FAQ's

Following are the answers to our most frequently asked questions. If your particular question is not answered here, please feel free to ask us via email.

Q.	What is I.S.T. Coatings
A.	I.S.T. Coatings is basically a colored concrete resurfacing material made of Portland cement, Silica sand, polymers and acrylic bonding agents.
Q.	How thick is it?
A.	We generally apply I.S.T. Coatings to new and old concrete from 1/8" or 3/16" thick, though it can be applied as thin or as thick as necessary, depending on the concrete.
Q.	How do you apply I.S.T. Coatings?
A.	It is sprayed, troweled or stamped on.
Q.	What does it look like?
A.	It is a textured surface. The base coat, if necessary, or old concrete, is sprayed 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 and are comfortable to walk on. A colored finish coat is then applied.
Q.	What colors does it come in?
A.	We have a variety of colors to choose from, though we generally apply it in earth tones that are the most pleasing to the entire landscaping area. We also custom blend colors at a minimal price.
Q.	What is the life expectancy of an I.S.T. Coatings application?
A.	It has the life expectancy of Concrete. I.S.T Coatings IS actually harder than concrete in PSI strength.
Q.	How long does it take to do a job?
A.	It can take 1 to 4 days depending on whether it is new or old concrete, size of the job, etc. The base coat is allowed to dry for 28-48 hours. Then apply the texture coat, which dries in approximately 3 hours. Usually, the following day. We then apply the finish coat which dries in approximately 2 hours.
Q.	How do you treat and control 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 I.S.T. Coatings and are masked off. We can, however, apply I.S.T. Coatings finish coat to the joints so they will match in color with I.S.T. Coatings application. We replace worn out control joints for a nominal fee.
Q.	Is it cool to walk on?
A.	I.S.T. Coatings is cooler than concrete, carpet or epoxy rock applications.
Q.	Is it Kool Deck?
A.	No, Kool Deck is a product which must be applied to freshly poured concrete within 5 hours. I.S.T. Coatings can be applied to new or old concrete. In addition, I.S.T. Coatings is a 2 or 3 coat system and is sealed with a finish coat, which makes it more impervious to stains.
Q.	Will pool water stain I.S.T. Coatings?
A.	No.
Q.	Will I.S.T. Coatings fade?
A.	No. The acrylics in the finish coat makes I.S.T. Coatings resistant to fading.
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 inspected personally by an estimator to let you know what you can expect.
Q.	How do you treat cracks in the concrete prior to the I.S.T. Coatings Application?
A.	Smaller cracks are filled with I.S.T. Coatings or urethane. Larger cracks are filled with epoxy, welding the separated pieces of concrete together. Shrinkage cracks require no additional treatments.
Q.	Will the cracks reoccur?
A.	Though we do everything possible to treat cracks and to eliminate 90% of them, it is possible they may reoccur. If they do, it is usually always in the form of a hairline which 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.
Q.	What if something happens to my deck after the guarantee expires?
A.	The material is repairable to its original state. We service all decks past guarantees. Extended warranties are available.
Q.	Can you apply I.S.T. Coatings over painted concrete?
A.	60 - 70% of the concrete must be free of paint so the I.S.T. Coatings can breath.
Q.	Where can you apply I.S.T. Coatings?
A.	I.S.T. Coatings can be applied to all concrete surfaces including porches, parking lots, patios, driveways, pool decks, interior floorings, tilt walls etc. I.S.T. Coatings can also be applied to other surfaces such as sheet rock, wood and other surfaces with proper preparations.
Q.	Do you apply material to cantilever faces and coping stones?
A.	We do apply I.S.T. Coatings 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 I.S.T. Coatings installation is complete. In addition, the older copings which have deep lips can be filled in so the coping stones are level with deck giving a more modern cantilevered look.
Q.	Can you put a different color on the coping stones than on the rest of the deck?
A.	Yes, I.S.T. Coatings can provide many color combinations.
Q.	If the coping stones are not covered, will the I.S.T. Coating be higher?
A.	No. I.S.T. Coatings is feathered very thin at the joint edge so the coping and decking will be level.
Q.	What is the guarantee?
A.	I.S.T. Coatings is guaranteed for 2 years against bond failure or shipping, flaking, peeling and cracks. Due to the inherent movement in concrete, soil, and wooden structures, and the possible lack of structural integrity of the substrates, no guarantee, either expressed or implied is granted concerning cracks in I.S.T. Coatings.
Q.	Can you level heaved concrete?
A.	Yes, quite easily.
Q.	How does the price of an I.S.T. Coatings compare with removing and replacing concrete?
A.	The cost of I.S.T. Coatings is 20-25% the cost of removing and replacing concrete, and it looks much better than plain gray concrete.
Q.	What is the cost per square foot?
A.	Approximately $1.65 - $3.50 per sq. ft. depending on the job size and the condition of the concrete and $3.50-$6.50 per sq. ft. for I.S.T. Coatings brick and tile application.
Q.	How do I clean my I.S.T. Coatings?
A.	Normal washing with a hose. For a stubborn stain, use a brush with detergent or Lime Away, Simple Green, or Wisk. We also leave you a touch up kit after installation.
Q.	My present surface is hot on my feet. How does I.S.T. Coatings compare?
A.	I.S.T. Coatings temperature comparison: 10-20% cooler than concrete 30-40% cooler than epoxy stones 50% cooler than vinyl and urethane 40-50% cooler than wood decks 40-50% cooler than terrazzo 40-50% cooler than tile 20-30% cooler than brick
Q.	I know concrete is strong and durable. How do I.S.T. Coatings compare in strength?
A.	Actually I.S.T. Coatings is harder than most grade concrete with a PSI rating. Of 3,000 PSI compared to most grade concrete having a 2,000 - 2,500 PSI rating.
Q.	My friends are always complaining about their decks staining. How does I.S.T. Coatings compare in stain resistance?
A.	I.S.T. Coatings has a finish coat of acrylic that is non porous, therefore, it is very resistant to staining. The following chart shows the stain affects of some common substances:

	Reagent	Non Abraded Surfaces	Abraded Surfaces

	Gasoline	Unaffected	Unaffected
	Transformer Oil	Superficial Darkening	Superficial Darkening
	Sulfuric Acid-Concentrated	Considerable Darkening	Considerable Darkening
	Prestone Coolant	Unaffected	Unaffected
	Hydraulic Fluids	Considerable Darkening	Considerable Darkening
	Turpentine	Unaffected	Unaffected
	Sulfuric Acid-3%	Superficial Bleaching	Superficial Bleaching
	Ammonia Solution	Unaffected	Unaffected
	Heavy Duty Detergent Solution	Unaffected	Unaffected
	Paint Thinner	Unaffected	Unaffected
	Tuolene	Unaffected	Unaffected
	Soap Solution-1%	Unaffected	Unaffected
	Lubricating Oil	Superficial Darkening	Superficial Darkening
	Kerosene	Unaffected	Unaffected
	Muriatic	Unaffected	Unaffected