Professional preparation for long-lasting floors
Coatings need a clean, textured surface to bond correctly. Skip the prep and you risk peeling, bubbling or premature failure. That is why preparation is the most important part of every Hardshell installation, and why DIY kits and paint-on epoxies so often fail.
Before we arrive
We will confirm your install date and time, let you know what to move out of the space and answer any questions. Please clear the floor of vehicles, boxes and stored items so we can start right away.
Step 1: Grinding the surface
We use commercial diamond grinders to open the pores of the concrete and create a uniform profile the coating can grip. Grinding also removes old paint, sealers and failing coatings.
Step 2: Containing dust and debris
Our grinders are connected to industrial vacuums to capture dust at the source, keeping your home, vehicles and neighbors’ property clean.
Step 3: Removing contaminants
Oil, grease, rust and other contaminants are treated and removed so they do not interfere with the bond. Cracks, pits and spalls are repaired so they do not show through the finish.
Step 4: Removing the weak top layer
New and older slabs often have a weak, powdery top layer called laitance. Grinding removes it down to sound concrete, so the coating bonds to the strong slab underneath, not to a layer that can flake away.
After prep: ready for coating
With a clean, sound, profiled surface, we apply the polyurea base coat, broadcast your chosen flake, scrape and vacuum the excess and finish with a clear polyaspartic top coat. This is how we build floors that last and why we can back them with a limited lifetime warranty.