Kitchen Flooring Houma Louisiana

Here’s a unique cost saving application for thousands of properties nationwide. Mike Hollohan of Custom Stone Manufacturing provided new kitchen flooring in a Houma Louisiana residence.

The product was a self leveling concrete applied 3/8 inch thick right over existing ceramic tile. The product used was Param 5500 from Duraamen a product manufacturer and distributor owned by Victor Pachade.

After the self leveling concrete was applied and cured the floor was stained using Deco Dyes in Salmon and Burleywood. Finally the floor was sealed with Texture Seal and Waterbased Epoxies all products in the Duraamen line.

The kitchen flooring project in Houma Louisiana only took a few days. The finish result saved the owner thousands of dollars and countless hours searching for solutions to a potentially complicated project. 

All products used in the Kitchen Flooring project were supplied by Duraamon. For additional info contact Custom Stone Manufacturing in Houma La. www.customstoneconcrete.com

Victor Pachade can be reached at www.duraamen.com

Polyaspartic Floor Coatings

Visit www.gfonecoatings.com for more information about GF One Coatings of Minnesota.

During the past six months I spent a lot of time learning about Polyaspartic floor coatings from Joe Sheehan. Joe is based in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota.

Polyaspartic Floor Coatings are a two component product that when mixed and applied to concrete floors creates the highest quality finish on concrete today. A lot of epoxy professionals will get steaming hot mad at me for saying this but polyasrtic floor coatings blow the doors off epoxies.

However not all polyaspaics are the same. Joe is a partner in One Day Floors who has worked with the master blender to develop the highest quality polyaspartic on the market. It’s not just the polyaspatic that works but the unique combination of concrete surface preparation and application of the poly.

Joe along with Steve Conklin a distributor of One Day Floors Polyaspartic Floor Coatings in Colorado and owner of Garage Dekor have developed a state of the art surface prep system. They took the best of numerous floor grinding machines and diamond blades to come up with their own proprietary surface prep system. The system is fast and effective. It enables One Day Floor applicators to provide a unique product for their clients.

The reason surface prep is critical is that Polyaspartic Floor Coatings will absorb into the concrete when proper grinding opens up the pores. This enables the poly to harden as part of the concrete rather than sticking to the surface. It will not delaminate like epoxies. It also doesn’t collect dirt and yellow like epoxy coatings.

The photos above are of a 10,000 square foot floor that was completed in 3 days. The owner an auto collector was able to drive on the floor the fourth day. Depending on the size of the floor and challenge with surface prep floors can be completed in one day and driven on the next even with fork lifts.

Polyaspartic Floor Coatings are the ultimate industrial application but are highly decorative and ideal for retail stores and restaurants.

One Day Floors Polyaspartic Floor Systems are available nationwide for any size floors from 500 square foot garages to 500,000 square foot aircraft hangars and everything in between.

Joe Sheehan can be reached at 651-748-3626

Joe Sheehan

The system is available in 12 and 18 inch square tiles. There are 8 colors and various styles for creating unlimted custom patterns.

Installation is quick and a simple do it yourself product. Most 2 car garages which are approximately 22 feet x 22 feet or 500 square feet can be installed in a few hours.

The only tool you may need is a skill or jig saw to cut tile for precise fits around columns, stairs or irregular edges.

Durability is unsurpassed. The custom garage floor tiles will hold up to hot tire issues and chemicals. There’s not much issue about wearing out. They are easy to clean and will retain their original look indefinately.

Pricing is very reasonable at approximately $3.50 per square foot or about $1,750.00 for a 500 square foot 2 car garage for the most popular style. Some tiles are less and there are a few much more expensive used for displaying cars, boats and motorcycles.

RaceDeck interlocking garage floor tiles have been featured on many TV shows like Monster Garage, Two Wheel Tuesday, Extreme Makeover, Dream Car Garage and are regularly seen on Russo and Steele Car Autions on ESPN.

The advantages are many.

1. Seamless – a concrete floor has nowhere for food grease and dirt to collect. They’re clean

2. Custom – Ambiance and theme are critical to restaurants. Color can be varied. For example vaious reds blues and yellows can be added to a mahogany floor near a fireplace. The colors will pull the color of fire into the floor and make it glow. Color can be used randomly so floor is not one pattern. The bar area can have a different look then dining area without seeing a transition.

3. Maintenance – There are specific products that are effective for cleaning food grease from floor, bacteria in kitchens, bar and bathrooms and floor waxes that can be lightly stripped and recoated when worn. This process actually createds additional wax coats over time for a super durable floor.

The labor savings and cost of material is very inexpensive when properly applied.

The Flattoo is designed to stick firmly to a concrete surface. Adhereing to concrete is critical. Preventing color from seeping under the Flattoo is why the adhesion is so important.

Flattooing can be simple. Anyone can achieve simple but outstanding results. For the artist there is no limit. The process is a system which includes the Flattoo and “Gelled Acid” patented by Surface Gel Tek and creator of the Flattoo.

Flattoo’s can be designed in any size based off any image. Totally custom. There are 100’s that can be purchased off the company web site.

The Flattooing process is applied to stained concrete and concrete overlays.

Once the floor is stained the Flattoo is applied to floor by removing sticky backing. Using a plastic trowel the Flattoo is burnished onto the floor removing any air and getting flat. Using the Gelled Acid called “Tek Gel for Flattooing” apply over Flattoo using an inexpensive paint brush. Let sit for a few minutes then wipe off with a damp rag. Then proceed.

Once the entire Flattoo has been “gelled” remove the Flattoo from the floor. Voila! An antiqued image. Now the floor can be sealed with concrete sealers.

If the gel is left on for longer, maybe up to 15 minutes the acid stain will be completely removed from the floor. Now you can add color. Color dyes can be mixed with “Stain Mule” an acid free gel. The Mule works as a carrier of color and prevents color from seeping under the Flattoo. Results are truly limited to imagination and skill.

The Flattoo process adds a uniqueness to a concrete floor coating. It is an extremely versatile process. Some artisans have taken the process to a new level and creating art for sale. Using a cement board with a skim coat becomes the canvas.

One company called Caribou Art is creating outdoor art. This is artwork that can be hung on exterior walls. Because the art is protected with concrete sealers it will endure the enviroment. They have been used for outdoor kitchens and even in cold winter areas as signs.

Overlays are mixed with polymers which add strength and bond to existing concrete surfaces. When mixed it is the consistancy of pancake mix.

When mixed it is wet and cannot be applied like a plaster so for vertical surfaces it needs to be rolled or sprayed on then smoothed with a squeegy like tool.

The spray tool is called a hopper gun. A hopper gun is hooked up to an air compressor with a gravity feed bucket on top the gun handle. The overlay product is poured in the bucket and then sprayed on an existing vertical concrete surface then smoothed. It is a fast process, much quicker then working with plaster and a trowel.

Any color can be achieved. The overlay will go over brick, concrete block, concrete and even asphalt. Even old concrete statues can be resurfaced, pools, fish ponds, bridges, tunnels, columns, foundation walls, tanks.

Anywhere you see concrete, it can be resurfaced and sealed in any color.

This is due to very passionate and creative concrete artisans who are pushing hard. The ideas and quality of workmanship is extraordinary. Artisans are resurfacing concrete with concrete overlays and artistic results.

I think it’s just a matter of time before the advertising industry catches on to the potential of using concrete as a canvas for advertising.

When I look around at highway barriers, bridges, bus stops, train stations, sidewalks I think they should all be resurfaced. Many surfaces have potential for advertising.

Surface Gel Tek has been one of the early pioneers in this market. They create stencils called “Flattoos” specifically for application to concrete. They can make any image and any size. If Coke wanted a 30 foot tall bottle on a column it can be created and the concrete artisans will apply it.

Colors are mixed with a gel which acts as a carrier for stains and dyes. Sharp crisp lines are the result. The Gel prevents the color from seeping under the edge of the “flattoo”. Once applied concrete sealers protect the image for years.

The concept is starting to be seen in schools, universities, retail stores and restauarants everywhere.

We will definately see concrete put to work as a decorative surface and for signs and advertising very soon.

Steps that look like they should be removed can be resurfaced and look brand new. A fairly simple, low construction process.

Cracks can be filled with epoxy filler with sand added. Spalling or crumbling concrete can be repaired with hydrolic cement which dries fast or a patching product with polymer hardner added for increased strength.

Once the steps are repaired a concrete overlay can be mixed with any color and applied to the concrete. The overlay can be smoothed with a Magic Trowel which is a squeegy like tool that is used to spread and smooth the overlay.

Overlays come in various courseness. For interior floors the first coat is typically called course or regular and the second coat is fine. For steps 2 coats of the coarse will help create a non-slip surface.

Once the concrete dries usually at least overnight, sealers are applied with a non slip additive.

The result is a brand new interior or exterior surface that will last for years.

Check out www.decorativeconcretekits.com for more information

The biggest problem I continually hear from concrete applicators and artisans is clients whining about the floor when complete. Clients get this image in their head, more a fantasy, this when the floor is complete they are faced with reality. The floor can be beautiful but they are dissatisfied.

I’ve seen it myself. I’ve looked at some of these beautiful floors and said “wow” then looked at the long sad face of the client. My comment is “you don’t like it?”

The biggest issue is wrong choice of color or design. The floor should not steal the show in a room. The wrong choice of color or design will draw the eye to the floor and away from everything else.

Design in a room starts with the floor. Then wall coverings, windows, furntiture, lighting are added. All these components together create the image and design.

I have found that the more dramatic floors with various colors require unique design skills to pull it off. Check out these pictures. same product, similar environment, different colors, different image.

As I write I am siting in my beautifully built out basement office . My floor is wall to wall carpet which was installed 10 years ago before most people had ever heard of concrete stains and overlays. The air quality is terrible. It’s hard to put my finger on it but I know I feel better when I go upstairs.

My dehumidifier goes on and off. Every few days in winter I have to empty the 2 gallon container, in summer everyday. That can’t be good for air quality and is certainly unhealthy. Though I can’t see it, the combination of dust and moisture living in my carpet must create mold.

What are the options?

1. Hardwood – doesn’t work. 2 reasons. First it raises the height of the floor at steps and doorways. Few homes were designed for basement floors other than concrete, its always an afterthought. Raise the floor height and you violate code at steps and have a doorjam issue. Second moisture will cause hardwood to expand and contract causing floor to buckle.

2. Ceramic Tile – Like hardwood there is the height issue at doorways and steps. The negative is the grout lines where dirt and moisture settle. A big advantage if height is not an issue is you can install a radiant heat mat, then install tile. A great solution, but expensine.

3 Vinyl tile – Thin and inexpensive. Moisture coming through a concrete slab can delaminate tile. Vinly or linoleum are not breathable so moisture will not penetrate. Instead it will trap moisture. If you get water in basement it will settle in joints where tile meets tile.

4. Carpet – carpet definately will warm up a cold damp basement. However it will work like a sponge for moisture and collects dust. A great breading ground for mold. A great solution is to either seal, stain and seal your concrete floor or install a concrete overlay then put down area rugs and runners. The area rugs and runners can be removed for cleaning or easily replaced.

5. Concrete Overlays - concrete overlays are also referred to as skim coats. They are thin coats of very fine concrete. They are mixed to the consistancy of pancake mix in 5 gallon buckets with a drill and inexpensive mixing paddle. They are applied with 2 coats about 1/16th of an inch thick. After the concrete dries it gets sealed.

Now you have a thin seamless floor in any color. Clean, easy to clean, breathable so moisture can pass through. Mold resistant, any mold can be easily cleaned. Thin so height is not an issue.

Solves just about all basement floor covering issues. Add area rugs for warmth and decor. They can removed to clean or thrown out and replaced. Many area rugs are inexpensive. Cost for materials is below $2.00 per square foot.Due to new improvements and developments with overlays there are a few systems on the market that are easy to apply.

Check out www.decorativeconcretekits.com for more information.