Living in Denver comes with many perks, including access to a variety of outdoor activities, urban amenities, frequent professional sporting events, and a vibrant cultural scene. But, there are a few drawbacks, including the city’s snowy, icy, freezing winters. While below-freezing temperatures can make you shiver, the problem goes beyond personal discomfort.
Your home, and more specifically your concrete surfaces, face harsh conditions day after day that leave them looking worn down. That’s where professional Polyaspartic coatings come in. While DIY coatings kits may be a good option for homeowners in states with milder climates, homeowners across the city are beginning to realize that these store-bought kits don’t offer quite as much protection as they suggest.
In this blog, we’ll explore the many risks of leaving your concrete floors unfinished and why professional Polyaspartic coatings should always be your top choice for long-term protection.
The Magnesium Chloride Factor
It is incredibly important to residents across Denver that the roads are quickly and efficiently salted and plowed following heavy snowfall. This essential task makes the commute to work and school much safer and more comfortable for drivers across the city. But, the snow melting and snow removal process does come with some consequences.
The city relies heavily on the use of magnesium chloride and rock salt to melt ice. While this combination is incredibly effective for keeping the roads ice-free, it also attaches itself to your vehicle’s tires and finds its way into your garage. Your porous, unfinished concrete floors are then met with an incredibly abrasive agent that slowly eats away at them.
That’s where professional Polyaspartic coatings come in. Unlike DIY coatings, professional Polyaspartic coatings create an impenetrable, non-porous barrier. With these coatings in place, you don’t have to worry about these harmful, abrasive chemicals leeching into the floors, leading to long-term damage like spalling and efflorescence.
Solving the Dusting Problem in Denver New Builds
Between 2020 and 2024, the Greater Denver area experienced a population increase of over 160,000 people. While this is great for Denver’s rapidly growing economy, it also meant that real estate developers began building homes faster than ever before. Areas like Castle Rock, Parker, and Aurora saw the greatest growth.
These new construction homes were the perfect place for new residents to call home, but they came with one major problem: dusty concrete floors. You may have initially thought this dust was a result of windy days. However, concrete dust is actually the result of the surface of your concrete breaking down after constant exposure to the freeze-thaw cycle.
When you invest in a professional Polyaspartic coating, you aren’t just ensuring your concrete doesn’t break down prematurely. You seal it so you don’t have to worry about tracking this annoying white dust into your home. Not only will it keep you safer, but it will help you avoid the harmful effects of exposure to silica, which can result in a life-altering silicosis diagnosis.
The Outdoor Living Extension
When you live in a place like Denver, you get to enjoy over 300 sunny days a year. Whether you moved to the city for snowboarding, skiing, hiking, or mountain biking, most residents would say that the outdoor access is a big selling point. When you’re at home, you want to ensure your outdoor living space is prepared to stand up to regular use.
But, coupling frequent use with sun exposure at 5,280 feet, your concrete may not be looking its best. Constant sunshine dries out this already porous surface, resulting in cracks and degradation. That’s why it’s so important to skip out on the DIY kits and instead choose to coat patio and porch spaces with professional Polyaspartic coatings.
Polyaspartic coatings are UV-stable, meaning they won’t yellow or degrade with regular sun exposure. Beyond its ability to stand up to constant sun exposure and regular moisture, these coatings make cleaning a breeze. When they’re dirty, you can simply rinse the surface off with a hose, meaning worries about stains and damage are a thing of the past.
The Health of Your Home and Risk of VOCs
Denver residents are a notoriously health-conscious bunch. From ensuring they eat the best foods to getting plenty of exercise throughout the day, the American College of Sports Medicine named Denver the 5th fittest city in the nation. However, you may not realize your DIY epoxy flooring kit can take its own toll on your personal health.
Store-bought epoxy products are known for off-gassing harmful chemicals, also known as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), into your living space. Because your home spends the winter months tightly sealed against the cold, these fumes migrate into your home and fester, putting you and your loved ones at risk.
At Denver’s higher altitude, you may also notice that it is more difficult to remove these VOC smells from your home. Unlike store-bought epoxies, professional Polyaspartic coatings are low or no-VOC. Whether you have pets and small children or it’s just you in your home, investing in professional Polyaspartic coatings can help you avoid potential health complications from VOC exposure.
The Brewery & Small Biz Boom
Denver is quickly becoming the brewery capital of the world. On top of that, there are gyms and pet-friendly places around every corner, especially in neighborhoods like RiNo, LoHi,and Highlands. Unlike some other small businesses, the floors in breweries, gyms, and pet-friendly establishments face unique challenges.
Breweries deal with spills of incredibly acidic beer, while gyms face heavy weightlifting drops and pet-friendly spaces deal with dirty paws and sharp claws. If you attempt to use DIY floor coatings to keep your floors safe from this abuse, it may not stand up to it for very long. That’s why professional Polyaspartic coatings are so incredibly important.
Whether you own a well-established brewery or are considering opening a boutique gym or dog daycare, these coatings will help you keep your floors safe from abrasion. Additionally, with their anti-slip additives, you reduce your risk of slip-and-fall incidents; and their antimicrobial properties can help you avoid hygiene nightmares.
Choose Professional Polyaspartic Coatings for Your Denver Home
From new homeowners in Denver to long-time residents, our team at Solid Garage Floor Coatings is here to help you keep your concrete floors looking and performing their best. No matter what you want your floors to look like, you can rest assured that our professional Polyaspartic coatings are the perfect solution.
If you’d like to learn more about our professional Polyaspartic coatings or schedule installation for your home or business, don’t hesitate to contact us today.
