Traffic coating is easy to overlook because it is designed to be walked and driven over without a second thought. But that coating is the only thing standing between daily wear, water, and de-icing salts, and the structural concrete underneath it.

What Traffic Coating Systems Actually Do

A properly installed traffic coating seals the concrete deck against water and chloride intrusion, bridges minor cracking, and provides slip resistance for vehicles and pedestrians moving through the structure every day.

Signs Your Traffic Coating Needs Attention

• Visible cracking or alligatoring across the coating surface
• Peeling, bubbling, or delamination at seams and drains
• Ponding water that does not drain within a reasonable time
• Exposed aggregate or bare concrete in high-traffic lanes

The Cost of Delaying Traffic Coating Maintenance

Once water and chlorides reach the concrete deck, the repair scope shifts from a surface recoat to structural concrete restoration and rebar treatment - a significantly larger and more disruptive project.

Recommended Maintenance Schedule

• Annual visual inspection of coating condition and drainage performance
• Recoating on a cycle recommended by the coating manufacturer and traffic volume
• Prompt repair of any localized failures before they expand under continued traffic