Frequently Asked Questions Q: What is cement coating? A: Cement coating is a colored concrete resurfacing material made of Portland Cement, Silica sand with some acrylic bonding agents. Q: What is the cost per square foot? A: Pricing ranges from $3.00 - $5.00 per sq. ft. based on the size and complexity of the job. Extra preparation, or expansion joints are additional. Q: How thick is the coating? A: We generally apply cement coating on old concrete a little less than 1/4” (or 3/16” thick) though it can be applied as thin or as thick as necessary, depending on the concrete. Q: How is the cement coating applied? A: Part of it is sprayed on and part of it is troweled. Q: What does the coating look like? A: It is a textured surface. The base coat, if necessary on old concrete is sprayed or squeegeed in a smooth coat over the concrete. After that is dry, a texture coat is sprayed out of a hand hopper with material covering 70 - 80% of the base coat in small drops. These drops are then troweled smooth which makes for comfortable surface to walk on. A colored finish seal coat is then applied. Q: What colors are available? A: We have a variety of colors to choose from, though we generally apply it in earth tones that are pleasing to the entire landscaping area. Q: How long does it take to complete a job? A: From 1 to 7 working days depending on whether it is new or old concrete, size of the job, etc. The base coat is allowed to dry for 24 - 48 hours. Then we apply the texture coat that dries in approximately 3 hours. Usually the following day, we then apply the finish coat. It takes approximately two (2) hours for the finish coat to dry. Q: When I scratch the coating sample with a knife, it scratches quite easily, why? A: The coating is harder than concrete, but it has a fine sand in it, so it is vulnerable to sharp objects. Under ordinary use cement coating will wear better than concrete. Q: Does the pool have to be drained? A: No, the pool must be full. If the pool were empty the cement coating over spray would stain the plaster. Full, any small amount of cement coating will be caught in the pool filter, similar to blowing dust. The cement coating products are water soluble. Sometimes during the preparation phase of our work that involves the removal of previous coatings (Kool Deck, Epoxy rock or cement), some of this may get into the pool. We can provide a pool service to remove the debris at an additional charge. Q: How do you treat control or expansion joints? A: All existing control joints should remain in the deck to allow for expansion and contraction of the concrete. They are not coated with cement coating and are masked off. We can, however, apply the cement coating finish coat to the joints so they will match in color with the cement coating application. Q: Is the coating cool to walk on? A: The coating is cooler than concrete and aggregate, but not as cool as Kool deck. This is due to the finish coat we apply on the application to eliminate any variations and make the installation more impervious to stains. Q: Is it Kool Deck? A: No. Kool deck is a product that must be applied to freshly poured concrete within 5 hours. cement coating can be applied to new or old concrete. This product is a two or three coat system and is sealed with a finish coat that makes it more impervious to stains (see above). Q: Will pool water stain the coating? A: No Q: Will the coloring of the coating fade? A: No Q: Can you correct drainage and low spots? A: We can generally improve drainage however the degree of success is contingent upon pitch of the concrete adjacent to the low spot. The low spot will have to be looked at personally by an estimator to let you know what you can expect. G & G Concrete Coatings does not assume any obligation or responsibility for deck drainage. Q: How do you treat cracks in the concrete prior to the cement coating application? A: Smaller cracks are filled with urethane. Larger cracks are filled with epoxy, welding the separated pieces of concrete together. This is followed by two or three applications of coating. Shrinkage cracks require no additional treatment. Q: Will the cracks return? A: Though we do everything possible to treat cracks and do eliminate 90% of them, it is possible they will return. If they do, it is usually in the form of a hairline that is not objectionable as it is largely hidden in the texture. However, if a crack becomes objectionable and is large enough to fill, we will repair it for you for a small service charge. Our guarantee does not cover cracks. Q: What guarantee comes with the cement coating? A: This product is guaranteed for one year against bond failure, chipping, flaking, and peeling. We also guarantee our workmanship for one year. Q: What if something happens to my deck after the guarantee expires? A: The material is repairable to is original state. We service all decks past their guarantees. Q: Can you apply the coating over painted concrete? A: NO. Any painted surface needs to be removed to guarantee bond. If several coats of paint are on the deck, it may have to be sandblasted, any loose paint will have to be chipped up by hand prior to the installation. Q: Can you cover diato or magnesite? A: Generally no. Most diato or magnesite is in such a deteriorated state it proves to be an unstable base for cement coating. In addition diato and magnesite are on a wood base subject to a great deal of movement. Q: Can you apply the cement coating over driveways? A: This product can be applied to concrete driveways with vehicular traffic having no effect on its durability of longevity. However, we do not apply the material to asphalt driveways due to the severe movement associated with asphalt. Q: Can the material be applied to steps? A: Yes, this coating can be applied to concrete steps including risers and treads. Q: Can the coating be applied to walls? A: In some instances.  This can be applied to shorter walls but on taller walls it is difficult to achieve a uniform texture pattern. Q: Do you apply the material to cantilever faces and coping stones? A: We do apply coating to cantilever faces and coping stones. Though application over coping stones is a matter of personal preference, it is often advisable to coat the stones unless they are exceptionally new. If not coated, they tend to look old and dirty after the cement coating installation. Q: Can you put a different color on the coping stones? A: Yes, but there is an additional charge. Q: If the coping stones are not covered, will the cement coating be higher? A: No, the coating is feathered very thin at the joint edge so the coping and decking will be level. Q: How long has this product been in use? A: This material has been installed on over 200 million square feet in this country since 1970, and is now in cities from coast to coast, and abroad. Q: Can you level heaved concrete? A:Yes, quite easily. Q:How does the price of a cement coating installation compare with removing and replacing concrete? A: The cost of coating is 20 - 25% the cost of removing and replacing concrete and it looks muck better than plain gray concrete. Q: How do I clean the cement coating? A: Normal washing with a hose. For a stubborn stain, a brush with laundry detergent such as Wisk. We also will supply you with a touch-up kit. Q: My present surface is hot on my feet, how does a cement coating compare? A: Temperature Comparison: 10 - 40 degrees cooler than concrete 30 - 40% cooler than epoxy stones 50% cooler than vinyl and urethane 40 - 50% cooler than wood decks Up to 40% cooler than carpet 50 - 60% cooler than terrazzo 40 - 50% cooler than tile 20 - 30% cooler than brick Q:I know concrete is strong and durable, how does the cement coating compare? A: Actually cement coating is harder than most grade concrete with a rating of 3,000 PSI. Back to the Top Please e-mail gregg@ggcoatings.com or call 281-330-3356 for rates.