Choosing the Best Concrete Floor Coating for Your Space

Selecting the right concrete floor coating for your commercial or industrial space is much different than choosing the right flooring for a home or small retail outlet. While aesthetics may still be important, the primary concern for these types of spaces is providing protection to the concrete slab from impact, thermal shock, chemical spills, and other forms of heavy wear.  The floors in industrial and commercial spaces experience much heavier traffic and require a type of floor coating that provides both functionality and fortification.

Choosing the right concrete floor coating requires a careful evaluation of the space, its intended use, and the budget. A commercial kitchen will have different flooring needs than a warehouse, and a medical lab will require a specific type of concrete floor coating that may be different than one for use in an automotive showroom. When evaluating your space, factors to consider include:

Exposure to Liquids and Chemicals

some concrete floor coatings perform better than others under conditions where frequent contact with liquid or abrasive chemicals is likely. These concrete floor coatings are more resistant to spills, stains, and typically also include an anti-skid surface.

Thermal Resistance

Rapid changes in temperature can have damaging effects on some types on concrete floor coatings. Areas such as food and beverage processing plants, commercial kitchens, and cold storage facilities would benefit from a thermal resistant concrete floor coating.

Impact

Heavy machinery or constant foot traffic can be devastating on unfinished concrete floors. In areas particularly susceptible to wear, a thicker concrete floor coating may be required to ensure continued performance.

Safety

Medical labs, certain types of electronics manufacturing areas, and aerospace facilities are examples of spaces that may require specialized concrete floor coatings, including thermal resistance and anti-static properties.

The current state of your concrete flooring will have a significant impact on the cost of your concrete floor coating. Correct floor preparation is vital to a successful application; in some cases a thicker floor coating may be able to correct minor imperfections, while in other instances repairs may be required before the concrete floor coating can be poured. In either scenario, the long term performance of your concrete floor coating will depend on a professional application, and preparation is a large factor in the process.

High performance concrete floor coatings can also be aesthetically pleasing, and customizations are available to suit most designs. Colours, quartz flecks, and logos can all be included in your concrete floor coating, the options that will work best for your space will depend on preference and budget.

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