Industrial Flooring Coatings
Introduction to Industrial Flooring Coatings
Industrial flooring coatings have been subject to many different feelings and thoughts over the years. Many people think that these coatings are completely unnecessary and that they only take a lot of their time and money. On the other hand, some people think that concrete is fine just the way it is, and that there is no need for applying industrial floor coatings, even though they have proven to be very efficient. Apart from this, there have also been many untrue things said about industrial flooring coatings that are simply not true. One of these things is the fact that people believe that concrete coatings need a month to cure. Whilst it is true that there are some types of industrial flooring coatings that really need that much time to cure, there are also other types that can be used even after 7 days.
The Purpose of Industrial Flooring Coatings
There are many good and valid reasons why people are advised to get industrial flooring coatings. However, it all comes down to durability and aesthetics. It is a fact that concrete flooring does deteriorate after frequent and heavy use, for instance. With industrial flooring coatings the flooring will be much more durable, meaning that the investment will pay off in a relatively short period of time. When it comes to aesthetics, industrial flooring coatings help the floors look shiny and new even after extensive use. Apart from this, there are also many different styles and colours of industrial flooring coatings available on the market today. Due to this fact, people are given the opportunity to choose the style they like most and enhance the floors in a way that is both practical and pleasing to the eye.
Different Types of Industrial Flooring Coatings
There are many different types of industrial flooring coatings and each of these types has its own advantages and disadvantages. Actually, these are not advantages and disadvantages strictly speaking, they are each different and are supposed to be used in different purposes. Here is a list of the most popular industrial flooring coatings:
- Epoxy coatings – this is definitely the most popular type of industrial flooring coatings in the UK and the world. They are great for places with heavy traffic, as they provide the flooring with a lot of durability and are resistant to wearing out quickly.
- Hybrid polymer coatings – basically, these are a more modern version of epoxy coatings. Namely, they have all of the advantages of the epoxy coatings, plus the fact that they are more resistant to some chemicals and staining.
- Ceramic coatings – these industrial flooring coatings are mostly used for areas with high temperatures, as ceramic coatings are heat resistant. Although ceramic coatings have proven to do the job, there are newer materials such as carbon materials. However, carbon coatings are still more expensive than the ceramic ones.
- Sealers – this is the cheapest option available, and they keep the concrete dry and in good shape. However, they have to be reapplied each couple of years for them to have the desired effect.