The foundation for successful floor coating installations

By The Coffee Shops™. 

Product performance depends on proper installation practices that help contractors deliver long-lasting results. 

After identifying the right coating system for a project, successful results depend on something equally important: proper installation. 

In an episode of the CoatingsCast™ podcast, Karen Edwards and Ryan Zabel of APF Polymer Surfaces explored the practical steps contractors can take to maximize coating performance and avoid common application issues. 

Ryan's most important recommendation is simple: test products before bringing them to a large jobsite. “I always recommend using the material on a sample, doing a mockup before you actually try to achieve the application work,” Ryan said. 

Mockups allow contractors to understand how a product behaves and give applicators confidence before moving into full-scale work. Ryan emphasized that assuming one product will perform exactly like another can create challenges, especially when working with new formulations. Additionally, factors like the climate or base material can impact application practices or dry time, making a mockup a useful source of information.  

He also shared several application best practices. For topcoat installations, Ryan recommends a crosshatch rolling pattern to help create a more uniform finish. “As long as you don't see any wet roller lines, that floor is going to be like new money the next day you walk in,” Ryan said. 

The discussion also covered restoration projects, where existing floors can often be renewed instead of completely replaced. Ryan highlighted a project at a screen-printing facility that presented unique challenges. Due to the nature of the business, the current epoxy floor was stained in many places. This required an extra step. The existing coated floor was abraded, cleaned, prepared and recoated. The owner was satisfied with the results and eventually expanded the project throughout the facility. 

Listen to the entire podcast or Watch the video to learn more about high-performance concrete floor coating installation and training.