Commercial kitchens and industrial floors for warehouses and factories must be hard wearing, low maintenance and long lasting. While polished concrete delivers on all three of these criteria, an epoxy floor may be a more suitable choice.
With epoxy floors, you can still achieve the polished concrete look, but epoxy is much more resistant to chemicals and spills, as well as being very safe to use in a commercial kitchen or industrial setting.
Here’s everything you need to know about epoxy floors.
Epoxy is a two-part chemical liquid resin. When the two parts are combined, they react with each other to form a very hard plastic film that can be applied to concrete floors as a protective coating.
The lightweight and anti-corrosive material is commonly used in aircrafts, construction and electronic devices, as well as a protective coating for concrete surfaces.
What are the advantages of commercial epoxy floors?
Epoxy floors are a popular choice for commercial kitchens and warehouse floors due to their durability, safety and chemical resistance.
Epoxy floors are resistant to heavy chemicals
Epoxy is resistant to chemicals and stains, making it a popular choice in commercial kitchens, laboratories and warehouses. Concrete in naturally porous, but an epoxy coating protects floors from corrosion from heavy chemicals or acids.
Epoxy is also resistant to stains – spills in a commercial kitchen can simply be wiped up without worrying that they’ll be absorbed into the surface.
Epoxy floors are resistant to the growth of bacteria
One of the other advantages of epoxy’s chemical-resistance is that it makes the material resistant to mold, bacteria and germs. This makes it suitable for use in commercial kitchens and anywhere else a sterile or sanitised environment is required, like hospitals and clinics.
Epoxy floors are easy to clean and maintain
Epoxy floors repel dirt and stains, making them really easy to clean. Minor spills can be easily wiped away. For a deeper clean, commercial floors simply require dry and wet mopping with water and detergent solution to remove dust, dirt and debris, and a heavy duty cleaning every few months for areas that see a lot of traffic.
Epoxy is also dust proof. Because it doesn’t attract dust, it makes it safe for people with allergies to use.
Epoxy floors are extremely durable
Epoxy is a really strong material that can withstand heavy foot-traffic and heavy loads, making it a good option for use in commercial kitchens, supermarkets, warehouses and factories that use heavy machinery and vehicles. In fact, epoxy floors are so durable, they’re commonly used in airport hangers and fire departments.
Epoxy is really difficult to scratch or chip, and it can withstand heavy impacts, such as heavy materials and equipment dropped from a height.
Because epoxy is so durable, it also has a long life-span, meaning it’s a cost-effective option in the long run.
Epoxy floors are waterproof and heat resistant
Epoxy is resistant to extreme heat and can also repel water, making it a good option for use in commercial kitchens and warehouses, or anywhere where floors need to withstand high temperatures..
Epoxy floors are non-slippery and skid resistant
Another advantage of epoxy floors is that they’re slip resistant. This makes epoxy a great material to use where the safety of workers is a concern. The skid-resistant properties of epoxy makes it safe for vehicles to drive over in factories and warehouses, or for use in a fast-paced commercial kitchen, workshop or school.
Epoxy floors comes in a range of colours and patterns
A clear epoxy coating can give you a similar look to that of polished concrete. In fact, the clear epoxy coating has a high shine and high reflectivity, just like a semi-gloss or high-gloss polished concrete.
Epoxy coatings also come in a range of colours and patterns. Coloured and decorative epoxy can deliver a stunning range of results, and you have the option of designing your floors and surface to match your business’s branding or design aesthetic.
It’s also possible to use coloured epoxy to create markings, symbols and signs on warehouse and factory floors to increase the safety of your industrial facility.
The cost of epoxy commercial floors
Epoxy floors are more expensive than standard sealed floors due to the higher costs of the materials used and the complexity of the manufacturing process.
However, epoxy is a high-quality material that’s much stronger and longer lasting than other resins or sealers. Because of its durability, epoxy floors may never need to be replaced, and maintenance costs will be minimal, making it a cost-effective choice in the long run.
The cost of epoxy is less than resurfacing, so it’s well worth the investment upfront for the cost-savings down the track.
Applying epoxy coating to your commercial floors
The quality and longevity of an epoxy finish is all in the preparation work – it’s a process that shouldn’t be rushed.
It’s also really important that you understand the properties of concrete and epoxy to avoid costly mistakes. For example, once the two chemicals are mixed, there‘s only a limited time before the coating begins to harden. It’s also important to consider the temperature when applying epoxy coating. If too warm, epoxy can begin to bubble and peel.
Epoxy can’t be applied to sealed or polished concrete, and it’s important to patch any cracks and chips in the surface, as well as clean up any dust, debris or grease, before applying the coating. For a high-quality epoxy finish, your floors might also require a primer and finishing coat.
For these reasons, it’s a good idea to work with an experienced epoxy floor specialist who can assess the project and ensure your surfaces are properly prepared for an epoxy coating.
How to get a low-maintenance and long-lasting epoxy floor for your commercial kitchen or warehouse floor
If you’re looking for a practical, safe and durable material for your commercial floors, epoxy flooring is a great option. Not only is epoxy extremely hard-wearing and long-lasting, it’s slip resistant, easy to clean and resistant to heavy chemicals and food stains, making it perfect for use in a commercial kitchen or warehouse.
