Project:

Ave Maria University, Naples, FL -Prestigious new Catholic university located in Southwest Florida.

General Contractor: Suffolk/Kraft, Naples, FL ; Architect: Cannon Design, Grand Island, New York

Coating Formulator and Supplier: Decosup, Inc., Miami, FL

Polyaspartic and Aliphatic Isocyanate Material Supplier: Bayer MaterialScience, Pittsburgh, PA

Owner required decorative concrete upgrades with a durable, fast curing topcoat in high traffic areas.

Project size and duration: Approximately 70,000 ft² applied over cured concrete.


Grinding and Staining Process:

Concrete needed ground, polished, and repaired as per specification

Diamond grinder used for large areas prepared the surface to a 100 grit finish

Hand grinders were employed at floor/wall interface for consistency of surface appearance

Relief joints were cut and then vacuumed to remove loose debris

Prior to staining, the whole floor was power washed with floor scrubber and then hand mopped

ChemTone stain applied using simple one component tank sprayer

After a predetermined time, the acid stain is removed and the floor is washed and neutralized

Application of Polyaspartic
Sealer and Topcoat:

Due to time constraints and the desire by the owner for a high-build, light stable topcoat, a polyaspartic based coating was specified

Project was bid and Decosup was awarded the project
- ChemTone concrete acid stain
- Decoshine polyaspartic sealer/topcoat

Additional selling points for the owner were:

- Humidity insensitivity on final properties
- Zero VOC
- Self priming eliminates an extra step/coat
- Ability to be buffed and waxed in the future

Site Challenges& Unforseen Issues:

Initial small 5,000 ft² test area – incomplete removal of acid from stain in joints,
caused opaque coating on joints.

Required development of additional application procedures related to
acid removal.

Typical South Florida environment meant high humidity and temperatures.

Active construction site meant the coating project could not impede worker access for long periods of time.

Other trades needed to be able to re-enter the area soon after coating
process was finished.

Project Status:

Works completed on schedule and with minimal disruption of other services.

Client has specified the system in multiple other areas at the facitity.

University was opened in 2007 for the first classes and has been holding up beautifully.