When a historic hotel in the heart of Banff needed a major parkade restoration, they turned to us for a durable, long-term solution. This Banff parkade restoration project involved repairing decades-old concrete, battling mountain weather damage, and maximizing parking space within a limited footprint. With a custom application of Bio-Cem MF coating and precision installation techniques, we delivered a high-performance, low-maintenance finish built to withstand Banff’s harshest conditions. Let’s break the commercial project down into 3 stages for you:
Stage 1: The Challenge & How They Found Us
This project began as a referral from a previous client—a neighbouring hotel where we had successfully completed a concrete coating project. The owners were already familiar with the quality of our work and trusted us to tackle their own aging and deteriorating parkade.
The Problem: Decades of Wear & Environmental Damage
The parkade belonged to an older hotel with multiple expansions over the years, meaning some sections of the concrete dated as far back as the 1960s. Over time, the surface had suffered significant deterioration due to a combination of:
- Harsh mountain weather conditions in Banff, including extreme temperature fluctuations.
- Heavy snow and de-icing salts, which had caused deep spalling and surface erosion.
- Structural inconsistencies, resulting from multiple renovations that introduced varied slopes and angles, making uniform application of a new coating more challenging.
The Client’s Goals
Beyond restoring the structural integrity of the parkade, the hotel owners had one additional request: maximize the available parking area. Efficient space utilization was a top priority, ensuring the updated floor plan could accommodate as many vehicles as possible within the existing footprint.
This complex set of challenges required a durable, long-term solution that could handle heavy use while protecting the concrete from further damage—leading us into Stage 2: Material Selection & Long-Term Investment.
They are also being requested to maximize their parking area and this will increase by X amount ( we can get this number ).
Stage 2: Material Selection & Long-Term Investment
When selecting a coating system for this project, durability, longevity, and performance were the top priorities. Given the high-traffic nature of the parkade and the harsh environmental conditions in Banff—including extreme temperature fluctuations, heavy snowfall, and road salt exposure—it was crucial to choose a material that would withstand these challenges for decades to come.
Why Bio-Cem MF?
After evaluating multiple options, we selected Bio-Cem MF due to its proven industrial-grade performance and ability to provide a long-term, low-maintenance solution for the client.
Key Benefits of Bio-Cem MF:
- Extreme Durability: Engineered for high-impact resistance, making it ideal for a tight, high-traffic parking structure.
- Thermal Shock Resistance: Unlike traditional coatings, Bio-Cem MF can withstand rapid temperature changes, which is essential in Banff’s fluctuating climate.
- Chemical & Salt Resistance: Offers superior protection against de-icing salts, automotive fluids, and harsh cleaning agents, ensuring minimal surface degradation over time.
- Longevity & ROI: With an expected lifespan of 25–30 years, Bio-Cem MF is a significant investment upfront but delivers unmatched return on investment (ROI) by minimizing future repair and maintenance costs.
- Seamless & Hygienic: Unlike traditional epoxy coatings, Bio-Cem MF provides a seamless, non-porous finish, reducing the risk of moisture infiltration and long-term damage.
By selecting Bio-Cem MF, we ensured that this parkade would have a high-performance, long-lasting floor capable of handling daily wear and tear while maintaining its structural integrity for decades.
Stage 3: Parkade Concrete Coating: Restoration & Application Process
Project Background
The parkade’s concrete flooring dated back to the 1960s, located below grade in Banff—a region known for heavy snowfall and road salts. Over time, these conditions had caused deep spalling across the surface, requiring extensive repairs before coating application.
Surface Preparation & Profiling
To ensure optimal adhesion and durability, a multi-step surface preparation process was performed:
- The entire surface was shot blasted to a CSP of 3-5 for proper profile and coating adhesion.
- Edges and columns were diamond ground to ensure precision and smooth transitions.
- Control joints were cleaned using a specialized concrete saw, and key-in cuts were placed to enhance long-term structural integrity.
Concrete Repairs
- The deteriorated areas were repaired using a combination of urethane cement, steel trowel flat application, and fast-setting kinetic patch mortar.
- Around drains, transitions, and concrete sections larger than 15×15 feet, ⅝-inch key-in cuts were made to enhance structural integrity. Additional key-in cuts were strategically placed to optimize the overall length.
Coating Process & Joint Filling
- The parkade was divided into three sections, each no wider than 24 feet to control the application process.
- Schlüter strips (3/16″) were installed to create seamless transitions between coating segments.
- Bio-Cem MF was applied at a rate of 42 square feet per kit, followed by broadcasting an F-style quartz aggregate to rejection for enhanced durability.
- Control joints were recut to ensure clean, true edges throughout the surface. They were then filled with Sika-1A and allowed to fully cure before proceeding with topcoat applications.
- On Day 1, the two outer sections of the parkade were completed.
Final Coating & Parking Line Marking
- On Day 2, after cleaning up excess quartz, Schlüter strips were removed, and a final layer of urethane cement was applied to the remaining section.
- After an overnight cure, the floor was power-broomed and vacuumed to remove any loose quartz.
- The two exterior sections were coated with Kinetic 85 (tinted) to ensure they would be cured and ready for parking line installation the following morning.
- The center section was coated with Kinetic HS slow set (tinted in Owl Grey) to accommodate a 24-foot wet line, requiring additional curing time.
- The next morning, the Kinetic 85 sections were fully cured and ready for taping, while the HS section remained slightly soft, confirming the correct coating choice for the conditions.
- Parking lines were marked, taped, and completed with a three-coat application of traffic yellow.
This comprehensive restoration process ensured a durable, high-performance finish, extending the lifespan of the parkade while improving its aesthetic and functional quality. 🚗🔧
This Banff hotel trusted us with their parkade—who’s handling yours?
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