Choosing the right epoxy flooring product paired with the right contractor is how you achieve a floor that will knock your socks off. Before you find the right contractor you need know what you are looking for.
1.Type of coating
2.Level of protection
3.Existing conditions
But first, what is epoxy flooring?
Epoxy flooring, also known as resinous flooring, consists of a two-part epoxy system – a combination of polymer resins and hardeners, much like epoxy glue. When properly mixed, the epoxy resin and hardener react to one another resulting in a chemical bond with each compound and with the floor itself. The chemical bond creates a stiff plastic material that is durable, resistant to degradation, and bonds exceptionally well to its substrate. Epoxy coatings can be applied to concrete, plywood, and even over tile. Epoxy comes in a variety of colors and styles from a simple solid color to decorative flake and decorative quartz options.
1. What type of coating should you choose?
Self-Leveling Epoxy Floors
Self-leveling epoxy is utilized to apply over new, old, cracked, or damaged concrete floors to create a smooth, durable, and a leveled texture on the surface of the floor. Self-leveling epoxy floors not only provide a shiny, seamless look but it comes in many different colors that appeal to commercial and industrial spaces.
Epoxy Mortar Floors, also known as Urethane Cement Flooring
This flooring option classifies as the most stringent epoxy floor system available for use. This epoxy floor is made up of 100% solid epoxies and graded or quartz sand. Mortar systems are ideal for spaces that require a floor that is highly chemically-resistant and can withstand a great deal of impact. This epoxy floor can be used to repair cracks before applying another type of epoxy floor.
Epoxy Flake Floors
This type of epoxy floor contains colored flake materials that are inserted in the epoxy to create a vibrant, multi-hued look. The flakes not only offer a seamless look but also provides each surface with subtle grooves to reduce any slips and falls. Epoxy flake floors come in an infinite variety of sizes, colors, styles, and textures that is customizable for any space.
Quartz-Filled Epoxy Floors
Quartz epoxy flooring is a combination of a high-performance epoxy polymer resin and stained quartz grains. This epoxy is utilized for decorative spaces that require sanitary and slip-resistant properties.
Anti-Static Epoxy Floors (Electro-static charge (ESD) Resistant Floors)
ESD can be hazardous to many work environments. To reduce any static hazards in your spaces, anti-static epoxy floors can be applied. This epoxy floor typically holds a conductive compound that accumulates static electricity that dissipates any potential discharge. An anti-static solution is a highly recommended epoxy floor for spaces that contain flammable materials.
2. LEVEL OF PROTECTION
What kind abrasion and wear is expected for this environment? The amount of traffic that your floors gets is a key factor when choosing what type of epoxy floor finish for your space. If your floor will be bearing heavy loads from heavy machinery and vehicles it will need a thicker coat to protect the concrete below it and to withstand the heavy weight.
Another important thing in any commercial building is ensuring the safety of customers and employees. Therefore, choosing a flooring system that is slip resistant is particularly important if your facility is prone to water or other contaminants on the floor
Chemical exposure is also something to consider. Are there any harsh chemicals or cleaning agents that will be in contact with the floor. How frequently will the epoxy floor be cleaned? When choosing an epoxy floor finish you may want to consider a thicker coating that has a chemical resistant urethane topcoat. Other performance requirements to consider include thermal shock and abrasion resistance.
3. EXISTING CONDITIONS
The condition of the concrete is also a very important factor when choosing the level of protection for your floor. If your flooring has very large cracks and major damage, then a thicker built coating would help smooth out any blemishes on the floor even after extensive patch work is done. Also will your floor be exposed to direct UV rays? If so, then you should be looking for a topcoat that is UV resistant to prevent your floor from ambering from the UV rays.
Another very important factor when it comes to existing conditions is knowing the moisture content of your floor. When a concrete slab has high moisture a moisture mitigation primer should be used to protect your coatings from failure. When choosing the right epoxy flooring contractor this should always be their first step. Now let’s get into how to choose the right epoxy flooring contractor.
Honesty, Integrity, Reputation and Quality of work:
To get the perfect floor for your needs, you have to choose a contractor that you know you can trust and who listens to what you want, one with honesty, integrity, reputation and quality of work. Epoxy floor coatings seem to be an area where many installers and epoxy manufacturers cut corners to lower the price. They use low cost “watered down” epoxies and give epoxy a bad name. Everlast Industrial Flooring will never give a customer low grade epoxy. We only offer the highest quality products on the market. Our team will educate you on the products we are offering and present you with plenty of information such as brochures and hard samples so you can do your research on our product.
Our process begins by asking many questions to better assess what your facility needs. We will then assess the condition of your existing floor to determine the process we will take to apply your coatings. Once the right system is selected to go about your floor we will do any required floor testing to ensure you have a flawless install. Here at Everlast Industrial Flooring our skilled and experience epoxy flooring contractors will not only design and install an epoxy flooring system that meets your specifications and performs, but that will blow your socks off.
A brief history about us:
Everlast Industrial Flooring is a family run business. The owners Shannon and Nick Psaras formed this business back in 2008 and since then have built a company with the highest reputation based on their exceptional service and quality of work. We strive for close relationships with our customers and general contractors based on loyalty and fair play. Rather than being content with short-lived success- we aim for a long-term relationships.
Our employees play a key role in our company’s success. We are fortunate to able to rely on capable, highly motivated employees who remain loyal to us for many years and devote themselves to maintaining Everlast’s reputation and quality of work. To promote this we create secure jobs and a healthy working environment for our team members. No one is a boss at Everlast Industrial Flooring, we are a Team!
The reason Everlast Industrial Flooring is one of the leading epoxy flooring installers in the State of Connecticut is their reputation for excellent work, a keen eye for detail and unrivaled care for customer satisfaction. Contact Everlast Industrial Flooring for your next epoxy flooring and polished concrete project!
We Will Never Cut Corners
The best practice is to begin with a highly experienced contractor to evaluate your facility’s needs.
Winning the 2019 Polished Concrete awards most honorable mention in Concrete Surfaces Magazine and Cure-Crete Magazine.