Polyaspartic Floor Coating in Cedar Rapids, IA

Polyaspartic floor coating is a type of polyurea that cures much faster than standard epoxy. In Cedar Rapids we use it in two ways: as the clear topcoat over an epoxy or flake system, and as a full system on its own when a homeowner needs the garage back quickly. HomeGuide lists polyaspartic as cured for heavy traffic in about 24 to 48 hours, compared with about seven days for a full cure of solid epoxy.

A wider install window

HomeGuide gives polyaspartic an application range of -30°F to 140°F, which is far wider than most epoxies. That does not mean we coat in any weather. Each product still has slab temperature and humidity limits, and the concrete has to be dry. It does mean a polyaspartic topcoat lets us work later into the fall and earlier in the spring than an all-epoxy floor. With January highs averaging 27.9°F here, that extra room matters for people who want a floor done before or right after winter.

UV and yellowing

Standard epoxy can turn yellow with sunlight. HomeGuide rates polyaspartic's UV resistance as excellent and epoxy's as poor to fair. A garage with the door open on summer afternoons, a west-facing bay or a three-season room with big windows will hold its color better under a polyaspartic topcoat.

Trade-offs to know

• Price: HomeGuide puts polyaspartic at $5 to $12 per square foot, compared with $4 to $10 for epoxy.
• Working time: it cures fast, so it goes down in smaller sections. That takes a crew that knows the product.
• Thinner coats: HomeGuide notes 2 to 6 mils per coat, so some floors get an epoxy base for build and polyaspartic on top for wear.
• Prep still decides adhesion: a fast coating over a poorly ground slab fails as fast as any other.

Polyaspartic, polyurea and the marketing around them

Several coating brands in eastern Iowa advertise polyurea or polyaspartic floors as much stronger than epoxy. Each chemistry has strengths. Epoxy builds thickness and bonds hard to concrete. Polyaspartic resists UV and abrasion and cures fast. Many of the floors we install use both, with each layer doing the job it is good at. We explain which layers your floor gets and why, in writing.

How a one-day install works

On a sound slab, we can grind, repair, base coat, broadcast flake and topcoat in a single long day. That requires dry concrete, a workable temperature and little crack repair. Floors with heavy damage, old coatings or high moisture usually take two days. We tell you which one to expect at the estimate.

After the install

Bob Vila's polyaspartic guide says you can usually walk on the floor after about 3 to 4 hours and drive on it after about 24 hours. We give you times for your floor based on the product and the temperature on install day.