Our Epoxy Flooring FAQ

Welcome to our epoxy flooring FAQ! Here you’ll find answers to the most commonly asked questions regarding our service.

At Southern Illinois Epoxy, we offer some of the best residential and commercial epoxy floors in Southern Illinois. Our years of experience in metallic epoxy, polished concrete, stained concrete, epoxy flooring, and other flooring systems have made us experts on the subject. Epoxy isn’t just for warehouses, shops, and industrial manufacturing facilities any more! That’s why we love to answer all questions related to epoxy. Read on for more answers about our durable flooring solutions.

What Causes Concrete to Crack?

The nature of outdoor concrete is that it’s exposed to the elements. High moisture and fluctuating temperatures can cause cracking. That is not something you can control.

When concrete is mixed and poured, the water-to-aggregate ratio may be off, weakening the overall structure of the concrete. Too much water can also cause cracking because cement shrinks as it dries. Excess water means the concrete will try to separate, like a lakebed in the sun.

Artificially rapid concrete curing can prevent necessary chemical reactions from occurring, causing weakness in the structure of the finished slab.

A concrete specialist will assess the right practical formula for the environment and use of the space, as improper pours can cause cracking and crumbling. That is why it’s crucial to hire a professional for the job to ensure the longevity of your investment.

What Options are There for Restoring or Coating My Concrete Floors?
Polished Concrete
Stained Concrete
Decorative Concrete
Stamped Concrete
Epoxy Flooring System
Epoxy Coating

Explore all of these options in detail on this site.

Why should I use Concrete Treatments?

The purpose of any concrete treatment is to prevent damage to the surface and repair the current issues. Our professionals can help you realize your cement surface vision regardless of how simple or complex.

Concrete polish creates a long-lasting, non-porous surface, while concrete stains create versatile colored designs.

How Do You Polish Concrete?

Our concrete experts will assess the surface before they begin. They will clean up and repair all cracks and damages. We work to remove stains, paint, and other cosmetic blemishes.

A chemical hardening agent goes on to harden the surface and fill the pores and add strength. We use a machine to buff the chemical into the texture of the surface and build up the final finish.

How Do You Stain Concrete?

Through a combination of acids and non-organic salts, a chemical reaction stains the surface of the concrete where the technique is applied. This process can achieve soft natural tones to create a gentle visual interest in living and entertaining spaces

We can also use bright and bold colors to create art, mark specific areas, or as a design feature.

How Do I Maintain My Polished or Stained Concrete?

Frequent sweeping and mopping are standard maintenance for general cleanliness. Wipe up spills as quickly as you can to prevent stains.

When you mop, avoid abrasive cleaners and don’t let your cleaners dry on the surface without mopping them up. Soap tends to leave residue streaks on your polished floors and can discolor stained floors.

If you notice damage, consult our specialists as soon as possible to repair it and prevent further damage.

Will the Colors in My Stained Concrete Fade’

Since stained concrete relies on a chemical reaction for results, it won’t fade under regular use. It will not peel or chip away when applied correctly.

Will I Need to Tear Out My Current Damaged Concrete to Add Decorative, Stained, Or Polished Concrete?

No. Decorative options are available for application over the existing concrete, once we bring the original surface back to good shape.

You may need an overlay to strengthen your base, but you will not need to tear it out.

Why Should I Use Epoxy flooring?

Epoxy flooring is a fast, budget-friendly, versatile solution to create beautiful, non-porous, waterproof floor surfaces for high traffic interior spaces. It is environmentally friendly and increases the longevity of your flooring to prevent extra waste from building materials.

It’s a unique and beautiful solution to bring style and design to your functional space.

How Long Does the Epoxy Floor Installation Take?

If your floor is clean and ready to receive the epoxy, you should expect one to two days. If surfaces need repair and cleaning, you should expect an extra day or two before curing is complete.

If your epoxy project is large or intricate, your contractor may need multiple days to install the epoxy in layers.

Why is Surface Prep Important to Epoxy Flooring’?

Without preparing your concrete surface through cleaning, epoxy will not be able to bond properly with your base surface. This situation can lead to cracking, separation, or discoloration later.

What is the Difference Between Curing and Drying When It Comes to Epoxy?

We apply epoxy in a liquid form; it has a specific formula of resins. To properly harden surfaces, the resins need to cure, which is a chemical reaction process.

Paint and concrete dry, and they don’t need a specific chemical compound to harden. Instead, they rely on the evaporation of excess water from the mix.

Is There Epoxy Floor Maintenance?

Most often, sweeping and/or mopping is all that will be required to maintain an epoxy floor.. Everyone has questions, and some of them become’FAQs. Let’Southern Illinois Epoxyclear up your confusion before you hire us for your home improvement job.

Are Epoxy Floors Slip Resistant?

While the shiny surface may look like a slip hazard, epoxy has very effective non-slip properties. We can achieve more significant non-slip coatings by adding texture aggregates to the top coat.

Why Should I Choose Southern Illinois Epoxy for my Concrete or Epoxy Flooring?

Our trained professionals remain dedicated to providing the highest level of customer service. They bring expertise in the industry and are eager to help make your concrete or epoxy visions a reality.

Our experts stay up-to-date on the newest design trends and techniques for the industry. Using a professional for major projects like concrete refinishing or a new flooring system ensures that your results last for years to come.

For any additional questions, or to schedule a consultation, call Southern Illinois Epoxy. We’re the highest qualified resource for your concrete and epoxy flooring solutions.