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Acrylic coatings are the best type of coating to use on exterior concrete surfaces, and are becoming increasing popular as interior coatings. There are certain characteristics that are common with acrylics so don’t be alarmed if your acrylic experiences any of the following:

1. White Spots: White spots can be caused by a variety of factors. It can be a sign of delamination, moisture, or over application. With water based acrylics, there isn’t really a solution other than to remove the product. With solvent based acrylics however the solution is easy. If the acrylic was recently applied, start by adding a thin coat of Xylene or other type of blush repair products. This will soften the coating and allow it to re-cure. If the acrylic was applied a year ago or longer, it may be time to add a new coat. You can start with a coat of Xylene and see how the acrylic looks once cured, or you can use Xylene or a blush repair product to open the recoat window and then apply 1-2 coats of a new acrylic to give the surface more abrasion resistance.
2. Blushing: Blushing is very similar to white spots. It can be a sign of delamination, moisture, or over application. With water based acrylics, there isn’t really a solution other than to remove the product. With solvent based acrylics however the solution is easy. If the acrylic was recently applied, start by adding a thin coat of Xylene or other type of blush repair products. This will soften the coating and allow it to re-cure. If the acrylic was applied a year ago or longer, it may be time to add a new coat. You can start with a coat of Xylene and see how the acrylic looks once cured, or you can use Xylene or a blush repair product to open the recoat window and then apply 1-2 coats of a new acrylic to give the surface more abrasion resistance.
3. Delamination: If the acrylic was recently applied and is having issues with delamination (losing its bond to the concrete), the acrylic is most likely having issues with bonding to the concrete. The concrete may not have been properly prepared or cleaned. Contact the manufacturer for assistance with preparing the surface. If the acrylic coating is old and having issues with delamination, you can use Xylene or a blush repair product to open up the recoat window and apply 1-2 coats of a new acrylic. If the delamination is severe, it may be better to pressure wash the coating off and start with a clean slate.
4. Wear Spots: If the acrylic is worn down, it means the acrylic was either applied too thin or has reached the end of its life. With water based acrylics, there isn’t really a solution other than to remove the product. With solvent based acrylics however the solution is easy.  Use Xylene or a blush repair product to open up the recoat window and apply 1-2 coats of a new acrylic.

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The above image was submit to us by Foundation Armor and has been featured in several magazines including Concrete Décor. The image to the left was the “Before” image. There was an unknown solvent based acrylic coating already on the surface. It was delaminating in several areas and had developed a white haze over the entire surface. The customer used the Armor Blush Repair product to open up the recoat window then applied 2 coats of the Armor AR350 Acrylic Coating, shown in the “After” photo to the right.