What Is Polyurea Coating and How Long Does It Last?

Concrete surfaces are durable but not infallible. They need protection with concrete coatings for better longevity.

Polyurea coatings are one of the best protective coatings for concrete. This coating is a water-based polyurethane formulated to provide a protective barrier against weathering, such as acid rain, salt spray, and UV radiation. It’s also resistant to heat and cold, meaning you can apply it to your concrete surfaces in summer or winter without worrying about durability.

Here, we go over everything you need to know about polyurea floor coatings to help you decide if they are the right fit for you.

What Is a Polyurea Coating?

Polyurea coatings consist of an isocyanate hardener and a polyol resin that react together during the curing process to form a transparent coating that protects concrete from water, salt, chemicals, and abrasion. Isocyanates in polyurea coatings have high flexibility and durability.

Polyurea coatings dry quickly (usually within 24 hours), leaving behind an extremely durable finish that protects your concrete without much surface preparation. The strength of polyurea coatings depends on the amount of solids in each gallon of coating mix. Higher solids content makes for a stronger coating with greater flexibility and durability.

Types of Polyurea Coatings

Aliphatic Polyurea

Aliphatic polyurea is a coating that protects concrete and metal surfaces from corrosion and weathering. It consists of two types of polyurethane prepolymers mixed together before application to a substrate.

The first type of prepolymer is an aliphatic chain-extended epoxy, and the second type is a low molecular weight polyamine curing agent. The two types combine chemically to form a thermosetting polymer cured with heat or UV light.

Aliphatic polyurea is an excellent option for coating small to medium-sized projects. It has a lower viscosity than other polyureas, making it easier to apply in thinner layers delivering good coverage with less material. You can use moisture-resistant aliphatic polyurea indoors or outdoors, making it an ideal choice for rain or snow-prone areas like Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Aromatic Polyurea

Aromatic polyurea is an elastomer created from the one-step reaction between polyol resin and an isocyanate component. This high-temperature coating is applicable to various surfaces and is highly durable, with high resistance to abrasion, chemicals, and UV radiation.

The main characteristics of aromatic polyurea are:

High hardness
High elasticity, which makes it easy to apply on curved surfaces
Excellent corrosion resistance

Benefits of Polyurea Floor Coatings in Duluth, MN

High Durability

Polyurea coatings are an ideal choice for residential and commercial buildings because it provides an excellent defense against corrosion due to moisture penetration. The polyurea coating also protects against other elements, such as mold growth, due to excessive humidity levels in certain climates like Florida or Arizona.

Temperature Resistance

A polyurea floor coating is a great way to ensure that your floor can withstand temperature changes. The polyurea coating is a product of polymers and polyols, which gives it a high melting point. Professionals have used this coating for decades in various applications, including aerospace and marine environments.

Excellent UV Resistance

The polyurea coating system used on floors is exceptionally resistant to UV rays. This means it will not yellow or fade, unlike other finishes that discolor over time.

High Tensile Strength

Polyurea floor coatings are known for their high tensile strength, meaning they can be applied to various surfaces and will not crack, chip or peel. They are also very resistant to abrasion, which makes them an excellent choice for industrial floors.

How Long Do Polyurea Floor Coatings Last?

Polyurea floor coatings have excellent longevity, lasting as long as 20 years. They are also easy to repair and restore.

However, even though polyurea floor coatings are durable, they will still need touching up from time to time. When this happens, it’s essential not only that you make sure that you repair the damaged area quickly but also that you choose a high-quality polyurethane sealer so that your coating will continue to look great for years to come!

Contact the Polyurea Experts in Duluth, MN, for a Free Quote

If you’re considering polyurea coatings in Duluth, MN, the experts at Armor Coating Co. are here to help.

We’re Duluth’s leading polyurea and polyaspartic coatings provider, and we’re ready to show you how our products can make your business more efficient and productive. Our same-day polyurea floor coatings are durable, easy to maintain, and cost-effective—and they come with a fantastic 15-year warranty!

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How Much Do Your Concrete Floor Coatings Cost?

Each project is customized to your particular concrete flooring needs. Every job we do is different, because we offer different types of coatings and finishes. We will work with you to develop a free estimate keeping your budget in mind.

How Long Will The Concrete Coating Last?

We use the highest quality materials in our polyaspartic floor coatings and we’ve perfected our application process to make the concrete coating permanent. Once completely cured and adhered, the concrete coating is meant to last as long as the substrate it’s adhered to.

What Are The Benefits Of Using Polyaspartic Floor Coatings Over Epoxy Floor Coatings?

Polyaspartic Floor Coatings dry more quickly than Epoxy Floor Coatings, and the finish is also more durable. Our floor concrete coating finishes are also more slip-resistant and will not discolor like some Epoxy Floor Coatings.

How Long Do I Need To Stay Off My Concrete Floor Coating After It Is Installed?

Our flooring cures within a few hours, however our team of professionals recommends waiting at least 4-6 hours before walking on your brand new concrete coated flooring. After 12 hours, you can begin moving lightweight objects onto the flooring, like light patio furniture. We recommend waiting a full 24 hours before moving anything heavy back into the area where we’ve applied the coating (your car, heavy equipment or furniture etc.).

Will My New Concrete Floor Coating Turn Yellow?

It sure won’t! Our concrete floor coverings will not yellow or discolor, because they are UV stable. This one of the many benefits of using Polyurea or Polyaspartic floor coatings.

Will I Need To Reseal My Concrete Floor Coating?

If you follow our maintenance and cleaning guidelines, you should not have to worry about resealing the concrete floor coating. We offer a professional grade cleaner that will easily remove stains or tire marks, but will also preserve the life of your concrete coating topcoat.

How Long Does It Take You To Apply Concrete Floor Coatings?

We’ve perfected our 6-step application process, so most typical projects take between 5-10 hours depending on the square footage. We pride ourselves in a one-day application, and will do everything possible to stay within that time frame. Rainy weather can delay the project, but it is rare.

How Do I Care For My Concrete Floor Coating?

You can clean our concrete coatings with typical sweeping, mopping or steaming, and hoses. We offer maintenance services should your concrete flooring ever need cleaning, however you can also use non-abrasive cleaners, like CLR, to remove grease or other stains.

Will Oil Stain My Concrete Floor Coating?

Armor coatings are oil resistant as well as moisture resistant.

Who Invented Polyaspartic Coatings?

Bayer Material Science first developed Polyaspartic coatings in the 1990’s to protect steel bridges and infrastructure from rusting and corrosion. It has since been modified for different applications, once being durable concrete flooring coatings.

What Are Polyaspartic Concrete Coatings?

Polyaspartic Concrete coating is another name for Aliphatic Polyurea, which is a hybrid material consisting of ester and other materials. It was originally developed to coat metal bridges. It was later used to coat concrete flooring due to its durability and moisture resistance. Polyurea is also used to coat truck bed liners.

Can Polyaspartic Floor Coatings Be Used Outside?

They sure can! We offer wonderful solutions for driveways, patios, and even the area around the pool. Our coatings are all UV stable, which will help prevent discoloration or flaking.

What Types Of Environments Can Polyaspartic Floor Coatings Be Used?

Polyaspartic flooring coatings can be used in a variety of environments. The durability, slip resistant finish is fantastic for any industrial setting, storefronts, patios, or even driveways or garages.

How Are Polyaspartic Floor Coatings Applied?

We have perfected a six step process for applying Polyaspartic Floor Coatings that involves prepping the floor, basecoating, applying chips, scraping the chips, and applying the clear UV protective clear coat.

Can I Apply Polyaspartic Floor Coatings In Cold Temperatures?

You can! Polyaspartic floor coatings are safe to apply in temperatures as cold as -40 degrees.

How Long Do Polyaspartic Floor Coatings Take To Dry?

Our Polyaspartic Floor Coatings are engineered to rapidly cure, and can be dry in a matter of a few hours! However, we recommend waiting at least 5-6 hours before walking on newly applied coating and 24 hours before moving heavy objects back onto the flooring.

Do I Need To Hire A Professional To Install Polyaspartic Floor Coating?

Installing Polyaspartic Floor Coating correctly is critical to the appearance and durability of your flooring. Hiring a professional is the best way to ensure that your flooring will look amazing and last a lifetime! Our team at Armor Coatings is certified in Polyaspartic Floor Coating installation and have many years of experience.

Is It Possible To Cover Existing Epoxy Floor Coating With Polyaspartic Floor Coating?

It is! Polyaspartic floor coatings are specially formulated for their incredible adhesion properties. If you have existing patches of epoxy coating, our team can sand it down, vacuum, and wipe down the area with a solvent. Once prepped, we will apply your new, superior, Polyaspartic Floor Coating