If you work in a high traffic area, you’re likely in the market for durable floors that will stay looking good regardless of heavy wear and tear and need minimal floor resurfacing done. One of the top floor solutions for the food and beverage industry is epoxy flooring. Using an epoxy coating service will keep any floors looking like new and reduce maintenance and replacement costs for your business overall. It can also improve safety and sanitation, making your sanitation manager’s life easier and keeping you up to code. Though polymers have been used as concrete overlays for over 35 years, using an epoxy coating service is your best bet for quality, resilience, and durability. However, when preparing for an epoxy coating service, there are a few things you want to make sure you have done.
What is Epoxy Flooring and Why Is It a Viable Option?
Epoxy flooring is a concrete with an epoxy overlay applied. Epoxies are usually composed of two things, epoxy resin and a curing agent.
One reason it’s such a good choice is the fact that it can last anywhere from five to 10 years, depending on the volume of traffic, making it a durable choice. Epoxy coatings are also usually 100% guaranteed to be non-volatile, are chemical and abrasion resistant, and adhere to the surface well. In the interest of safety, they’re also slip-resistant and provide a seamless surface, which can reduce trips and falls. Epoxy flooring also looks nice and can boost the brightness of an area by as much as 200%. Furthermore, installation is a breeze and they’re easily cleaned and maintained.
Who Should Look Into Epoxy Flooring?
Epoxy flooring is preferred by many areas of the manufacturing industry, such as packaging areas or loading bays, as well as the aviation industry, healthcare industry, and others. Those who are looking for an even surface that will stand up to plenty of wear and tear are ideal customers for the epoxy flooring industry.
If your company is required to maintain floors in perfect conditions, epoxy coatings are the way to go. They’ll relieve a headache when it comes to inspections and dealing with maintenance work, which can be a major inconvenience to daily activities. With epoxy floors, you don’t have to worry about scratches or scuff marks digging into your floors, even if you’re moving heavy objects on a regular basis.
What Should I Know About Preparing for Epoxy Flooring?
Preparing your concrete properly is key for successful installation of epoxy coatings. You want to make sure that the concrete base is properly cleaned and swept. If you’re not installing new concrete and there’s existing paint or sealants already on the concrete, you’ll need to remove that. Shot blasting or sand blasting are common preferred methods to prepare the concrete. Make sure any fissures or cracks are sealed in.
Once the concrete is clean and even and major debris are swept or vacuumed away, the concrete should be washed down. Afterwards, an acid solution should be applied to the concrete in an even coat. Wait for five to ten minutes to let it settle, then rinse the floor again. You’ll want to do one more sweep or vacuum after this. Once this is done, you can apply the epoxy coating.
Do keep in mind that the curing time for epoxy can be increased or decreased by 100% if the temperature is increased or decreased by 18 degrees Fahrenheit. You should also make sure that no moisture or dampness is traveling from the ground through the concrete. If this is the case, your epoxy coating service isn’t going to work or be as effective. Make sure that the epoxy coating is left to cure for 72 hours before resuming any usual activity for best effects and longevity.
Say goodbye to cracking or uneven floors that require too much maintenance and attention. You can have beautiful, durable floors when you call up an epoxy coating service and virtually never have to worry about it again. What’s not to love? Take action now!
