An often overlooked aspect of a healthy property is its flooring. Walked on, worked on, and driven over day in and day out, the floors of industrial and commercial buildings put up with a great deal, and so ensuring it’s capable of withstanding traffic, spills, impacts, and other stress is imperative.
Epoxy floor coatings are the ideal solution if you’re looking for a floor that can survive all of this wear and pressure. Quick to cure and lasting long into the future, an epoxy floor is designed to endure.
Let’s talk epoxy floor coatings, how they work, our professional service process, and the many benefits you’ll take advantage of when choosing Cladspray and the market-leading epoxy floor systems we utilise.
What is epoxy flooring?
Epoxy flooring is an incredibly strong and long-lasting resin floor solution. It’s typically formed of one part epoxy resin and one part hardener or co-reactant, mixed prior to application. The mixed solution is a durable plastic material, ideal for floors that experience heavy traffic, potential impact, and temperature changes. It can be applied over several surface materials, such as wood or tile, but the best foundation for a flawless epoxy floor coating is concrete.
The many benefits of epoxy floor coating systems include:
- Strength and durability
- Longevity
- Quick curing
- Chemical resistant
- Increased property value
- Easy to maintain
- Modern aesthetic
- Wide colour range
- Numerous performance options, including anti-slip, anti-static, and antibacterial
For a more in-depth look at the beneficial features of a professionally applied coating of epoxy flooring, take a look at our epoxy benefits article.
Why is epoxy flooring so strong?
When epoxy resin is mixed with the hardener or co-reactant, a chemical reaction called polymerisation occurs, forming a tightly linked molecular network. This dense, three-dimensional structure is what gives epoxy coating its significant strength, and why it can withstand fluctuating temperatures, heavy foot and machine traffic, and most impacts.
Industries that choose epoxy flooring
Because of its many benefits, epoxy floor coatings are a popular choice across several sectors and industries. Its strength makes it ideal for industrial settings where workers and machinery are coming and going, such as factories and manufacturing plants. This same benefit makes it ideal for indoor parking lots and garages, as it’s durable enough to withstand moving vehicles day in, day out.
Thanks to epoxy coating’s chemical resistance, it also makes it an ideal lining for bunds. A bund is a wall or embankment structure built around a tank, barrel, or other storage vessel containing polluting or harmful substances such as fuel. The bund is designed to act as the first defence against leaks, there to collect any spilt liquid. Lining a bund with high-performance epoxy coating makes it resistant to the chemicals that may spill and creates a hard, impermeable seal to prevent further leaks. Refineries, fuel stations, chemical manufacturing facilities, electricity substations, farms, and many more industries require sealed bunds in their operations.
As epoxy flooring is easy to sanitise because of its non-porous quality, it’s ideal for health and pharmaceutical settings such as hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies. This also makes it well-suited to the food and beverage industry, as it meets strict hygiene standards by preventing the growth of bacteria and mould.
Finally, the option to choose a high-gloss finish makes it a fantastic option for any industry looking for a modern, clean look, such as retail spaces and vehicle showrooms. It enhances the overall aesthetics of these spaces, as well as providing an easy-to-maintain surface.
How do professionals apply epoxy flooring?
The Cladspray team follows a strict and thorough process from site survey to final inspection, while keeping the client informed at every stage.
- Floor survey and quotation: First, a surveyor will schedule a visit to your premises to carry out a free, detailed assessment of the floor to prepare an accurate quote. This visit is also the perfect opportunity to discuss any questions the client may have about access, coating options, and other details, ensuring the proposed solution and pricing are a good fit for your project.
- Site induction: Where necessary, a full site induction is conducted to prioritise safety, ensuring all personnel are briefed on high-risk areas, emergency procedures, and any site-specific regulations.
- Surface cleaning and prep: Next, we carry out a deep clean of the floor surface using high-powered equipment to remove any dirt, old coatings, and other contaminants. Depending on the condition of the floor, we use a range of specialist cleaning and levelling methods, including shot blasting and diamond grinding, to ensure the base concrete surface is thoroughly cleared and smooth. This is to create the perfect profile for coatings adhesion, ensuring a strong bond and a flawless finish. If the concrete shows signs of damage, such as cracks and chips, we’ll repair them with an epoxy repair mortar.
- Application: Our team blends the chosen epoxy coating product, then applies it using a rubber squeegee and cross-rolling technique for an even, bubble-free finish. We add anti-slip aggregate or decorative flakes if needed or requested, then apply a second coat to enhance durability. Depending on the chosen products, primers and top coats may also be added to the application process. The result is a seamless, high-performance floor that is both hard-wearing and visually striking.
- Final inspection: After the coating application is complete, we conduct a thorough inspection of the finished surface to ensure it meets our high standards. We will then walk through the area with you to review the work and confirm your satisfaction before sign-off.
Are epoxy floors worth the money?
If your property needs flooring that boasts significant durability, thermal and chemical resistance, extreme longevity, and a clean, modern finish, then epoxy is definitely worth the investment. It is the ideal flooring type for industrial and commercial settings, thanks to its strength and ability to withstand spills, traffic, and even impact, and is perfect for retail, healthcare, and many other spaces due to the simplicity of keeping it clean and well-maintained.
To see some in-depth, real-world examples of epoxy floor coating success, take a look at our work in the new Lotus Cars factory expansion and the renovation of an old industrial unit for Kent Braxhill.
Epoxy floor coating services by Cladspray Solutions
If you are interested in benefiting from the strength, longevity, and resilience of an epoxy floor for your workplace, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’ll survey your site for free, build a tailored flooring solution for you to consider, and provide a quotation, all with transparency. We’re backed by many years of experience, and are on hand to offer advice and suggestions at any time. Call us today on 01603 405318 and let’s discuss your epoxy flooring requirements.
