Job Prep
How to prepare for your concrete coating installation
Congratulations on your new purchase!
You will receive a call from our office within the next few days to set an approximate installation date for your new floor. The installation is weather and moisture-dependent and our installation crews carry moisture meters to check the floor before installation. If rescheduling is needed, you will be given the next available installation date. Our primary focus is to ensure you have a quality product that will last for years to come!
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How to prepare for your garage installation
Have you decided on a color?
We need to know this ASAP. Please email me back and let me know the color you have chosen so I can save it in your file. Here are the color selections again: Twisted Floors Concrete Coating Colors.
To prep for your installation
- Make sure the area is clear and moisture-free.
- All rugs, mats, carpets, potted plants, or other floor coverings must be removed early to allow the concrete to dry underneath where they were placed.
- Although our vacuum systems contain 95% of the dust generated, please remove any items you want additionally protected.
- Please keep the walls clear 2’ above the floor so there is enough room for the equipment to operate.
- Avoid parking on the floor the night before installation to avoid air conditioner moisture pools or snow melt.
- Make sure the garage is fully cleared out the day before installation.
- PLEASE turn off ALL yard and flower bed irrigation 2 PLUS days prior to the installation and for 36 hours after the installation. Moisture levels above 5.5% can delay your installation and increase costs.
- Reschedule ANY lawn maintenance or other trades on the day of installation and 36 hours after installation
- Check to make sure all roof, gutter, and drainage issues and water spigot leaks have been repaired.
- Trim all flowers, shrubs and grass that touch or don’t provide 1’ foot of overhead access to all the project areas. Our trucks need 12ft height clearance to pull in.
To prep for your installation
- Our installers typically arrive between 7am and 9am. If you are further away from our Waterford Shop, the later it will be.
- Installers will contact you directly when they are leaving the Waterford shop and heading to you.
- Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee an installation date. If your job is scheduled for Tuesday, it’s a good idea to be ready on Sunday and also be prepared that it might not start until Wednesday.
- Things like weather, trucks, and traffic can cause delays for day of installation
- If you will not be home when the installers arrive, please give our office the garage code. Also, please leave payment for the installation at the home with the installers.
- Make sure the driveway is EMPTY the morning of installation, our trucks and trailers need adequate space.
- No need to wash your floor BEFORE installation. A quick sweep/ leaf blowing is perfectly fine.
- If we are coating your garage floor, do not fully close the garage door until 24 hours after the garage floor has been finished.
- Do not walk on your floor for 36 hours.
- Do not drive on your floor for 48 hours.
- Do not move anything back into your garage before 72 hours.
- Please touch the floor with your finger before walking on the floor to make sure it is dry! You invested in your floor, so protect it by giving it the appropriate time to cure.
FINAL PAYMENT IS DUE THE DAY OF INSTALLATION
A check can be given directly to the installer.
- Our Process creates “dust”, our Products Contain “odor”, and our Machines create “noise”.
- We can’t be held responsible for any “slips/falls on our floor coatings.”
- Our floors (coatings) are Non-Porous (water will need to be removed in winter).
- We warranty the coating, not the concrete (substrate failure).
- We don’t guarantee that a project will be done in “one day.” All installation dates are booked “tentative” and can be moved.
- Sometimes “touch-ups” can happen with coatings. We will take care of any minor touch-ups within 7 days of installation.
- Our floors have a “high gloss” sheen and an “orange peel” texture and can look different in high and low spots with lighting.
- Repairs or touch-ups will be seen. (They blend over time)
- We will repair the affected area/square, not the whole garage.
- We will determine what’s acceptable or not acceptable “workmanship”. There are industry standards that we comply with.
- The floor can vary in color (dye lot) and/or texture.
- Twisted Floors is not responsible for any damage done by someone walking on the floor before 36 hours, or vehicular traffic for 72 hours.
- Other Trades/Traffic: Twisted Floors isn’t responsible for damage done to your floor by other trades (electricians, drywallers). The prep work is critical—to guarantee our workmanship, we need to have the project area to ourselves. This protects your floor, as well as all Twisted Floors employees. The project is to remain free of other trades for 48 hours. If you plan on painting the project area, we’ve found it best if this is done after the floor is installed. Please communicate this to other contractors to prevent confusion on the installation day.
- Dust: We use HEPA when prepping concrete. They capture 99.99% of dust, and we can’t be held responsible for the 0.01%. Our quotes don’t include any cleaning fees.
- Odor: Our products contain an odor, but low-odor products are available for an additional charge. Please inform the office if you’re concerned with odor before installation. The products we use are low VOCs and nontoxic. We’re not responsible for any adverse reactions or smells. The smell usually dissipates within 72 hours; if you need a hotel because of the project we are not responsible for the cost.
- Cleaning/Paint Touch-Ups: We will not be responsible for any cleaning fees or paint “touch-ups” With any flooring project paint touch-ups and general cleaning should be expected after project completion.
- Social Media: We take pictures of jobs and post them to help grow our small business. If you don’t want your project pictures posted, please email us at office@twistedfloors.com.
- Sample Colors: Colors can vary from the color of the flake selected. There are different dye lots when we receive them from the manufacturer. Texture can vary from samples to the floor installed. All of our jobs are bid with 1/4″ flake and for one of our stock colors. Custom flake blends add .95 to the total (excluding any flake blend requiring white or black).
- Level/Pitch: When we grind a floor we follow the contour of the floor, we don’t correct pitch or “level” floors.
- Appearance: The floor can look thinner or thicker in areas where light and high and low spots in the concrete exist. Our topcoats are “thin mil.” If you want the topcoat thicker, there is an additional charge.
- Acceptable Workmanship: We install our coatings per manufacturers’ recommendations, all floors are custom, and appearance can vary in light. We inspect floors from standing up/ 6LF away. Lighting and high/low spots on the floor can make our topcoat/flooring finish look different. This is normal and acceptable. Occasionally touch-ups are needed on the floor after the project.
- Online Proposals: Onsite walk-through is needed to validate the original estimate price and test substrate.
- Alarms/Smoke Detectors: We are not responsible for any alarm or smoke detector systems. Sprinklers, alarms, and sources of ignition (pilot lights) need to be turned off before the arrival of Twisted Floors employees.
- Documentation: We document all of our projects via photo and video.
For more information on concrete coating care, continue reading below.
How to prepare for your commercial installation
Have you decided on a color?
We need to know this ASAP. Please email us back and let us know the color you have chosen so it can be saved in your file. Review the color selections again if needed.
To prep for your commercial installation
- Make sure the area is clear and moisture-free.
- All rugs, mats, carpets, furniture, or other items covering the floor must be removed early to allow the concrete to dry underneath where they were placed.
- Although our vacuum systems contain 95% of the dust generated, please remove any items you want additionally protected.
- Please keep the walls clear 2’ above the floor so there is enough room for the equipment to operate
- Please turn off any interior irrigation systems (like the ones inside a cannabis facility or similar) 2 PLUS days before the installation and for 36 hours after the installation. Moisture levels above 5.5% can delay your installation and increase costs.
- Reschedule ANY building maintenance or other trades on the day of installation and 36 hours after installation
- Check to make sure all roof and drainage issues have been repaired.
- Try and schedule the service during a period of minimal disturbance to business hours of your commercial space. Give any employees a heads-up that a coating will be taking place.
- If the area where your concrete coating is taking place is an area of high traffic, rope the area off and place signs to prevent someone from accidentally walking in.
To prep for your commercial installation
- Our installers typically arrive between 7 am and 9 am. If you are further away from our Waterford shop, the later it will be.
- Installers will contact you directly when they are leaving the Waterford shop and heading to you.
- Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee an installation date. If your job is scheduled for Tuesday, it’s a good idea to be ready on Sunday and also be prepared that it might not start until Wednesday.
- Things like weather, trucks, and traffic can cause delays for the day of installation.
- If you will not be at the building when the installers arrive, please give our office the entry code or leave a door unlocked. Also, please leave payment for the installation at the building with the installers.
- Try and leave space in the parking lot or surrounding area of the building as open as possible on the morning of installation, as our trucks and trailers need adequate space.
- No need to wash your floor BEFORE installation. A quick sweep is perfectly fine.
- Do not walk on your floor for 36 hours.
- Do not drive on your floor for 48 hours.
- Do not move anything back into the freshly-coated space before 72 hours.
- Please touch the floor with your finger before walking on the floor to make sure it is dry! You invested in your floor, so protect it by giving it the appropriate time to cure.
FINAL PAYMENT IS DUE THE DAY OF INSTALLATION
A check can be given directly to the installer.
- Our Process creates “dust”, our Products Contain “odor”, and our Machines create “noise”.
- We can’t be held responsible for any “slips/falls on our floor coatings.”
- Our floors (coatings) are Non-Porous (water will need to be removed in winter).
- We warranty the coating, not the concrete (substrate failure).
- We don’t guarantee that a project will be done in “one day.” All installation dates are booked “tentative” and can be moved.
- Sometimes “touch-ups” can happen with coatings. We will take care of any minor touch-ups within 7 days of installation.
- Our floors have a “high gloss” sheen and an “orange peel” texture and can look different in high and low spots with lighting.
- Repairs or touch-ups will be seen. (They blend over time)
- We will repair the affected area/square, not the whole floor.
- We will determine what’s acceptable or not acceptable “workmanship”. There are industry standards that we comply with.
- The floor can vary in color (dye lot) and/or texture.
- Twisted Floors is not responsible for any damage done by someone walking on the floor before 36 hours, or vehicular traffic for 72 hours.
- Other Trades/Traffic: Twisted Floors isn’t responsible for damage done to your floor by other trades (electricians, drywallers). The prep work is critical—to guarantee our workmanship, we need to have the project area to ourselves. This protects your floor, as well as all Twisted Floors employees. The project is to remain free of other trades for 48 hours. If you plan on painting the project area, we’ve found it best if this is done after the floor is installed. Please communicate this to other contractors to prevent confusion on the installation day.
- Dust: We use HEPA when prepping concrete. They capture 99.99% of dust, and we can’t be held responsible for the 0.01%. Our quotes don’t include any cleaning fees.
- Odor: Our products contain an odor, but low-odor products are available for an additional charge. Please inform the office if you’re concerned with odor before installation. The products we use are low VOCs and nontoxic. We’re not responsible for any adverse reactions or smells. The smell usually dissipates within 72 hours; if you need a hotel because of the project we are not responsible for the cost.
- Cleaning/Paint Touch-Ups: We will not be responsible for any cleaning fees or paint “touch-ups” With any flooring project paint touch-ups and general cleaning should be expected after project completion.
- Social Media: We take pictures of jobs and post them to help grow our small business. If you don’t want your project pictures posted, please email us at office@twistedfloors.com.
- Sample Colors: Colors can vary from the color of the flake selected. There are different dye lots when we receive them from the manufacturer. Texture can vary from samples to the floor installed. All of our jobs are bid with 1/4″ flake and for one of our stock colors. Custom flake blends add .95 to the total (excluding any flake blend requiring white or black).
- Level/Pitch: When we grind a floor we follow the contour of the floor, we don’t correct pitch or “level” floors.
- Appearance: The floor can look thinner or thicker in areas where light and high and low spots in the concrete exist. Our topcoats are “thin mil.” If you want the topcoat thicker, there is an additional charge.
- Acceptable Workmanship: We install our coatings per manufacturers’ recommendations, all floors are custom, and appearance can vary in light. We inspect floors from standing up/ 6LF away. Lighting and high/low spots on the floor can make our topcoat/flooring finish look different. This is normal and acceptable. Occasionally touch-ups are needed on the floor after the project.
- Online Proposals: Onsite walk-through is needed to validate the original estimate price and test substrate.
- Alarms/Smoke Detectors: We are not responsible for any alarm or smoke detector systems. Sprinklers, alarms, and sources of ignition (pilot lights) need to be turned off before the arrival of Twisted Floors employees.
- Documentation: We document all of our projects via photo and video.
For more information on concrete coating care, continue reading below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a concrete coating-related question? We have the answer. Check out these FAQs and give us a call today for more information!
All floors and floor coatings can be slippery when wet, our concrete coatings are less slippery than regular concrete.
How do you know that your floors are less slippery than concrete?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has slip resistance requirements for floors. Concrete is around a 0.5 on the “slip meter”. OSHA requires 0.6 and our coatings are around 0.7.
We don’t promise a one-day floor system. Weather, concrete moisture levels, type of coating being used and many other factors inform us on how long a coating will take to install. We always tell our customers to plan for two days for a garage concrete coating.
We will discuss these details during your free estimate for your garage floor coating.
Summer: 24 hours after installation you can walk on the coating and you can drive on it in 48 Hours. Please don’t move anything heavy back into your garage for 72 hours.
Winter: 36 hours before you can walk on the floor and 72 hours before you can drive on the floor or move anything heavy back in.
No, as these are concrete coatings, you need to use these coatings only on concrete.
We install concrete coatings all year round, including during the winter months. Call us or contact us anytime for the coating you need!
We provide concrete floor coating services to Southeastern Wisconsin, including but not limited to Burlington, Franklin, Waterford, Lake Geneva, and Rochester. We’ll service as far east as Milwaukee and Kenosha as well. We are located in Waterford, WI but service all over southeastern Wisconsin. View our service areas here or contact us today to see if we provide services in your area!
Each project is customized to your particular flooring needs. Every job we do is different because we offer different types of coatings and finishes.
We will work with you to develop a free estimate keeping your budget in mind. We do have a minimum job charge of $3,200. Flake Concrete Coatings typically run around $7.00 – $8.00 per square foot depending on the condition of the concrete. Exact pricing will be discussed with you at your in person estimate.
Flake Concrete Coatings should last at least 15 years. We have been installing them for 7 years now and our coatings are still holding on strong. We don’t make any fake claims that we haven’t seen for ourselves.
Although our products do have a slight odor when they are first applied, the duration of the smell is very similar to when you paint your house. It will linger at first, but eventually dissipate over the course of a few days.
At Twisted Floors, we feel that HONESTY is the BEST policy. We use BOTH Polyurea and Epoxy Coatings. A polyurea /polyaspartic flooring coating system does have its benefits but some factors need to be considered when choosing which coating is best for your concrete. Many companies will tell you they primarily use polyurea over epoxy because it’s the best.
We believe that one size/one coating does not fit all concrete. One factor to consider and understand when choosing your coating is that not all concrete cures the same. It differs nationwide and leads to variations in concrete porosity and moisture transmission.
Polyurea coatings are not the best systems to install over highly porous concrete with high moisture transmission. Why? Because polyurea coatings are not moisture mitigating! Moisture transmitting through the concrete gets trapped under the coating and causes it to delaminate and peel.
At Twisted Floors, we select the proper coating type for your floor by testing the moisture and porosity of all concrete before coating to ensure that the right coating system is installed. We test the moisture content in your concrete on the day of the estimate and we also check it BEFORE we install the coating itself. We also perform a MOHS Hardness test to see the hardness of the underlying concrete.
If the company you meet with for estimates suggests a 1-day polyurea polyaspartic without first assessing your concrete and doing a moisture test, beware. NOT all concrete will work with a polyurea coating. Always make sure the company that you choose to install your concrete coating does the appropriate tests on your concrete and has knowledge of all types of coatings and why ONE system doesn’t work for all floors. Knowledge is KEY.
Our professionally installed garage floor coatings are safe for use with properly designed and installed radiant heating systems. They are highly efficient in sending warmth up through your garage floor.
According to the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, “63% of all U.S. households have a garage or carport” available to them, and nothing beats working in the garage when the Wisconsin winter weather drives you inside. Of course, it is essential to have a warm garage to work or hang out in, and radiant floor heating is very popular in garages in our area.
Yes, you can use a Swiffer, a stiff broom, and simple green diluted 10:1. Just simply squeegee out the excess water when you’re done. Our concrete coatings last longer if taken care of properly. General maintenance like on any flooring helps keep your floor lasting longer and looking its best.
Salt spots are a common issue in Wisconsin, especially when you’re going in and out of your garage during the winter months. Salt can damage coatings over time by causing corrosion to occur under the surface. In order to avoid subsequent cracking, crumbling, and discoloration, clean salt spots as soon as they appear. We recommend using Parsons Ammonia (½ cup per gallon of warm water) and getting it off the floor immediately after cleaning.
We understand that people like to do automotive work and other projects in their garage. Concrete coatings are very resistant to chemicals and other abrasions, so you are able to carry on with your usual work inside your garage. However, it’s best to not let any spills sit on the floor for too long, and to clean up any messes right away to avoid problems over time.
We recommend renting a portable container to leave either in your front or back yard. Move all your belongings into it and leave them there while the concrete coating is being applied. Then, when the process is complete, it’s safe to move all your belongings back into the basement. If you don’t have that many items in your basement, you can also temporarily move them to a different location in your house.
Your basement doesn’t need to be finished in order to receive a concrete coating. A concrete coating protects against moisture and unwanted pests, as well as reduces overall maintenance costs. As a result, a concrete coating is beneficial to all basement types, regardless of what they’re being used for.
Basements can often suffer from rust stains due to iron ochre infiltration, which typically occurs when there is a lot of iron found in the surrounding soil. It can also be caused by a piece of metal being exposed to the elements (often some sort of moisture) and then coming in contact with the floor. If you find that you are getting iron stains on your floor, we recommend using Calcium, Lime & Rust Remover on the stain (1:1 ratio with warm water) using a scrub brush. It is important to note to not let this solution sit on the floor for over a minute.
Although we offer a variety of different concrete coatings, for warehouses, manufacturing facilities, commercial kitchens, and other high-traffic areas, we like to recommend urethane cement. This type of concrete coating offers exceptional durability and excellent life cycle costs. Composed of cement, water, aggregate, and various additives, it is meticulously designed for superior adhesion and wear resistance. This flooring type is especially recommended for applications involving wet processing, chemical exposure, and high-temperature cleaning.
Due to its robust and very lasting structure, our flooring can endure repeated chemical exposure without becoming damaged or less functional. Epoxy coating is especially suitable for the floors of pharmaceutical production, warehousing, and industrial plants, which are all subjected to these types of severe conditions daily.
A concrete coating will provide a smooth and seamless surface that actually can reduce the wear and tear on equipment and machinery. Plus, concrete coating is durable enough to bear the weight of a continual stream of traffic. Overall, this will help alleviate expensive corporate maintenance expenditures.
If you’re a commercial industry trying to be environmentally conscious, then concrete coatings can be very beneficial. The coating production method is simple, and the ingredients utilized are devoid of dangerous elements. Due to the nature of the coating, it does not require intensive use of harsh and toxic chemicals in order to keep the floor looking clean and clear of filth. Also, due the increased illumination a coated surface provides, large industrial and commercial facilities may not require additional lighting, thereby conserving energy consumption overall.
Yes, we also do floor line striping. Striping plays a crucial role in directing foot traffic and establishing clear walking paths for employees. Workspaces such as warehouses and other large commercial buildings require precise line striping to maximum efficiency and safety. We’ll work with you to create a pathway layout for your floor that adheres to OSHA’s industry standards, making sure aspects such as exit pathways, width of walking pads, and color coordination are all up to code.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a concrete coating-related question? We have the answer. Check out these FAQs and give us a call today for more information!
At Twisted Floors, we feel that HONESTY is the BEST policy. We use BOTH Polyurea and Epoxy Coatings. A polyurea /polyaspartic flooring coating system does have its benefits but some factors need to be considered when choosing which coating is best for your concrete. Many companies will tell you they primarily use polyurea over epoxy because it’s the best.
We believe that one size/one coating does not fit all concrete. One factor to consider and understand when choosing your coating is that not all concrete cures the same. It differs nationwide and leads to variations in concrete porosity and moisture transmission.
Polyurea coatings are not the best systems to install over highly porous concrete with high moisture transmission. Why? Because polyurea coatings are not moisture mitigating! Moisture transmitting through the concrete gets trapped under the coating and causes it to delaminate and peel.
At Twisted Floors, we select the proper coating type for your floor by testing the moisture and porosity of all concrete before coating to ensure that the right coating system is installed. We test the moisture content in your concrete on the day of the estimate and we also check it BEFORE we install the coating itself. We also perform a MOHS Hardness test to see the hardness of the underlying concrete.
If the company you meet with for estimates suggests a 1-day polyurea polyaspartic without first assessing your concrete and doing a moisture test, beware. NOT all concrete will work with a polyurea coating. Always make sure the company that you choose to install your concrete coating does the appropriate tests on your concrete and has knowledge of all types of coatings and why ONE system doesn’t work for all floors. Knowledge is KEY.
All floors and floor coatings can be slippery when wet, our concrete coatings are less slippery than regular concrete.
How do you know that your floors are less slippery than concrete?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has slip resistance requirements for floors. Concrete is around a 0.5 on the “slip meter”. OSHA requires 0.6 and our coatings are around 0.7.
We don’t promise a one-day floor system. Weather, concrete moisture levels, type of coating being used and many other factors inform us on how long a coating will take to install. We always tell our customers to plan for two days for a garage concrete coating.
We will discuss these details during your free estimate for your garage floor coating.
Summer: 24 hours after installation you can walk on the coating and you can drive on it in 48 Hours. Please don’t move anything heavy back into your garage for 72 hours.
Winter: 36 hours before you can walk on the floor and 72 hours before you can drive on the floor or move anything heavy back in.
Our professionally installed garage floor coatings are safe for use with properly designed and installed radiant heating systems. They are highly efficient in sending warmth up through your garage floor.
According to the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, “63% of all U.S. households have a garage or carport” available to them, and nothing beats working in the garage when the Wisconsin winter weather drives you inside. Of course, it is essential to have a warm garage to work or hang out in, and radiant floor heating is very popular in garages in our area.
No, as these are concrete coatings, you need to use these coatings only on concrete.
We install concrete coatings all year round, including during the winter months. Call us or contact us anytime for the coating you need!
We provide concrete floor coating services to Southeastern Wisconsin, including but not limited to Burlington, Franklin, Waterford, Lake Geneva, and Rochester. We’ll service as far east as Milwaukee and Kenosha as well. We are located in Waterford, WI but service all over southeastern Wisconsin. View our service areas here or contact us today to see if we provide services in your area!
Each project is customized to your particular flooring needs. Every job we do is different because we offer different types of coatings and finishes.
We will work with you to develop a free estimate keeping your budget in mind. We do have a minimum job charge of $3,200. Flake Concrete Coatings typically run around $7.00 – $8.00 per square foot depending on the condition of the concrete. Exact pricing will be discussed with you at your in person estimate.
Flake Concrete Coatings should last at least 15 years. We have been installing them for 7 years now and our coatings are still holding on strong. We don’t make any fake claims that we haven’t seen for ourselves.
Yes, you can use a Swiffer, a stiff broom, and simple green diluted 10:1. Just simply squeegee out the excess water when you’re done. Our concrete coatings last longer if taken care of properly. General maintenance like on any flooring helps keep your floor lasting longer and looking its best.
Contact Us For a Free Quote!
Submit your request today to set up a quick phone consultation with Twisted Floors to discuss your flooring project