Fade resistant- It is designed for such harsh UV environments such as Arizona, Florida, and California where direct sunlight will fade painted surfaces and surface coatings in a matter of weeks. Twice the strength of normal concrete. Vehicle traffic and day to day wear and tear will not effect the surface. This tough, durable coating stands up year after year.

Easier to maintain than concrete- Whether it's mold and mildew that can turn concrete dark and dingy, or motor oil that will permanently stain normal concrete, this surface is a non-porous system that keeps stains and chemicals at the surface. This means that most of the time, a hose and a little Tide detergent is all that is needed to keep your surface looking brand new.

Heat Resistant- Because it can be applied in a limitless number of colors and textures, the surface remains cool and comfortable even in the hotter climates around the world. Skid resistant. A textured coating that can be applied as smooth or as rough as you want. If you need a surface that will insure solid footing or if you want something smoother for indoors or around your pool, we can provide the proper amount of texture to fit your needs.

Salt and Chemical Resistant- Salt is one of concrete's main enemies. Each year it causes pitting and scaling in countless square feet of concrete around the country. Limitless number of designs and textures to fit any look of any home or office. If you want the chic look of marble, the durable look of granite or a custom look of tile, Hard-Art has the look and answer for you.

Q. How thick is it?

A. We generally apply our systems on old concrete between 3/32" to 1/8". Our surfaces are thin layered cements which depend on adhesion through the use of modified acrylics.

Q. What does it look like?

A. Our surfaces achieve a look, texture and color of any type stone or look you require. A base coat is applied that fixes any imperfections in the original concrete. A design is then laid over it and a textured layer goes over that. A final clear coat is put over the system that is non-porous and protects it as well as makes it very easy to maintain. Mold, mildew, motor oil, etc. can be sprayed off with a regular garden hose. Common detergents can be used to remove tough or repetitive latences.

Visit Our Photo Gallery To See Samples!

Q. What colors does it come in?

A. We have 40 standard colors to choose from, however, we can modify these to create a virtually unlimited number of custom colors.

Q. Does the pool have to be drained?

A. No, the pool should be full. If the pool were empty, the overspray would stain the plaster. Full, any small amount of overspray can be dealt with by allowing the overspray to settle to the bottom, shutting off the filter, then pumping the material to waste and bypassing all filters is recommended.

Q. How do you treat control or expansion joints?

A. All existing control joints should remain in the surface to allow for expansion and contraction of the original concrete. We work to insure these joints match the rest of the look of the surface. If the concrete is new or in good condition and there are not any control joints they can easily be added prior to to applying the new surface.

Q. Is it cool to walk on?

A. Here is how our surfaces compare to other coatings as far as heat retention:

10-40 degrees cooler than concrete
30%-40% cooler than epoxy stone
50% cooler than vinyl or 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. Is it Kool Deck?

A. No. Kool Deck is a product that must be applied to freshly poured concrete within 5 hours in order to bond. Our surface can be applied to new or old concrete. In addition, our surfaces are a multi-coat system and are sealed with a finish coat, which makes it impervious to staining. Whereas Kool Deck is a very porous, non-flexible product, that has a minimal life expectancy.

Q. Will pool water, chlorine, muriatic acid, or bleach stain my new surface?

A. No, the sealer we apply to our system is not affected by most chemicals.

Q. Will my new surface fade?

A. No, not dramatically, the product has approximately a 2% fade factor over seven years, which is undetectable by the human eye.

Q. Can you correct drainage and low spots?

A. We can generally improve drainage; however, the degree of success is contingent upon the pitch of the concrete adjacent to the low spot. The low spot will have to be looked at personally by us to let you know what you can expect.

Q. How do you treat cracks in the concrete prior to the application of my new surface?

A. It is highly recommended that active cracks are stitched together using a patented method in which stainless steel plates are used to stitch the concrete back together.

Q. Will cracks reoccur?

A. Though we do everything possible to treat cracks and do eliminate 90% of them, it is possible they may reoccur. If they do, it is usually in the form of a hairline, which is not objectionable as it is largely hidden in the texture. However, if a crack becomes too objectionable, it is easy to repair. Proper placement of tension cuts greatly reduces the chance of the crack returning.

Q. What if something happens to my deck after the warranty?

A. The material is repairable to its original state. We service all decks past warranty.

Q. Can you apply the my new surface over painted concrete?

A. Yes, though it generally will need to be scarified or sandblasted to remove the paint enough to where our product will bond with the original concrete.

Q. Can my new surface be applied to steps?

A. Yes, the coatings can be applied to concrete steps including risers and treads.

Q. Do you apply the material to cantilever faces?

A. We do apply the coatings to cantilever faces.

Q. If there are coping stones, do you cover them? If not, will the new deck be higher?

A. No, we typically do not cover your coping stones with a new surface. However, we do mask them off for protection. Your new deck 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. Acrylic decking has been in use since the late 60's.

Q. Can you level heaved concrete?

A. Yes, with a moderate amount of work.

Q. How does the price of my new surface compare with removing and replacing old concrete?

A. The cost of the new surface is normally 20%-25% less than the cost of removing cement and pouring new and is much better looking and much easier to maintain than the original cement. Also, remember that new concrete does not guarantee there will not be any new cracks therefore no money has been saved.

Q. What is the cost per square foot?

A. The price depends on a number of factors, such as the condition of the original concrete, the patterns chosen, etc.

Q. How do I clean my new surfaces?

A. Usually, normal washing with a hose is all that is needed. For stubborn stains, a brush with Tide laundry detergent is all that is needed.

Q. I know concrete is strong and durable, how does your surface compare?

A. Our surfaces are harder than normal concrete. Most concrete has a compressive strength of 2000-2500 psi rating. Our's has a 5600 psi rating.

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