Although there is no one formula for concrete floor coatings in nz, there are some ways you can get an idea of what you might spend. Concrete Coatings is a company with 18+ years of experience and a deep understanding of all the factors that affect concrete coating pricing. We are able to offer a high level of service, and we can guarantee a quality product.
We offer one-day garage floor coatings and install polyurea concrete coatings for residential and commercial properties. Pricing for projects is the same as professional concrete contractors. A two-car garage is the most common size for homeowners. They will spend between $3,500 and $5,500 on concrete coatings. (See our project example to see price comparisons of different products). This article will provide insight into the five concrete coating cost factors that can help you determine a price range for your project. We will explain how square footage, product, concrete condition, preparation, customization options, and other factors affect the cost of a concrete coat. We want you to understand why your project has been priced as it is, regardless of whether you decide to go.
We’ll help you prepare for concrete coating.
- The Five Key Cost Factors in Pricing Concrete Coatings
- A Project Example: Garage floor coating cost for two cars
- When to hire a professional and when to do it yourself
- Get a Quote on a Concrete Coating
Pricing Concrete Coatings: What are the 5 Key Cost Factors?
Factor 1: The Condition of the Concrete
Your concrete floor’s current condition is an important factor in determining the project cost. The following aspects are important to consider when assessing the condition of your concrete floor: cracks, existing coatings, hardness, moisture, and so on.
Cracks
Homeowners will find around 5-50 feet of cracks in their floors unless the floor is in very poor condition. This is a common problem and the price per linear foot (plf), is $11-15. Costs will vary depending on the size, depth and condition of cracks.
Remove a previous coating
To remove an existing coating, you will need to use PCD tooling and grinders. This is a slow process. After the coating has been removed, diamond tooling can be used to reprofile the floor. An existing coating can require up to three times as much grinding and cleanup than a concrete slab. Thicker coatings may require that the floor be ground 2 to 3 times before any of the existing coating can be removed. Additional labor costs can be higher than the cost of labor. Also, the additional cost of materials such as propane for the grinder or expensive tooling disks will add to the overall cost. The price to remove an existing coating is $1.50/square foot (psf), but prices can rise to $3.50/psf for carpet or adhesive removal.
Hardness
Contractors who fail to test concrete’s hardness are likely overlooking an important factor that could lead to your coating failing. Concrete’s hardness determines what type of diamond tooling can be used for a project and whether it is capable of being coated. To test concrete’s hardness, we use a Moh Hardness Test Kit. This tool can measure your floor to determine the hardness of concrete. It is important to ensure that our crews arrive on site with the correct equipment. Sometimes we can’t coat concrete if it is too soft.
Moisture content
Price can be affected by moisture issues. To prevent this, a moisture mitigation barrier must be applied before the surface is coated. When the moisture meter rating exceeds 5.5, a Moisture Vapor Barrier can be used. A barrier can be used to extend the installation time by an additional day in order to ensure that the barrier works properly. The average moisture block cost is $2 per square foot, but it can sometimes be twice that in certain cases if there are multiple applications.
Factor 2: Material/Product
You have many options when it comes coating concrete surfaces. Your budget and space are important factors. DIY kits are available with cheaper but less durable materials like epoxy or floor paint. You can also hire a professional to install epoxy, polyaspartic or other variations, acrylic sealers or polyurea concrete coats.
DIY Sealer, Paint or Stain
You can buy DIY kits from your local hardware store for a reasonable price, around $250. There are many options available in stores including acrylic sealers, epoxy coatings and paints. Although you can apply these products yourself within a few days, they will not last as long as other products. Concrete sealer or concrete paint from a bucket can chip quickly, sometimes within days or weeks. This happens because the concrete paint or sealer is not professional-grade and the preparation is poor. (See Factor 3: Surface Preparation to learn more about preparation). You will need to spend more time and money on maintenance and touch ups.
Epoxy
Epoxy is the professional-grade material at the lowest price. You have two options when it comes to epoxy: you can either purchase a DIY epoxy kit and have it installed by a professional contractor or you can buy one from a retailer. Sherwin Williams epoxy is used by professional epoxy contractors. This product can be purchased at your local hardware store. DIY allows you to save labor costs and still get a price point of around $2.50 per square foot. Although the cost of an epoxy kit is lower than a DIY option, you risk making mistakes and sacrificing quality. You will also be spending more time and energy than necessary, and the job could take longer than one day. The average cost of epoxy installation is $4.50-8.00 per square foot.
Epoxy is less durable than polyurea concrete coatings. It is more susceptible to cracking, peeling and general wear and tear. You should replace epoxy every 3-5 year if you want to keep it free from visible abrasions. Polyaspartic topcoats are sometimes recommended by professionals to enhance epoxy’s durability. These top coats are less durable than polyurea concrete coatings, according to our opinion. DIY epoxy is a good choice if you’re willing to put in the effort and can handle regular maintenance. Professionally installed epoxy is a good option if you are looking for quick installation and are willing accept the cost of ongoing replacement.
Polyaspartics
Polyaspartics can be classified as a polyurea. However, not all polyureas can be called polyaspartic. A polyaspartic polyurea has a slower cure rate. This allows the coating to be applied in a traditional way and for a longer period of time. Polyaspartic blends work well as topcoats, but they have limitations when used for basecoats. The only way to form a surface bond with polyaspartics when applied to concrete is by applying them to it. A surface bond can fail over time due to natural cracking in concrete. This will cause through breaking of the cap, or top layer, of concrete. A polysapartic polyurea basecoat is not as strong and durable as a pure polyurea.
Professionally installed polyaspartic 2-layered system (polyaspartic bottom coat and polyaspartic topping coat) will require maintenance every 3-5 year. The average cost per square foot is $4.50-5.50
Polyurea
Polyurea concrete coatings are 4x stronger than epoxy and 10x more flexible than epoxy. They won’t crack or chip under heavy use or at high temperatures. Polyurea coatings have a quick curing process and a penetrating chemical bonds that they form with concrete. This is what gives them their durability, efficiency and longevity. An elcometer is a tool that measures the force required to remove a coating. It is measured in pounds per square inch. Pure polyurea coatings can withstand delamination up to 500 PSI. However, this is not the industry standard. As shown in this Penntek Adhesion Test video, concrete often breaks before coatings delaminate. Pure polyurea coatings are quick and can last for a longer time than other products.
There are many different types of polyurea floor coatings. Because polyurea can be mixed with other elastomers, there are many variations in how polyurea products mix. Polyurea concrete coatings are often sold by companies that don’t contain pure polyurea but have a minimum of 51% or less. They also offer polyaspartic or polyureas. Technically, all polyaspartics can be considered polyureas. However, not all polyureas can be called polyaspartics. Polyaspartic base coatings are not as strong and durable as pure polyureas. Polyurea concrete coatings are desirable because they have the same strength and durability as pure polyurea. We do not recommend that you use a contractor who uses a polyaspartic-based base coat. It is important to verify the product purity before hiring a contractor to install a polyurea concrete coat.
Our product is a 100% pure polyurea concrete coating, which we receive directly from the manufacturer Penntek Industrial Coatings. It is a pure, undiluted polyurea which makes it different from other products that offer polyurea or polyaspartic. Pure polyurea is the strongest, most durable type of polyurea. Although it is more costly, we offer a lifetime residential warranty. We believe in the product’s durability. If you’re willing to spend more upfront on a durable coating, polyurea concrete coatings can be a great option.
Different products have different physical properties and lifespans. You can balance your budget, your intended use of the space, and your overall project goals by considering product and material pricing. This page has a section called “Project Example” that provides a deeper look at the pricing for a 2-car garage.
Factor 3: Surface preparation
A professional contractor must prepare the surface properly and thoroughly to ensure the best quality and longevity of the coating project. This will affect the project’s time and cost.
You can use a variety of prep methods to prepare the area, including chemical washes and acid etching.
We use two sizes of 650-700lb, diamond-tooled grinders. A 30-inch grinder is for larger areas. A 7-inch grinder is for more intricate edges. We use our concrete grinders to grind the concrete down to a smooth finish. Next, we sweep, vacuum and squeegee clean surfaces. To keep homeowners and workers safe, we use triple-HEPA-filtered vacuums. Before applying the base coat, we repair and fill any cracks, abrasions or pitted areas. These areas can be dried to be as strong and durable as concrete.
This preparation is what makes professional installations different from DIY. It also helps ensure the highest quality finished product. Preparation will take longer and be more expensive than acid etching. We believe that the adhesion that results from properly profiling the concrete surface is worth the extra cost. It’s worth asking professional contractors about their preparation process and equipment if you receive a low estimate.
Factor 4: Customizations and Add-Ons
You can customize your project with color options, seamless floors and slip-resistant additives. These customizations can increase production time and/or materials, which will ultimately lead to a higher project cost.
Choose from a variety of colors
Our polyurea chips system already has a variety of chip colors, but you can create your own color combination for $300. For a flat $450, you can also customize the chips with neon colors.
Logos, Patterns & Glitter
You can also customize your chips with specific patterns or logos (each costing $500) and adding glitter. These options can add significant cost as they require additional labor and start at $2000.
Seamless Flooring
A seamless floor is another option for aesthetic customization. Your concrete coating will have seams where different concrete slabs meet. You can use joint filler to seal those seams, giving your floor an infinitely smooth appearance. A flexible plural component polyurea joint-filler is used. The price per foot (plf) varies depending on the depth and width of the seams.
Slip-Resistant Flooring
You may need to ensure that your floors are slip-resistant depending on what you plan to use your space for. This is important if you plan to cover pool decks with a coating, but it can also be useful if your garage is used for a yoga studio or similar purpose. Although slip-resistant additives are not expensive, we offer two types of silica. A mixture can be used. You can also buy them individually for $0.25 per square feet (psf) or in combination for $0.50 psf.
Factor 5 – Time & Materials
Concrete coating projects are also priced based on time (labor hours) as well as materials (all supplies). The price will vary depending on how big your space is and any customizations you make. The base cost per square feet is determined by the time and materials involved.
The cost of a square foot includes installation, application, drying, and set-up. A small area will require less labor and time. A larger area will require less set-up time and drying time. This means that the cost per square foot (psf), is lower. Average times and materials costs are between $6.90 per square foot (for a space of 900 feet) and 9.00 per square foot (for an area of 300 feet). The price per square foot increases if you have a smaller area.
Verticals/stem walls and garage apron are additional project elements that will be charged to the base price per square foot. These enhancements will improve the aesthetic appeal of your space by giving it a continuous look with the new coating.
Verticals (or Stem Walls)
Verticals, also known as Stem Walls, are the structures that connect your floors to your walls. To reduce the contrast between wall and floor, you can coat them. Prices per linear foot (plf) vary depending on the height of verticals. Verticals are priced from $6-15 per linear foot and have a height range of less than 5 inches to more than 12 inches. Due to their rough texture or holes, some stem walls may require additional preparation.
Garage Aprons
Garage apron refers to a portion of the floor that extends beyond garage doors to connect with driveway. This area is added onto the total square footage of concrete coating projects and is priced accordingly. Although some contractors may not consider this an important detail, we coat the apron with a finish coat to give it a finished look. This price is therefore included in our total cost and not reflected separately.
Steps
Coating steps is more complex and therefore costs separately. The unit pricing is usually $150-300 per standard step depending on its length and height.
Contractors can vary the average cost per square foot. The time and labor required to complete the project, the origin of the product or material and the quality and standard of the installation are all factors that contribute to this variation.
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