polyurea coatings which are 4x stronger than epoxy coatings. Our concrete coatings offer these outstanding benefits:
● Resists chipping and peeling
● Resists stains, even harsh chemicals such as oil and gas
● UV stable, so no yellowing or fading even outside
● Installed in one day
● Limited lifetime warranty
DIY Concrete Coatings
So, you are interested in concrete coatings but are curious about making it a DIY project. Let’s take a look at what that will entail so you are well-informed. What steps are involved?
1. Prepping – Any previous flooring must be removed or concrete must be poured over it to make an even concrete surface. Concrete floors will require some prep, such as thorough cleaning.
2. Applying the coating – You will roll the coating onto the concrete, somewhat like painting your floor. However, the coating must be applied evenly to produce the desired outcome. This is not like running a quick mop over the kitchen floor before company arrives. It takes time, precision, and attention to detail.
3. Apply the flake coat – Most concrete coatings include a flake coat which adds color and slip-resistance to your flooring. Applying the flakes evenly can be quite tricky.
4. Apply the top coat – A top coat must be applied to seal the coating layers.
It is important to remember that the different types of coatings may come with slightly different application instructions.
Pros of DIY
● Cost-effective – The actual cost will be lower than hiring a concrete coatings company. If budget is a concern, this may be the best option for you.
● Flexibility – You don’t have to complete the project in one day if you don’t want to, so you have that flexibility. However, once you begin applying the coating, you should not stop or you may get an uneven outcome.
● Personal satisfaction – There is something to be said about doing a home improvement project yourself. If this brings you great satisfaction or is a way for you to feel good mentally and physically, then you may enjoy this project.
Cons of DIY
● Risk of mistakes – If you have never applied concrete coatings, then the project may not go as smoothly as planned. Uneven application and bubbling are two possible outcomes. Improper application can cause bubbling which will significantly affect the appearance of your concrete coating as well as its longevity and durability.
● Labor intensive – Applying the different layers of concrete coating and the detailed steps involved is not a quick task. You will want to weigh the cost-effectiveness vs the time it will take. How much do you value your time? If you won’t find the job enjoyable, don’t really have the spare time, and do have the money available, calling a professional may be a better option for you.
Professional Installation
Concrete Coatings Hawaii provides professional concrete coating installation on the island of O’ahu. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons to see if Concrete Coatings Hawaii is the right choice for you!
Pros of Professional Installation
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Expertise – Our trained professionals will prepare your concrete for coating. We can also remove old flooring if necessary and are experts at floor demolition. If you choose a color flake blend for your flooring, we will apply a basecoat, flake coat, and top coat. If you choose solid color coating, we will apply primer, a basecoat, a topcoat, and a clear coat. We will apply the coating evenly for a beautiful finish.●
Quality products and results – Concrete Coatings Hawaii uses the highest quality Penntek products. An installer must be certified by Penntek to use their products. So, we have access to higher quality products than a homeowner doing a DIY project. Our expertise combined with our products allows for outstanding results that you may not be able to achieve as a DIY project.● Time-Saving – We can complete most projects in a day! Unless your project is fairly small, it will probably take you longer.
● Limited lifetime warranty – DIY projects don’t come with warranties, but our professionally applied products do!
Cons of Professional Installation
● Cost – As previously mentioned, it will cost more for professional installation.
● Less flexibility – While we will schedule you as quickly as possible, it is not the same flexibility as installing it on your own timeline.
● No personal involvement – You don’t get to help the installers. So, if you prefer the satisfaction of doing a job yourself, then you may not opt for professional installation.
Summary
There are pros and cons to both DIY concrete coating projects and professional installation. As a DIY project, you will save money, have flexibility, and have the satisfaction of completing the project yourself. However, you risk making mistakes that will result in a poor outcome affecting appearance, durability, and longevity. It is also a labor-intensive and time-consuming project.
With professional installation from Concrete Coatings Hawaii, you will benefit from our expertise and quality products ensuring a beautiful result. It is time-saving as you can go about other work or play while we complete the project. You will also have the benefit of a limited lifetime warranty. It will cost you more and you will be subject to our schedule although we will work with your schedule as much as possible. You also will not be involved in the hands-on installation. However, you will have beautiful floors when we are done!
Taking into account all the pros and cons, we hope you choose to have your concrete coatings professionally installed by Concrete Coatings Hawaii. For the best polyurea coatings in Ewa Beach, Kaneohe, and the surrounding areas, look no further than your locally owned concrete coating company, Concrete Coatings Hawaii!
