Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can I have a custom concrete surface on our second floor?
A. While polished concrete finishes have been generally associated with slab on ground type construction, now with the new technologies for concrete flooring available, there are no restrictions on creating those polished floors over lightweight concrete, and thin 2' topping slabs.
Q. How long does it take to complete a polished or stamped concrete floor?
A. The timetable for the typical 2000 sq.ft. - 5000 sq.ft. project, with 3-5 men:
Day 1 - Mask, Sand, Wash, Rinse, Patch, Prime
Day 2 - Prime and install Concrete Topping
Day 3 - Basic Secondary Coloration e.g. Patina Etch Stain, or concrete dying - and first coat of Sealer if time permits.
Day 4 - Second coat of Sealer and two coats of Deco Finish
More time will be required for speciality custom concrete flooring work.
Note: Smaller projects have about the same time schedule.
Q. Once installed, how should I maintain the new custom concrete floor?
A. Simply vaccuum your stamped concrete floor from time to time, and when there's dirt or grime, a quick wash with a mild detergent and rinse. The occasional coat of Deco Finish, depending on foot traffic will act as the sacrificial wearing surface for your concrete floor. CMA Group will assist you in your maintainence plan. Concrete floors are the simpliest, healthiest form of flooring today...with the added artistic looks~ What a great idea! See our page on Caring for your Concrete Floors
Q. Do you always use a concrete topping as the base for all your coloration systems?
A. No, not always. CMA Group will make that decision once we have inspected the existing concrete surface and the surrounding structure. Sometimes we come can customize existing concrete with our coloration techniques and graphics. It depends on the finish requested. Keep in mind, a newly placed stamped concrete floor at the completion of the construction process, solves the problem of trying to protect the concrete floor during construction. It allows us more control with color and texture.
Q. How do I get started project installed?
A. CMA Group has extensive experience in stamped and customized concrete. Through careful analysis of your existing flooring, we will determine what direction would best suit you. See more information on The CMA Difference
Q. Does Stamped Concrete Fade?
A. Cleaning and sealing stamped and colored concrete should be done on a regular basis just like any other home maintenance. The frequency will depend on how high a traffic area to cars, foot traffic, water, and any chemicals the concrete is exposed to.
We recommend resealing every 2 or 3 years. If you wait longer, you may notice the color fade slightly. But just like waxing a car, reseal your stamped concrete and the color will be as vibrant as the day it was installed. CMA Group offers maintenance service plans for upkeep of you stamped concrete.
Q. What if I have a concrete floor that sometimes gets wet?
A.
Slabs placed in wet weather result in a richer stain color if the concrete is stained soon after it’s placed. However, wet slabs are more likely to effloresce, lightening the color and causing a more mottled effect in areas where the stain doesn’t take because efflorescing salts hinder penetration. On sunny days, the concrete can become hot and dry, and the stains won’t penetrate as deeply into the concrete.
The continued presence of water will cause the reaction to continue for a long time, and concrete stained blue-green will gradually turn brown or even black. Initially, this provides nice variation to the appearance, but eventually, nearly all the blue-green color may change to brown and black. Because of the possible color shifts, some manufacturers advise against using these colors for exterior concrete. Interior slabs must be placed on a well-drained base or sub-grade and have a low moisture content before stain is applied. Jones believes the brown-colored "flowering" of blue-green stains is caused by oxidation of a copper component resulting from water vapor passing through the slab. Others believe the brown color is caused by a fungus, which can be eliminated by using sealers containing a fungicide.
Q. How long will my new stamped concrete floor last?
A. Well, I've seen Patina acid stain projects down for over 70 years and still look great, and when it comes to our concrete stamping, we have floors all overAmerica for over ten years and still look new. Many with extremely high foot traffic flows in commercial applications and even to the extent of covering the asphalt road entrance have been successful for decades.
Q. Will my concrete floor crack?
A. The potential for cracking is always there, that's a guarantee. Preventing Concrete Cracks
Perhaps this section should be titled, "Attempting to Prevent Concrete Cracks", or "Minimizing Concrete Cracks", as it is impossible to guarantee against cracking.
Q. Why does concrete crack?
Reason #1 - Excess water in the mix
Shrinkage is a main cause of cracking. As concrete hardens and dries it shrinks. This is due to the evaporation of excess mixing water. The wetter or soupier the concrete mix, the greater the shrinkage will be. Concrete slabs can shrink as much as 1/2 inch per 100 feet. This shrinkage causes forces in the concrete which literally pull the slab apart. Cracks are the end result of these forces.
Reason #2 - Rapid Drying of the concrete
Also, rapid drying of the slab will significantly increase the possibility of cracking. The chemical reaction, which causes concrete to go from the liquid or plastic state to a solid state, requires water. This chemical reaction, or hydration, continues to occur for days and weeks after you pour the concrete.
CMA GROUP will make sure that the necessary water is available for this reaction by adequately curing the slab.
Reason #3 - Improper strength concrete poured on the job.
Concrete is available in many different strengths and CMA Group will verify what strength the concrete you are pouring should be poured. CMA GROUP uses 4000 psi for all of its concrete and also reinforces it with wire mesh.
Reason #4 - Lack of control joints.
Control joints help concrete crack where you want it to. The joints should be ¼ of the depth of the slab and no more than 2-3 times (in feet) of the thickness of the concrete (in inches). So 4"concrete should have joints 8-12' apart. We will discuss with you the best place for the control joints to be to eliminate and control any cracks that may occur.
Q. What colors and patterns are available for my custom concrete flooring ?
A. Endless. For years, concrete flooring was only available in just pastels and earth tones. Now because of technology we can produce some pretty wild and funky custom concrete floors.
|
