3 Ways to Mix Self-Leveling Floor Coatings in the U.S.
When you're working with self-leveling floor coatings, like epoxy or polyurethane, efficient and thorough mixing of the compound ensures the best results. To mix, you can choose between a flooring mixing station, a traditional cement mixer and a hand mixer. Each mixer has distinct advantages depending on your budget, time constraints and what kind of material you want to mix.
Before you embark on your next construction project, consider your tools carefully: you might discover the perfect mixer that enables you to experiment with more modern construction materials. Keep reading for a breakdown of the three most popular types of mixers in the U.S., their advantages and their typical applications.
Flooring Mixing Station
A flooring mixing station is a powerful machine designed to mix almost any multi-part construction material. It features a powerful electric motor that mixes materials faster and more thoroughly than other mixers on the market. flooring mixing stations can mix everything from basic self-leveling underlays (SLU’s)to more complex construction materials, such as flowing grouts, cementitious toppings, paints, epoxy resins and more. Furthermore, most flooring mixing stations, like our Portamix mixers, are lightweight and portable, allowing you to easily move around a construction site and regulate the volume of material you pour.
Traditional Concrete Mixer
A traditional concrete mixer is the most widely known and is a popular mixer for basic construction jobs. They are often referred to as drum mixers because they consist of a rotating drum with arms or blades that mix certain materials. While concrete mixers are great for mixing concrete, they are not ideal for other types of multi-part construction materials. Mixing materials like epoxy or polyurethane requires speed and consistency that a traditional concrete mixer cannot deliver. A traditional concrete mixer is not recommended for mixing self-leveling floor coatings.
Hand Mixer
A hand mixer is a portable, lightweight mixing solution best for small construction jobs. Handheld mixers are not as powerful as flooring mixing stations or traditional concrete mixers, so you should only use them for materials that do not require a precise mix to properly set. For example, a hand mixer works proficiently when you're mixing a small batch of concrete for a patch job, but if pouring a new layer of epoxy flooring, hand mixers are a lot slower and less consistent than a flooring mixing station.
Exploring Portamix Mixers
If you want a durable and portable mixer that can handle most kinds of construction material, you should opt for a flooring mixing station. We also recommend that you start exploring the new range of Portamix mixers to suit your next project. While traditional concrete mixers have the longest track record of use on construction sites, many contractors are simply unaware of the advantages flooring mixing stations offer, such as reduced mixing times and more control over pouring your materials. As a result, flooring mixing stations save you time and money, and increase the probability of a smooth mix and even pour the first time.
To discover how Portamix mixers can help you mix and pour more efficiently on your construction site, email sales@portamix.com