What You Need To Know About A Commercial Epoxy Floor

Refurbishing an existing commercial premises? Doing a brand-new fit-out? Replacing a damaged floor in your showroom, shop, baker y or commercial kitchen?

Making the right choice when it comes to flooring materials is imperative. Get it wrong and there can be significant consequences including costly downtime, possible health and safety breaches, reputational damage and more.

This article outlines all you need to know about a commercial epoxy floor and explains why the material is gathering momentum as the preferred option for commercial flooring across a diversity of industries.

A floor in a commercial environment has to be:

strong and hard wearing
durable
waterproof
anti-corrosive
abrasion resistant
low maintenance and easy to clean

In addition, there are many commercial environments such as retail outlets, schools, sporting facilities, municipal offices and so on which require their floor to enhance their brand and the surroundings, not detract from them.

Affordability is another critical factor. The floor needs to deliver value for money over the long-term.

Epoxy flooring ticks all these boxes…and more.

Historically, concrete floors were used extensively in warehouses, factories, and other industrial and commercial applications, but as new technology has evolved and major advances made in the large-scale application of resin materials, epoxy flooring has risen to the fore.

Epoxy floors are made by combining a liquid resin and a hardener. The chemical reaction between these two results in a rigid plastic material which forms a strong, resilient protective coating over the substrate (usually concrete).

Let’s examine each of the benefits of this versatile material in more detail.

Heavy duty performance

Despite their lightweight construction, epoxy floors are extremely strong and hard-wearing. They are resistant to degradation and can withstand sustained rough treatment from heavy foot traffic, moving machinery, spills, robust cleaning regimes etc.

Epoxy floors also have a higher MPA than cements, so they’re built for tough industrial and commercial environments.

Resistance to harsh chemicals, acids and stains

Epoxy flooring has excellent mechanical properties and is impervious to chemicals and stains. So whether it’s beetroot juice in a commercial kitchen, corrosive chemicals in a factory or abrasive cleaning materials in a food processing facility, the waterproof resin surface will resist whatever is thrown at it.

Resistance to temperature extremes

Epoxy has good heat resistance, which is another big plus in a commercial facility like a kitchen which uses equipment operating at high temperatures. Epoxy flooring also performs extremely well at the other end of the temperature scale, and can withstand freezing temperatures such as those found in cold rooms.

Superior health and sanitary qualities

Places that require a sterile, sanitised environment such as commercial kitchens, food handling operations and medical facilities have to comply with stringent health and safety legislation. Any weakness in their flooring exposes them to significant risk, hence the popularity of epoxy floors.

Epoxy floors are resistant to chemicals and other corrosive substances and the tough surface won’t yield to hard knocks, scratches and dents, but epoxy has a further advantage when it comes to health and sanitary standards. The flooring is installed with no joins, gaps or cracks. Floor coving, which is installed by hand, allows a seamless smooth transition from the walls to the floor so there’s nowhere for contaminants to hide.

This superior resistance to contaminants such as bacteria, mould, dirt and grime make it the ideal antimicrobial solution in commercial environments where strict hygiene standards have to be upheld. In addition to being a food-grade material, epoxy is also an excellent hypoallergenic option as the resin doesn’t attract dust.

Non-slip and skid-resistance

Because epoxy floors are skid and slip-resistant in both wet and dry situations, they’re an excellent choice for busy commercial and industrial facilities where the safety of personnel is paramount. For example, workers in a fast-paced commercial kitchen need to trust their footing. Vehicles in a workshop or a factory need to travel over the floor without the risk of skidding. Energetic children at school need to run around freely with minimum risk of slipping or sliding on the floor. Epoxy flooring meets the brief on so many different levels for commercial and industrial environments.

Low maintenance and easy to clean

Minor spills can be wiped away with ease, and when a deeper clean is required to get rid of any dirt or debris, a mop with water and a mild detergent will suffice. If a heavy duty scrub is required, epoxy flooring’s tough coating will handle even the most robust cleaning regime including high pressure hosing and strong chemicals.

Versatile and aesthetically attractive

Gone are the days when a commercial floor was grey and drab. Advanced technology and innovative installation techniques have brought a new dimension of shine, colour and contrasts to any epoxy floor installation. From practical line markings, safety areas, symbols and signs to decorative patterns and a multitude of high sheen colours, an epoxy floor can be customised to suit any operational or aesthetic requirement.

Low VOC

Modern epoxy floors don’t contain any volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – commonly known as evaporating solvents – so they’re completely safe for commercial and industrial environments where worker safety is a concern.

Excellent value for money

Durability means longevity, and that means that an epoxy floor will give you excellent value for money over the long-term. In many situations, an epoxy floor will never need to be replaced and maintenance costs will be minimal. That said, epoxy is a high-quality material and requires a fairly complex installation process, but it has proven its worth time and again in terms of lifecycle cost-effectiveness.

This high quality material requires high quality installation and any short-cuts or perceived short-term gains will impact on the flooring’s performance and longevity. For example, if you put an epoxy floor into a commercial kitchen, it is imperative that the wall-to-floor coving and the fall of the flooring is done correctly. If the flooring hasn’t been properly installed, liquids may not drain effectively, resulting in a significant health and safety risk. Correct preparation of the substrate is also crucial.

Epoxy Flooring Perth is a market leader in high-performance epoxy floor coatings for industrial and commercial applications and has a strong reputation for quality, professionalism and service. We have over 15 years of experience in epoxy flooring in Perth and have always prioritised our customers’ interests.

We can customise your industrial or commercial epoxy floor to meet your unique needs, but will always deliver solutions that have proven strength and durability, excellent abrasion resistance, chemical resistance and waterproofing abilities. Moreover, at Epoxy Flooring Perth, we guarantee quick installation of a gap-free seamless floor that’s easy to clean and aesthetically beautiful.

Find out more at Commercial Kitchens or get in touch with our friendly team of experts at 0452 470 433.