Concrete is a tough substance. That’s why it is the number one building material around the world. It’s used for roadways, sidewalks, foundations, curbs, columns, and floors just about everywhere you look. Nevertheless, you’ve also seen concrete with cracks, stains, and missing chunks from the surface. That’s the point behind epoxy coatings for concrete surfaces! Even the world’s most common building material benefits from a protective coating. For this article, let’s address one of the best uses for epoxy coatings on concrete, and that’s stain prevention.

Concrete is Porous

Concrete seems impermeable, but expertly finished concrete actually consists of up to 5% of “void space.” Basically, there are small, empty spaces throughout a block of concrete, even when it is very smooth to the touch. Without some form of treatment, anything spilled on concrete seeps into the material through pores on the surface.

That’s not good when it’s water, because water rusts the metal skeleton inside the concrete or breaks down the bonds inside the concrete over time. If the fluid spilled on the concrete is oil, it is very difficult to remove all signs of the mess. That’s why untreated concrete in areas where cooking or lubricating oil spills are common develops a surface that has a slick and dangerous sheen. Solving these problems requires eliminating the natural porosity of concrete.

Epoxy coatings are designed to cover and fill the pores in concrete to create a strong bond between the epoxy molecules and the outer surface of the concrete. Epoxy, therefore, takes a concrete weakness, porosity, and turns it into a source of strength. Each pore in the outer surface of the concrete is one more spot where the epoxy can penetrate and strengthen its attachment to the surface.

The result of applying epoxy coatings to concrete is a remarkable improvement in the material’s durability. A study published this year in the Swiss journal Coatings said this about polyurethane as a concrete protectant:

This barrier effectively blocks the penetration of moisture, chloride ions, sulfates, and other corrosive agents, thereby reducing the direct environmental erosion of the concrete.

The study goes deeper into the benefits of protecting concrete with surface coatings, and you can expect to see future articles on our website based on its conclusions.

Remove the Pores and Prevent the Stains

Once you eliminate the pores in the surface of the concrete, spills have nowhere to go! They literally sit on top of the coating until you can clean them up. At worst, an unnoticed spill evaporates and leaves solid particles on the surface that you can later wipe away. Catch a spill early and cleanup is easy!

If you want to beautify and simplify the maintenance of your concrete surfaces, get help from California Custom Coatings. We offer a free consultation to determine the best mix of base coat with top coat to meet the needs of your work or residential environment. Our goal is to create a coating that meets your demands for appearance and effectiveness. For more information about our customized coating solutions in Sacramento and Northern California, contact us online or at 916-612-2399 today!