Leed Certified Epoxy Flooring Products Provide Safe Environment For Workers, Customers

Jan. 18, 2010 - PRLog -- A finished floor enhances the aesthetic of any garage, but the products nearly all epoxy contractors work with to add that finishing touch can be toxic to the environment, and workers' and customers' health.  IronDrive, a floor coatings company based out of Phoenix, uses LEED certified products and an eco-friendly process absent of harmful chemicals that creates a stronger, and less expensive floor coating.

IronDrive uses a diamond grinder attached to a professional pulse-bac vacuum system to prepare concrete floors to be coated.  This makes the process of grinding the concrete almost dustless; employees do not even wear dust-masks or respirators during the process.

"I discovered the products and diamond grinding process I use about 2 years ago and knew it was perfect for IronDrive," said Shannon Stevens, founder, president and CEO of IronDrive.  "The safety of the products we use has always been a top priority."

The LEED certified liquid products used by IronDrive are water-based and virtually odorless. making them easily cleanable with water and more pleasant for employees to work with.  Even the strictest jurisdictions in the United States approve the products IronDrive uses.

Stevens explains that traditional preparation of concrete includes the use of about $5 worth of pool acid, more commonly known as muriatic or hydrochloric acid.

The United States Department of Labor explains that the toxin causes irritability and corrosion to the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes.  More specifically, muriatic acid burns the skin and depending on the concentration of the acid, leads to ulcerations and scarring.  Contact with the eyes can lead to reduced vision or blindness, and exposure to high concentrations of the toxin can lead to laryngitis, bronchitis, pulmonary edema or even death.

The United States Department of Labor has put restrictions on the concentration of and the amount of time that laborers can be exposed to muriatic acid.

Even with the restrictions from the Department of Labor, chronic exposure to muriatic acid has adverse effects including dental discoloration and erosion of exposed incisors.  Chronic skin contact can cause dermatitis, or swelling of the skin, and photosensitization.

It's not just the workers that become exposed," said Shannon.  "After they prepare the floor, they rinse the used acid out of the garage running it into to the driveway, street, planting beds and storm drains, allowing it to spread."

The diamond grinding process IronDrive uses and one other method called shotblasting, are the only methods of concrete preparation approved by all epoxy manufacturers.

Not only is IronDrive's process better for workers and the environment, but it creates a stronger, thicker floor that is quick and easy to apply and takes one third of the time of other application processes to dry; and all for considerably less than the typical cost.

"As a business owner, you have to believe in your product," said Stevens.  "My product is safe and I give my customers the best value around.  I feel good about that."

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IronDrive installs quality ecofriendly decorative chip garage floor epoxy systems in one day! All concrete is diamond grinded for superior adhesion and durability. Floors are back in service in one day and drive on ready in two. Franchises available.