Epoxy Floor Coatings for Heavy-Use Facilities
In practice, epoxy floor coatings: Monolithic epoxy and urethane systems for buildings that take real abuse. Typically, chemical resistance, forklift traffic and washdown, in one seamless floor. If you need the space back the same day, see polyaspartic coatings.
Epoxy floor coatings — built for what actually breaks a coating
Chemical exposure and washdown
As a result, food production, commercial kitchens and medical spaces need a seamless surface that survives cleaning chemicals and constant moisture. In short, a monolithic coating leaves no seams for contamination to sit in.
Forklift and hard-wheel traffic
Generally, warehouse and manufacturing floors take point loads and turning forklifts every day. Because of that, the system is specified around the traffic the floor actually sees, not just the look.
Peeling and yellowing
In most cases, a commercial coating fails on peeling or yellowing long before it fails on appearance. In addition, correct preparation and the right resin for the exposure are what prevent that.
Epoxy floor coatings — epoxy or urethane depends on the exposure
They are not interchangeable. For example, the right resin depends on what the floor actually sees day to day, and many facilities need both in different areas of the same building.
Where epoxy fits
However, epoxy gives chemical resistance and a hard, seamless surface. In other words, it suits warehouses, manufacturing and commercial buildings where chemical exposure and abrasion are the main concerns.
Where urethane fits
Of course, urethane handles thermal shock and heavy washdown better, which is why it goes into food and beverage areas where hot water and steam hit the floor directly.
How a epoxy floor coatings project runs
Site assessment
In practice, we walk the slab, check its condition, test for moisture where it matters, and give you a clear scope with no vague line items.
Surface preparation
The slab is ground or shot blasted to the ICRI CSP profile the coating system requires, so the coating bonds instead of peeling.
System install
Typically, the specified epoxy or urethane system goes down in coats, phased around your operation where the building has to stay open.
Return to service
Many systems cure in a single day, so the facility is back in service before the next shift.
Where we provide epoxy floor coatings
As a result, all West Surface Prep is based in Commerce City, Colorado and works across Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and South Dakota. In short, for Denver metro projects specifically, see our epoxy flooring in Denver page.
Colorado60 cities
New Mexico7 cities
South Dakota6 cities
Common questions about epoxy floor coatings
How long before we can use the floor?
Generally, many systems cure in a single day and take traffic before the next shift. Because of that, the exact schedule depends on the system specified and the conditions in the building.
Do you test for moisture first?
Yes. Elevated moisture vapour causes most coating failures, so we test the slab before anything goes down rather than coating over the cause.
Can you coat a floor that has failed before?
Yes. In most cases, the failed coating comes off, we establish why it failed, and the replacement system is specified around that rather than repeating the mistake.
Is epoxy suitable for food production?
In addition, seamless chemical-resistant systems are used in food service and medical facilities. For example, where thermal shock and washdown are involved, urethane is usually the better resin.
Get a epoxy floor coatings quote
However, send the facility type, the approximate square footage and what the floor is exposed to. In other words, you will hear back the same business day.
For specification guidance on epoxy and urethane coating systems, see the American Concrete Institute.