In 2020, the market for US concrete floor coatings stood at an estimated $304.8 million in size. Drill down into those figures and you’ll find that one product leads the way in terms of volumes of sales – epoxy floor coatings.
But the biggest isn’t necessarily always the best. While epoxy has led the way for many years, there are now other industrial floor coatings that provide a better level of protection and still look great.
Join us as we take a quick look at everything you need to know about industrial floor coatings.
The Demands of Commercial Settings
Most commercial floors are made of concrete with some kind of industrial flooring protection layer on top. The right choice will depend on the demands your business puts on its commercial floor coating.
For example, in a setting that’s open to the public, you need flooring that is, above all, safe. It needs to have anti-skid properties. It’s also helpful if it’s very easy to keep clean to reduce the spread of bacteria.
In heavy industry, you need a seriously hardwearing commercial floor coating. It should be able to stand up to the hot tires of commercial vehicles and forklifts. It needs to stand up to dropped tools, spilled chemicals, and scratches and scuffs.
If your facility has windows or has open sides that let the light flood in then you also need UV protection.
Types of Industrial Floors
We’re going to look at three main types of industrial floor coatings. They are commercial floor paint, epoxy floor coating, and polyurea floor coatings.
Commercial Floor Paint
Commercial floor paint, typically made of acrylic in a water base are usually the cheapest type of commercial floor protection. However, they are not going to stand the test of time and are not suitable for areas at high risk of abrasions or spills.
Choose acrylic floor paints for low traffic, decorative use. Some have anti-slip formulations, making them suitable for areas the public may pass through occasionally.
Epoxy Coatings
Epoxy coatings are made up of two parts. There’s an epoxy resin and a hardener. They form an extremely strong bond with each other and with the subsurface.
They also offer a good level of chemical resistance and are durable under heavy forklift traffic. The downside is that they’re difficult to apply and take several days to cure, putting your business out of action for a long time.
Polyurea Coatings
Polyurea offers the best of epoxy and more. It’s even stronger and can stand up to abrasions and chemical spills. It also goes down very quickly in all weathers and cures within 24 hours.
They have a highly flexible quality to them which is ideal for areas with heavy footfall. Plus, they’re resistant to UV rays, which epoxy is not.
Choose Garage Force for Industrial Floor Coatings
At Garage Force San Antonio, we understand the demands you place on your industrial floor coatings. That’s why we’re proud to install high-quality polyurea floor coatings that can stand up to all kinds of abuse and still look great.
Contact us today to arrange a quotation for your facility.