How to Select the Best Industrial Flooring Options
Industrial buildings require flooring that is durable and can stand up to impact and activity. That means the best industrial solution is a floor coating that is specifically designed for your use. While there are many options for industrial flooring solutions, some will perform better than others. Here are factors to consider to ensure that you pick the right solution for your facility’s floor.
Epoxy Flooring for Industrial Use
Whether you are processing food or chemicals, manufacturing electronics or pharmaceuticals, or need a floor coating for an aircraft hangar, there is a wide range of specialty epoxy coatings for your needs.
Most commercial, industrial resin flooring products are 100% solids and are a multi-component resin system with a short pot life. They require a skilled hand during the floor preparation, mixing, and application process. The result is a seamless floor that performs beautifully and is hygienic, durable, and easy to clean.
Floor coating systems are used in an array of industrial and commercial facilities, including warehouses, aviation facilities, and more. They offer a safe working environment for staff and are non-toxic and easy to clean. Additionally, high-gloss flooring options can help save on electricity costs by reflecting light and reducing the need for indoor lighting.
Epoxy and other resinous floor coatings are the premium solution for industrial facilities because of their different properties. Depending on the flooring system, different materials, additives, or installation techniques can be applied or combined to create the following characteristics:
- Abrasion-resistant
- Impact-resistant
- Chip/flake resistant
- Corrosion-resistant
- Anti-slip (safety)
- Antibacterial
- Antimicrobial
- Antistatic
- Hygienic
- Long-lasting
Commonly Used Types of Floor Coating Systems
The materials used for industrial facility flooring vary depending on specific needs but can largely be divided into the following categories:
Epoxy – Epoxy flooring is non-porous and is used in high impact facilities where optimum durability is the top priority. We can achieve an infinite array of color schemes or patterns with this material.
Epoxy & Urethane – Epoxy and urethane floors have an added top layer of urethane that acts as a seal and provides a seamless surface that is moisture and heat resistant and are commonly found in the food and beverage industry.
Urethane Cement – Urethane cement is a combination of a polymer binder (urethane) and fillers (cement and aggregate). Urethane cement flooring systems are tailored to the demanding service conditions often found in food and beverage industrial, pharmaceutical, and healthcare environments.
Acrylic (MMA) – MMA is a dual system polymer that is not as hard or durable as epoxy but is a formidable option for commercial flooring.
Polyurea – Polyurea is an organic polymer that is the result of a reaction from mixing an isocyanate and resin blend component. Polyurea has a rubber-like feel, making it not as hard as epoxy but still extremely durable.
There are many different types of resin flooring solutions out there, and each one has its benefits and drawbacks. Find more about different industrial epoxy floor coatings here.
What is the Difference Between Floor Paint and Industrial Floor Coatings?
The main difference is in the quality and durability of the materials as well as the skill required to successfully install the product. Common household epoxy paint is good only for light-duty applications and was never intended for industrial use. It is manufactured with a long pot life for easier application. Products like this may perform beautifully for light-traffic, residential use but are not strong or durable enough for industrial use.
Epoxy floor coating is a much more technical process that requires the expertise of a flooring professional to properly install. The exact materials used vary depending on the type of flooring system required, but every floor system installation requires careful planning to ensure the essential performance characteristics are achieved with the finished floor. Floor coating systems require the proper preparation of the underlying concrete and subsequent layers to ensure the products bond correctly and the coating is successful.
Epoxy Floor Installation
Installation is the most critical aspect of your epoxy or polyurethane flooring solution. If something goes wrong during the installation—if the floor isn’t properly prepped, if mixes aren’t correct, or if the coatings are not properly allowed to cure between coats—your floor and its longevity will be compromised. That’s why it’s important to ensure that the people you are working with are highly experienced and respected in the industrial and commercial flooring industry.
Download our guide, Tips on Selecting the Right Industrial Flooring System, for additional factors to consider to get the best epoxy flooring system for your industrial building.
Surface Technology: Over 35 Years of Epoxy Flooring Experience
Surface Technology is a licensed, deadline-focused, national epoxy resin flooring contractor, providing industrial flooring, coating, and lining systems. High-profile companies rely on Surface Technology to protect, restore, and enhance their facilities’ most critical workspaces, including:
Get in Touch
We know you’re busy. We’re here to get you the information you need as quickly as possible. Whether you just want a quick estimation on your project specifications or want to talk to an expert about your project, we are here to help you.
