High-traffic facilities depend on durable floors to streamline operations and ensure optimal safety outcomes for all occupants. Concrete is the most common flooring material for such facilities, thanks to its inherent strength. But bare concrete is vulnerable to all sorts of pressures, including moisture intrusion, thermal shock, impact, and more. Various measures must be taken to protect concrete floors from harm and extend their longevity as far as possible. Applying protective coatings to your facility’s flooring is one such preventative measure, and there are multiple options available. Epoxy floor coatings are the most common choices for busy industrial settings, but urethane cement floor coatings are close rivals. These synthetic coatings can be used to seal various surfaces to increase their durability and lifespan, especially concrete floors.
Here’s why urethane coatings are ideal for a high-traffic facility such as yours.
Regular floor maintenance is a must in highly active facilities. Failing to keep floors clean and obstacle-free can result in any number of workplace accidents as well as diminish morale. Of course, businesses only have so many resources to devote to floor maintenance. Fortunately, urethane cement flooring is relatively easy to care for. Urethane coatings are naturally resistant to abrasions, moisture, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and more, and their smooth, glossy finish prevents dust and dirt from sticking around. Urethane’s resistance to environmental changes (i.e., humidity, temperature) also reduces the need for repairs over the long-term, saving your business time and money.
Quality urethane floor coatings also have major implications for workplace safety. Dirty, unprotected concrete floors can quickly become slick, increasing the risk of slips, trips, and falls. Likewise, unkempt floors can conceal issues like bumps and divots that result in injury. Because urethane coatings are so durable and easy to care for, these dirt- and visibility-related safety hazards become rare. Moreover, the surface of urethane-coated commercial flooring is slip-resistant, featuring a high coefficient of friction -- this allows feet and equipment to safely travel from point A to B in your busy facility.
Few forces can be more detrimental to your facility and flooring than moisture. Moisture in the earth will regularly seek to escape via water vapor, which can eventually seep into the substrate of your flooring. Over time, this underground moisture intrusion can weaken your floors from within and allow bacteria, fungi, and other contaminants to enter your facility from below. Likewise, liquid leaks and spills can enter your concrete floors from above if they’re not well sealed. Urethane floors (coupled with high-quality vapor barriers) help prevent moisture and other materials from inundating your floors, keeping your facility safe, healthy, and secure for everyone.
Looks aren’t everything, but maintaining appearances is important both for your business's reputation and workplace morale. Urethane coatings deliver on the visual front as well, offering a glossy finish, superior color retention compared to its epoxy counterparts, and a wide variety of color options to choose from. And since urethane coatings are so durable and easy to maintain, they’ll retain their overall beauty for a long time to come, no matter how active your facility may be.
The benefits of urethane coatings are nothing to scoff at. That said, there are also advantages to epoxy stained and polished concrete floors, along with other alternatives. Different flooring solutions will be optimal for different facilities -- at PAINTech, we understand this deeply, which is why in addition to urethane coatings we offer concrete polishing, epoxy, methyl-methacrylate (MMA), chemical resistant coatings, waterproofing, and more for our clients in Pennsylvania, The Main Line area, Delaware, Maryland, and Northern Virginia areas.
Contact us to learn more about all of the services that we offer.
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