What type of floor am I looking for?

Choosing protective flooring for industrial and manufacturing environments is far more complicated than just finding the cheapest coating product – or even worse – leaving the concrete uncoated!

Several other factors including durability, safety, resistance profile and cleanability as well as the cost, will all play a factor in influencing your decision.

To make it easier, simply follow these steps in order to help determine if resin flooring is the right choice for you and your industrial workspace.

How durable do you need your floor to be?

Industrial and manufacturing spaces are often subject to heavy loads, equipment and machinery as well as the constant coming and going of rubber-wheeled forklift truck traffic and other punishing processes…and, let’s face it, it feels like every five seconds there’s new folks wanting to tour your facilities, as such the floor is likely to be highly trafficked and needs to look good.

As a result, durability in a flooring material is often critical to avoid the risk of floor failure or the surface wearing far too soon and having the headache of having to replace it all over again!

Epoxy, polyurethane and MMA resin surfaces have a longer lifespan compared to most other flooring solutions. Resin creates a hard & fast bond that is much stronger than just concrete and is highly resistant and so able to withstand heavy impact and heavy-duty industrial wear and tear.

Resin also has the advantage of offering a degree of flexibility under stress; this property gives it durability under impact and thermal shock.

In short, floors that are stronger, last longer!

Does your floor need enhanced safety properties or features?

Slips and trips are one of the most common accidents that occur in the workplace, and one of the reasons for this can be unsuitable floor coverings. With a staff body to protect, it is important to consider this when choosing a floor finish, as well as the service criteria that a floor will be subject to.

For example, areas subject to either wet processes, frequent spillages or those that employ rigorous cleaning regimes such as steam cleaning or hot water downs should take particular care to ensure an anti-slip finish when replacing floor coverings or coatings.

Another aspect to think about is workflows and zoning, demarcation and colour blocking across the floor space can be used in industrial workspaces to notify employees and visitors of workflows, warn of any potential risks, hazards or dangers as well as highlight safe walkways and / or areas that should remain clear and accessible.

Liquid-applied resin floor systems are great to custom build any safety features that you require from your floor within your workspace, surface profiles can be tailored to include quartz, aluminium oxide, glass spheres or silicon carbide in order to enhance the slip resistance profile of the floor finish. Resins are also available in virtually an unlimited palette of RAL colours to complement any floor demarcation processes that you ay have in place.

Are you looking for flooring that requires minimal maintenance?

Resin floors are a must if your answer to the above question is a resounding, YES! Resins are seamless in nature and don’t include joints or grout lines, which are susceptible to harbouring dirt, grease, bacteria and stains in general. Dust and crumbs can simply be swept or hoovered away and the floor cleaned according to manufacturers guidelines based on the surface profile of the floor.

As mentioned above, resin flooring is also extremely strong and durable, meaning that it has an extended service life compared to other floor coverings. Installed properly, and with the correct maintenance, it can last for years without cracking or peeling, meaning that you won’t have to replace the floor or carry out repairs as frequently than you would if using other materials.

What’s your per square metre budget?

It’s true, resin flooring can sometimes be more expensive in the short term than using other materials, this can be as a result of a potential increased cost of materials as well as the outlay for specialist trained resin contractors to install the product, but, and this is a BIG BUT, its durability alone makes it an extremely cost-effective option, as you won’t need to replace it for many years.

And, when you take into account other savings that you can generate as a result of selecting resin flooring, such as reduced maintenance, cleaning and energy costs, it makes sense that an investment now will continue to pay dividends in the long term too!

Looking to replace the floor in your industrial space? Give Vebro Polymers a call, or drop us an email, and we’d be happy to provide a flooring consultation that addresses the service criteria of your space and the functional needs of any protective resin floor coating systems.