FloroCrete Cementitious Urethane is a family of high performance systems with multiple applications.  The products are installed in food and beverage processing plants, commercial kitchens and heavy-duty manufacturing facilities.

These versatile concrete coatings are also employed as part of the FloroProof moisture mitigation system.  Needless to say, FloroCrete is one very popular series of concrete coatings!

Tips & Tricks

Let’s review how FloroCrete’s 3 basic components interact with one another during the mixing process, how to blend them correctly, and what to avoid.

When mixing FloroCrete, the tech data sheets instruct to first blend Components A & C.   As you mix these 2 components with your double auger drill, single auger drill or mud mixer, the water in Component A gets extracted and incorporated by the Portland Cement content of Component C.  The goal is to get all the water “used up”.  This can take from 30 – 180 seconds, depending upon your batch size and your mixing tool. 

Mixing FloroCrete SLX vs. FloroCrete RT & HD:

Of the different FloroCrete products, SLX can take the longest time to blend properly. As a spreadable slurry, SLX’s Component C possesses proportionately more fine powders and less of the larger, inert aggregate, as seen in the stiffer FloroCrete RT and HD formulations.   The larger aggregate in FloroCrete RT and HD acts almost like a sand mill during the mixing process – it assists in achieving a thoroughly uniform blend. Without the help of the larger aggregate, proper blending of the fine powders in FloroCrete SLX can require a bit more mixing time and attention to detail. It’s Ready When . . . You know you’ve properly mixed FloroCrete Components A & C only when you see a completely homogeneous mix.   For FloroCrete RT & HD, the Component A & C mix should have a uniform appearance throughout the container.   For FloroCrete SLX, the Component A & C mix should look consistently smooth and creamy throughout. Haste Makes Waste

What happens if you rush the mixing process of FloroCrete Industrial Coatings?

Adding Component B to an inadequately blended mix of Components A & C will get trouble a-brewin’ –  literally. The isocyanate in the Component B polyol will react with the remaining “unused water” in the mix.  Yup, you’ll have yourself an accelerated chemical reaction! The material in your container will start to kick over, thicken and even bubble. Proper installation of the material at this point will be nearly impossible. Smooth Sailing

The quick tip?  Time is on your side when blending Components A & C.  So, if in doubt, keep the mixing tool running!

Remember, only when blended FloroCrete Components A & C demonstrate a uniform appearance throughout the mixing container, should Component B be added.

Questions or Comments?

 

 

Come winter, we Michiganders like to make our homes a little cozier, comfier, and warmer. We want our home to embrace us and match that feeling we get when lounging in our favorite robe and slippers.

With the right planning and winter decor, you can transform your home from a cold tundra to a warm and comfortable sanctuary.

To provide you with the best winter home improvement and design ideas, we sought out the expertise of Leen Zabalawi from Leen Designs. To properly dress your home for the winter, these are the things you need:

Faux Fur – Whether you use faux fur as a blanket, bed set or sofa piece, it is sure to keep you warm and cozy throughout the winter. Not only that, but it looks great as a rug or a pillow case and adds a wonderful sense of sophistication to any contemporary or rustic setting. Candle Holders – Using a combination of beautiful candle holders will bring out the ambiance and warmth of any room in the home. Use your favorite scented candles and place them on top of the fireplace mantel or shelves. Lampshades – Even though gray is the fashion neutral that many enjoy, try mixing up your lampshade colors with something seasonal. Blue, green, yellow and red are wonderful for the chilly season and add a little greenery to the interior. Look for some silver or gold lampshades for the holiday season. Recliner – Today’s recliners come in all shape and sizes, and their popularity is steadily on the rise. Formerly known as “the dad chair”, they can now work for any age group. Set it up by the fireplace and prepare for a warm winter.

In the word of Pietro Aretino, “Let us love winter, for it is the spring of genius.” Let your intelligence in winter home improvement and design blossom this season.

Some Extras to Remember

Nature’s influence on design is very popular in the market, so add some faux bois candleholders in a gold leaf finish to add some sparkle and character to your seasonal display. A glass bowl with some pinecones and evergreen sprigs fits the trend perfectly.

When the holidays are over, you don’t have to get rid of the lampshades you used for that time. Just use them for your next design endeavor.

Warm Up with New Carpet

Our Job Collaboration with Leen Designs

Looking to transform your entire living space with a warm and comfortable renovation? New carpet is guaranteed to make your home snug for the winter season.

The first lower seasonal temperatures can sometimes catch even the most experienced industrial flooring professional off guard.   If you live in a region with four – or even three – seasons, you’re probably starting to hear about nighttime lows at 40° – 50° F (4.5° – 10° C). Ouch!

Bring industrial flooring products indoors when you leave for the day Do not allow concrete coating liquids to remain in a cold vehicle overnight

During mixing and installation, stay alert to any signs of cold product, such as:

Liquids appearing thicker than normal in the can An installed floor curing slower than normal

It’s always good practice to measure the temperature of industrial flooring liquids prior to mixing – but for many areas of the Northern Hemisphere, it becomes especially important from the month of September forward.   It’s never been easier, thanks to the laser temperature guns that are now the norm in our industry.  The instruments offer great accuracy and easy point-and-shoot technology, and are available online or at most hardware stores.

At this time of year, it’s the liquid product itself that is most vulnerable. However, as the season progresses, concrete floors cool down, such that indoor slab temperatures also become critical.   When slab and air temperatures cannot be brought up to a minimum of 55° F (approx. 13° C), our faster curing polyaspartic and MMA resinous flooring can help.

The following products exhibit very quick cure times at 70° F (21° C), and demonstrate a more “standard” cure, as slab and air temperatures drop:

FloroSpartic  Polyaspartic Midcoat and Topcoat

FloroCryl MMA Systems:

FloroCryl SL  – Self Leveling FloroCryl Shop – Sand Broadcast FloroCryl Quartz – Colored Quartz Broadcast FloroCryl Chip – Colored Chip Broadcast FloroCryl Deck – Elastomeric Deck, Underlayment and Joint Filler FloroCryl Build – Trowelable Graded Aggregate Mortar

Whether you’re installing a decorative colored chip or quartz commercial floor, or a more utilitarian looking, solid-colored system, cooler temps need not stop you. And of course, slip-resistance must be part of every concrete flooring application.

What’s New

Unique features offer improved convenience and time-savings.  See these fun and useful ways to access important concrete flooring information:

Streamlined flooring selection – simply click on your Industry, System or Requirement to get the product recommendations for your project Product Detail Pages provide all you need to know on any given system – conveniently access a product’s sales brochure, colors/ blends, architectural specs and tech data sheets in one location All new Floor Gallery, with commercial floor coating photos categorized by industry Expanded Detail Drawings collection, downloadable for your use Real life Case Studies discuss concrete flooring challenges and solutions Demonstration & Training Videos let you learn the ropes online

What you see is only the beginning!  We’ll be adding to these regularly – fresh inspiring photos, skill-enhancing videos, enlightening case studies and of course, always the latest concrete flooring product innovations.

What’s the Same, Only Better In Resources, quickly access: Downloadable product brochures Product technical data sheets Architectural specs in multiple formats Selector charts for colors and blends MSDs Indexed by Part Number or MSDs by System The dedicated Architect Center continues to offer: AIA Approved Continuing Education, free to members and non-members alike USGBC LEED information, including point contribution Technical data, detail drawings and more

So take a minute to explore and enjoy. Finding the commercial concrete flooring information you need has never been easier or more fun!

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A new floor polymer floor offers commercial, retail, industrial and institutional environments a variety of benefits including a beautiful appearance, high-performance and durability. Are you looking to paint or refinish your industrial or commercial floors? Not sure what the best method is to install a resinous floor? Professional polymer floor installers use a variety of methods. Today we’ll discuss four different installation methods.

Photo courtesy of Epoxy, Inc. of Florida

Trowel Applied Flooring

This method uses hand-troweling (using a flat bladed trowel) or power-troweling to install aggregate-filled polymer mortars. The aggregate is applied as a single mortar blend. Typical application is 3/16ths to 4/16ths of an inch in thickness.

General steps for trowelled application:

Prime Screed Apply material with trowel Apply topcoats as necessary Broadcast Applied Flooring

Similar to troweling, broadcast applications use a liquid resin and aggregate component. However, unlike troweling, the two are applied separately in alternating layers. Examples of aggregate components include Colored Quartz or Colored Chips.  Typical application of each layer is 1/16th of an inch in thickness.

Steps for broadcasting application:

Prepare substrate (Note – any floor imperfections must be properly corrected or they will be visible through broadcast floor) Apply primer Apply basecoat and broadcast aggregate Sweep off loose aggregate after basecoat has cured Apply a second basecoat and broadcast aggregate Sweep off loose aggregate after final broadcast is cured Apply grout coat to seal aggregate Slurry Applied Flooring

Slurry is another common technique for installing resinous flooring. It is economical and a great way to add strength and wear into any floor. In this case, liquid resin is combined with powders and/or aggregates and applied as a fluid mixture. Typical application ranges from 1/8th to 3/16ths of an inch in thickness.

Basic steps for a slurry-applied floor include:

Prepare substrate (including any crack repairs) Prime Apply slurry mix with notched squeegee Apply optional topcoats

For floors that require additional thickness, a broadcast floor may be installed on top of the slurry.

Resin Only Flooring Application

Unlike slurry or broadcast floors, resin only floors do not contain fillers, resulting in a thinner cured finish. Final thickness ranges from 13 mils to up to 32 mils.

Installation of resin only floors requires:

Prepare (including crack repair) Apply primer Apply topcoats as needed

Choosing the right application method for installing your resinous floor depends largely on the desired result and overall environment of your floor. Consult with a knowledgeable polymer flooring specialist to provide you with the best method for your particular flooring needs.