Floor Coatings Glossary

A

Abrasion Resistance

The ability of a floor coating to withstand scraping, scuffing, foot traffic, carts, tools, and general wear. High abrasion resistance is especially important in garages, warehouses, workshops, and commercial spaces.

Acid Etching

A concrete preparation method that uses an acid solution to open the surface pores of concrete. While it can help with adhesion, professional mechanical preparation is often preferred for long-lasting floor coating systems.

Adhesion

The bond between the coating and the concrete surface. Proper adhesion depends on cleaning, surface profiling, moisture control, and the use of the right primer or coating system.

Aggregate

Small materials such as sand, quartz, or decorative flakes may be added to a floor coating system for texture, slip resistance, or visual appeal.

Aliphatic Topcoat

A UV-resistant topcoat helps protect coated floors from yellowing, fading, and surface wear. It is commonly used as a protective finish over decorative floor coating systems.

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B

Broadcast Flakes

Decorative vinyl flakes are scattered into a wet coating layer. Broadcast flakes can add color, texture, depth, and slip resistance to garage, commercial, and industrial floors.

Bond Strength

The measurement of how well a coating sticks to concrete. Strong bond strength helps reduce peeling, lifting, and premature coating failure.

Broom Finish Concrete

Concrete finished with a broom-like texture. This surface may require grinding or additional preparation before a coating system can be applied properly.

Bubble Formation

Small bubbles that appear in a coating during or after application. Bubbles may be caused by trapped air, moisture vapor, improper mixing, or applying coatings under unsuitable conditions.

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C

Chemical Resistance

The ability of a floor coating to resist damage from oils, cleaners, salts, fuels, solvents, and other chemicals. This is an important feature for garages, service areas, shops, and industrial floors.

Clear Coat

A transparent protective layer is applied over a decorative or colored floor coating. Clear coats can improve gloss, durability, stain resistance, and cleanability.

Concrete Grinding

A mechanical surface preparation method that uses grinding equipment to remove contaminants, smooth uneven areas, and create the correct surface profile for coating adhesion.

Concrete Profile

The texture or roughness of a concrete surface after preparation. A proper profile allows primers and coatings to bond more effectively.

Coating System

The complete floor coating installation typically includes surface preparation, primer, base coat, decorative layer, and topcoat.

Cure Time

The amount of time a coating needs to fully harden and reach its intended strength. A floor may be dry to the touch before it is ready for vehicles, equipment, or heavy use.

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D

Decorative Flake Floor

A floor coating system that uses colored flakes to create a speckled, finished appearance. Decorative flake systems are popular for garages, showrooms, offices, commercial spaces, and work areas.

Delamination

A coating failure where layers separate from each other or from the concrete surface. Delamination is often caused by poor preparation, moisture issues, contamination, or weak adhesion.

Diamond Grinding

A professional preparation method that uses diamond-segmented tooling to grind concrete. This helps create a clean, textured surface for better coating performance.

Dry Film Thickness

The final thickness of a coating after it has dried and cured. Proper thickness helps determine durability, appearance, and performance.

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E

Epoxy Floor Coating

A resin-based coating known for strength, durability, and chemical resistance. Epoxy coatings are commonly used on concrete floors in garages, shops, commercial buildings, and industrial spaces.

Expansion Joint

A planned joint in concrete that allows movement from temperature changes, settling, or structural shifts. Expansion joints may need special treatment before or during coating installation.

Edge Work

The detailed preparation and coating work performed around walls, corners, posts, steps, drains, and other areas that larger equipment cannot easily reach.

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F

Flake Coverage

The amount of decorative flake applied to a coating. Light, medium, or full-broadcast coverage can create different appearances and textures.

Floor Coating

A protective layer applied to concrete to improve durability, appearance, cleanability, and resistance to stains, moisture, chemicals, and wear.

Full Broadcast

A decorative flake application method where flakes are applied heavily until the wet coating layer is fully covered. This creates a textured, durable, and consistent appearance.

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G

Garage Floor Coating

A concrete coating system designed for residential garages. It helps protect the floor from hot tires, oil, road salt, moisture, stains, and everyday wear while improving the overall look of the space.

Gloss Finish

A shiny finish that reflects light, giving the floor a polished appearance. Gloss levels can vary depending on the coating system and topcoat.

Grinding Dust

Dust is created during mechanical concrete preparation. Professional installers use dust-control equipment to help keep the project cleaner and safer.

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H

High-Build Coating

A thicker coating designed to provide added protection, durability, and surface coverage. High-build systems are useful for floors exposed to frequent traffic or heavier use.

Hot Tire Pickup

A coating failure that occurs when warm vehicle tires soften or pull coating from the concrete. Proper surface preparation and the right coating system help reduce this risk.

Hybrid Coating System

A floor coating system that uses more than one coating technology, such as a primer, flake base coat, and durable topcoat, to balance performance, appearance, and longevity.

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I

Industrial Floor Coating

A coating system designed for demanding environments such as factories, warehouses, production areas, maintenance rooms, and service facilities. These systems often emphasize durability, chemical resistance, and safety.

Impact Resistance

The ability of a floor coating to withstand dropped tools, equipment, or other impacts without cracking or chipping easily.

Inspection

The process of evaluating a concrete floor before coating. Inspection may include checking for cracks, moisture, contamination, previous coatings, surface damage, and overall condition.

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J

Joint Filler

A material used to fill control joints, cracks, or gaps in concrete before or during the coating process. Proper joint treatment can improve appearance and reduce debris collection.

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L

Light Broadcast

A decorative flake application where a smaller amount of flake is scattered into the coating. This creates a more subtle finish compared with a full-broadcast system.

Low-VOC Coating

A coating with reduced volatile organic compounds. Low-VOC products may help reduce odor and improve indoor air quality during installation.

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M

Mechanical Preparation

Surface preparation is performed with equipment such as grinders, shot blasters, or sanders. This process helps remove contaminants and create the surface profile needed for strong coating adhesion.

Mil Thickness

A measurement used to describe coating thickness. One mil equals one-thousandth of an inch. Floor coating systems are often specified by wet or dry mil thickness.

Moisture Vapor Transmission

The movement of moisture vapor through concrete. Excess moisture can interfere with adhesion and, if left unchecked, cause bubbling, peeling, or coating failure.

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P

Peeling

A coating failure where the floor coating separates from the surface. Peeling may result from poor preparation, trapped moisture, contamination, or applying a coating over an unsuitable surface.

Polyaspartic Coating

A fast-curing, durable coating often used as a topcoat or complete floor system. Polyaspartic coatings are valued for UV stability, abrasion resistance, and quick return-to-service times.

Polyurea Coating

A durable, fast-curing coating technology commonly used for garage and concrete floor systems. Hi-Tech’s floor coating page specifically references professional polyurea garage floor services. 

Primer

The first coating layer is applied to the prepared concrete. Primer helps improve adhesion, seal the surface, and support the performance of the full coating system.

Profile

The roughened texture is created on concrete during preparation. A proper profile gives the coating something to grip.

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Q

Quartz Broadcast

A decorative and functional system that uses colored quartz aggregate for added texture, durability, and slip resistance. Quartz systems are often used in commercial and high-traffic environments.

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R

Recoat Window

The recommended time period for applying another coating layer. Applying outside the recoat window may require sanding or additional preparation.

Resin

A key liquid component in many floor coating systems. Resin reacts with a hardener or catalyst to form a tough, protective surface.

Return to Service

The amount of time before a coated floor can be used again. Light foot traffic, heavy equipment, and vehicle traffic may each have different return-to-service timelines.

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S

Scraping

The process of removing loose paint, old coating, adhesive, debris, or surface contaminants before coating installation.

Seamless Floor

A floor coating system with few or no visible seams. Seamless floors are easier to clean and are often preferred in garages, commercial spaces, and industrial environments.

Slip Resistance

The amount of traction a floor provides underfoot. Texture, flakes, aggregates, or anti-slip additives can be used to improve slip resistance.

Spalling

Concrete surface damage where the top layer chips, flakes, or breaks apart. Spalled concrete usually needs repair before a coating can be installed.

Surface Contamination

Oil, grease, dirt, wax, curing compounds, old coatings, or other materials that can prevent a floor coating from bonding properly.

Surface Preparation

The cleaning, repairing, grinding, and profiling work was completed before coating application. Surface preparation is one of the most important steps in a long-lasting floor coating project.

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T

Tack-Free

The stage when a coating is no longer sticky to the touch. Tack-free does not always mean the coating is fully cured or ready for heavy use.

Topcoat

The final protective layer in a floor coating system. A topcoat can improve durability, gloss, chemical resistance, UV resistance, and ease of cleaning.

Traffic Wear

The gradual wearing down of a floor surface from people, vehicles, carts, equipment, or machinery. Floor coatings help reduce visible wear and extend the life of the concrete.

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U

Urethane Coating

A durable coating is often used as a topcoat because of its resistance to abrasion, chemicals, and UV exposure. Urethane may be used in commercial and industrial floor systems.

UV Resistance

The ability of a coating to resist sunlight-related yellowing, fading, or degradation. UV resistance is important for areas exposed to natural light.

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V

Vapor Barrier

A material or coating designed to reduce moisture vapor movement through concrete. Vapor barriers may be needed when moisture levels are too high for a standard coating system.

VOC

Volatile organic compounds are released by some coatings as they dry or cure. Many modern coating systems are designed to reduce VOC levels and odor.

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W

Wear Layer

The upper layer of a floor coating system that receives daily traffic and abrasion. A quality wear layer helps maintain appearance and performance over time.

Wet Film Thickness

The thickness of a coating immediately after application, before drying or curing. Installers may measure wet film thickness to help ensure proper coverage.