Concrete floor preparation can be tedious work. At Manhattan Concrete Systems we combine years of experience with an affordable price to prove you an excellent value.
Success in any flooring job begins with the proper steps to get ready. So when it comes to having the best concrete floor preparation, call Manhattan Concrete Services. Whether you are planning a simple re-pour or need a completely new surface, preparation matters. To be ready for beautiful resin or epoxy coatings, your floors demand perfect preparation.
We are proud to be the areas most sought after concrete systems company, and we have the portfolio to show for it. We don’t cut corners or hurry through this critical step, and that leaves you with the perfectly prepped floor. For epoxies or other resinous products, our team is top-notch.
Proper Concrete Floor Preparation Is the Key
Getting ready for a new floor may seem like a simple process. Just remove the old material that’s on the floor and add the new product. In reality, there is more to it than that. That’s why hiring Manhattan Concrete Systems makes all the difference.
All floors are not created equal, and neither are all finishes or surfaces. It takes a vast amount of knowledge and experience to ensure success in this project. As luck would have it, we have both. We take care of imperfections so that you have the show-room floor you deserve.
Floors may be pitted, chipped, or uneven. This situation requires more extensive prepping and more sophisticated craftsmanship. MCS can handle it.
Tried-and-True System
We start with a thorough examination of your existing floor. After a meticulous inspection, we meet with you to review the preparation plan. We will go over each part of the process to be sure you can ask questions and understand what to expect.
This step is an essential part of the process, and we know what we’re doing. Without excellent communication, it is hard to have success. Our clear explanations are why our clients always feel so prepared. We’ve been doing this for years and know how to do the job right.
Laitance
Once we remove the excess material, sealant, or coating, we deal with the laitance. Laitance is weak concrete in unstable top layers. Our top-of-the-line diamond grinders will remove any unnecessary and troublesome layers.
Applications
Once we finish grinding, it’s time for any special applications the floor requires. This step is when we can adjust the concrete surface profile, or CSP. This phrase is just a fancy term that describes how rough the unfinished surface of the concrete is.
A smooth surface has a low profile number. A rough, bumpy surface has a higher number. To determine the correct CSP, we have to look at the type of coating or overlay. Attention to detail is critical in this step.
Moisture Sealant
Next up is the application of a moisture sealant. Using this polymer-based product will prolong the life of your floor and keep it looking great for years to come. In fact, we offer a ‘grind and seal’ option for our customers. This process makes the sealant the top-coat finish.
Safety Considerations
We know that commercial and industrial floors need to have more than just an attractive finish. Safety is a significant consideration when it comes to our preparation. We use no-slip finishes that will help keep your safety record spotless. From runway models to hotel guests, our floors keep everyone on their feet.
Polish
After the necessary scraping, grinding, and sealing, it’s time for us to polish. This process will also bring out the natural beauty of the floor. Nothing says NYC like a lustrous, shiny concrete floor.
Premier Work for Our Premier City
We love living and working in NYC and the surrounding communities. We take pride in being the top-of-the-line company for concrete floor preparation for businesses all over town. Reach out today, and let’s get started.
eco-friendly Concrete floor restoration and resurfacing
Yes, you can get rid of cracked, old, or rough concrete, and restore it to a beautiful glass-like sheen. Simply hire us to resurface it.
Concrete floor restoration and resurfacing involves pouring a new layer of self-leveling concrete over the old layer. Once dry, we can polish it, or coat it with epoxy.
Concrete is the greenest flooring material on the planet.
That’s because most modern buildings are constructed on concrete slab. Leveraging the original concrete saves trees, landfill space, and money. And you get a low-maintenance, durable (harder to chip or dent) floor that’s every bit as beautiful as you want it to be.
As with all concrete flooring jobs, concrete floor restoration and resurfacing helps save the environment (no wood or tiles necessary). But you really need the best equipment and techniques to do it right. Using our top-of-class equipment and tried-and-true methods, we perform the job with remarkable precision, and our ordinary attention to budgets, timelines, and safety.
Note: To care for your newly resurfaced concrete floor, simply sweep and mop with water, and re-wax or re-seal just once a year.
Why concrete cracks
Plastic shrinkage is the most frequent cause of cracking of concrete floors. Until hardening, concrete floors are still full of water and in a more foldable-or plastic-state. This moisture makes the slab of a particular size and induces displacement. When it loses moisture, the concrete dries and heals and gets smaller. Falling moisture can eventually lead to cracks in the concrete floor, so shrinkage can cause stress on the already very rigid material. Reduction especially happens if the concrete dries too quickly.
Another explanation why concrete will fracture is due to internal expansion. As the weather gets warm, excessively high temperatures can allow a concrete slab to stretch. This expansion can cause cracking if the concrete has no space to stretch and pushes against a nearby slab or adjacent wall. In northern states, intense cold will have a similar impact when groundwater freezes, extends, and moves the concrete slab upward from below.
However, asphalt surfaces can even deteriorate due to road salt, battery acid, grease, diesel, high traffic patterns, rain or extreme weather conditions. But no matter whether it has been affected, if left unchecked, concrete can and will continue to worsen over time. Chips, fractures, and holes may become road hazards and injuries waiting to happen.
A resurfacing specialist can protect the floor from further decay by applying a sheet of concrete powder or overlay. Another option is to polish the surface of the slab. Any of these options will refresh the concrete’s look and prolong its lifespan. This method is also helpful in modernizing and upgrading templates and removing discoloration due to years of stains and wear and tear.
Restoring and Resurfacing Uneven or Cracked Floors
If your floor is uneven, that doesn’t mean you can’t still get a beautiful decorative concrete floor installed. Using a concrete floor leveler, MCS can level any uneven surface while also fixing cracks and other issues. The concrete MCS installs will always have the max potential lifespan, giving you more value for your money. If you’re ready to resurface your concrete floors, contact us or call us at 646-476-8376.
How to Refinish and Resurface Concrete Floors
- Prepare & Repair. Etch, grind, or shot blast the concrete surface to make it porous. Then fix cracks or other existing damage.
- Clean & Prime. Mop and let the concrete slab dry. Apply primer if necessary.
- Mix Product. Mix the new concrete material to prepare it for application. This is where you can add in color for a desired look.
- Apply Overlay. Depending on the desired look, apply the overlay by spraying, rolling, or troweling.
- Add Patterns & Texture. Using hand-trowels, rakes, stamps and other specialty tools, get the patterns and textures you want.
- Cure and Seal. After the overlay cures, add a sealer for additional protection. We’re often asked if concrete patios should be sealer, and our answer is yes. A sealer will preserve the look of your patio (or any concrete surface) longer. It increases stain resistance and extends the longevity of the concrete.
Self-Leveling Concrete
Self-Leveling Concrete is a versatile, strong material that is used to make existing floors (sheet vinyl, vinyl composition tile (VCT), wood, ceramic tile and carpet) smoother, flatter, and stronger. This type of concrete is a polymer-modified cement that has high flow characteristics and comes in two forms: underlayment and overlayment. MCS uses the most advanced concrete floor leveling systems and is committed to providing the best self leveling concrete services in New York.
Self-Leveling Underlayment - Smooth and Correct Floors
Underlayment material is used to level uneven, grooved, and/or heavily pitted floors in order to make them stable, flat and suitable for installation of sheet vinyl, vinyl composition tile (VCT), wood, ceramic tile, hardwood or carpet. Underlayments may vary in depth from feather-edge to depths of 2 inches or more.
Overlayment - Floor Toppings
Typical Applications
Correct Uneven Floors
Achieve a "level" floor with minimal height variations and higher compressive strength.
Provide Smooth Surface
Provide a smooth surface for carpet, tile, or other floor installations.
Repair Damaged Concrete
Are your floors worn down? Self leveling concrete can be used to make repairs and bring your floors back to life.
Advantages of Using Self-Leveling Concrete
- Self-leveling concrete can be laid on top of any non-flexible surface, such as wood, ceramic tile, LVP, or plywood.
- Self-leveling concrete dries very quickly. This allows for a quick turn around.
- It creates a smooth surface that is also very strong, which makes self-leveling concrete an excellent candidate as an underlay for other types of floorings.
- It can even be used as a stand alone flooring option.
- Self-leveling concrete is stronger than normal concrete, which means it can be used for reinforced concrete construction.
- Self-leveling concrete is very unlikely to cause allergic reactions, which is why Manhattan Concrete services offers MICROPEL® antimicrobacterial concrete flooring.
- Self-leveling concrete also does not require the addition of water, which makes it more resistant to mold growth than regular concrete.
- It is also highly viscous, so it does not need to be spread with a trowel.
Disadvantages of Using Self-Leveling Concrete
- Self-leveling concrete does not reinforce the underlayer on which it is laid on top of. If anything happens to the subfloor, the self-leveling compound can loosen, break up, and cause damage.
- Self-leveling concrete also dries really quickly. The drying period can take as little as 20 minutes. so there is no time to mess around!
- It can splash onto materials and permanently stain them since the mix is very aqueous.
- Self-leveling concrete does not stick well to a subfloor with any substances on it, so it must be wiped completely clean beforehand.
