A commercial food and beverage facility, whether you operate a restaurant, brewery, or bakery, are all held to a higher standard of performance than your typical residential kitchen. In addition to being able to withstand a higher degree of foot traffic and spillage, there are health and safety requirements that must be adhered to ensure both employee and customer wellbeing.
Safety and cleanliness are two of the most important factors that affect the flooring choice for commercial food and beverage facilities. Surfaces need to be easy to clean, preferably seamless, and also need to offer protection against slips and falls. Both Polyurethane flooring and epoxy flooring are commonly used in commercial applications and have many similar benefits; they are both highly durable, able to withstand high temperatures, resistant to spills, easy to clean, and offer textured finishes for slip proof surfaces.
The main differences between the two are in the chemical make up and the application. Polyurethane flooring is a more flexible compound, making it exceptionally resistant to scratches and impact damage, and while both flooring options are resistant to spills and stains, polyurethane is the better choice for natural and organic compounds, such as oils and lactic acids. Epoxy, on the other hand, is a harder material and is a good choice for heavily trafficked areas. When compared to polyurethane flooring, epoxy also stands up better to abrasive chemicals and frequent cleaning.
In terms of application, both polyurethane and epoxy are resin compounds that are applied and then cured to harden. An epoxy coating is generally applied thicker, in some cases up to 15 mil, and is thinner in consistency. This makes an epoxy coating a good choice for concrete floors that require moderate leveling or have cracks that need to be filled in. In contrast, a polyurethane coating is typically only 2-3 mil in thickness and is denser than epoxy. While its flexibility will allow for some bridging of small cracks, it will not fill them the way an epoxy would, thus allowing for less leeway with uneven surfaces. Polyurethane flooring is also much more sensitive to moisture during the curing process than an epoxy coating and it is imperative that the area remain dry and free of moisture for a minimum of 24-48 hours.
The right choice will depend on the type of commercial food or beverage facility, the current state of your flooring, and your budget. Some businesses find that using both an epoxy and a polyurethane provide the best coverage, while other will weigh the pros and cons of each. In either case, speaking with a professional is the best way to ensure you are getting the right flooring for your specific needs.
