The ins and outs of concrete coatings

By Dani Sheehan. 

Discover the role of concrete coatings across various industries and learn expert tips for ensuring the longevity of your projects. 

In a recent episode of CoatingsCast, Karen Edwards sat down with Jeffrey Wells from APF Polymer Surfaces to learn the ins and outs of concrete flooring protection. Jeffrey has worked in the industry for the last 30 years and currently manages products that range from food and beverage to government and commercial applications. He walked Karen through the importance of concrete coating systems within the building envelope and offered advice for contractors. 

When you start to consider the entire building, whether residential or commercial, concrete is everywhere. Jeffrey explained, “[Concrete is] the footprint of the roof, so you can't have a roof without having a concrete substrate in most cases first. In that building envelope package, we address things like safety. How do we make a concrete pallet safer? How do we make it look better? How do we make it last longer?” Concrete not only provides structural integrity but also ensures long-term durability of the building. 

Concrete flooring serves several purposes depending on the business or application. Jeffrey provided a few examples, saying, “Some of the areas and markets include airplane hangars. There's food and beverage, there's homes, there are commercial facilities, warehouses, hospitality, all these different areas require so many different looks, so many different outcomes yet all designed to be covered by some type of system.” Each of these areas has specific requirements, necessitating customized coating solutions to meet every demand. 

With each business comes a unique set of challenges to ensure the flooring remains durable and aesthetically pleasing over time. Offering customers the right coating application requires a comprehensive understanding of the specific demands of each environment. Airplane hangars, for example, must withstand the weight of the aircraft. Jeffrey added, “The chemicals needed for maintenance of an aircraft are going to be some of your most caustic chemicals. You're going to need a lot of protection.”  

Read the transcript, Listen to the podcast or Watch the webinar to learn more about how to protect both the concrete system and the people walking on the finished product.