Resinous Flooring Systems: A Guide and Comparison

Resinous flooring systems will increase the life and resistance of your existing flooring. However, there are several coatings on the market with various characteristics, making some superior choices for certain purposes than others. Knowing about all of the different types of floor resins available, as well as their benefits and applications, can help you make an educated decision.

1. All About Epoxy Coatings

Epoxy coatings are one of the most popular resinous floor coverings. They have several benefits over concrete and metal flooring for a variety of businesses. Epoxy floor coatings are flexible and essential in industrial and commercial settings because of their many applications in many sectors.

What Are Epoxy Coating Treatments?

The curing agents in epoxy coatings differ. While numerous curing chemicals are accessible, some are more popular than others. Polyamide and polyamine are two of the most common curing agents used with epoxy resins. These cure ingredients give the flooring certain characteristics, so finding the correct one is critical to its success.

Epoxy primers contain a different chemical structure than other epoxies, which makes them more suitable for priming. Wetting ability, adhesion, flexibility, and re-coatability are all properties of polyamides that make these epoxies better for priming. While these coatings have good moisture and alkali resistance, they lack  abrasion and impact resistance.

Polyamine-cured epoxies have better compressive strength, making them a go-to for many commercial and industrial applications. They also have great heat and water resistance. Despite these benefits, polyamine-cured epoxies don't do well in UV light and can yellow over time. Polyamine epoxies may be used in a number of situations, particularly when extra film hardness and chemical resistance are required. Although polyamines have longer pot lives than other epoxy curing chemicals, they have a shorter pot life than polyurethane.

What Are the Advantages of Epoxy Coating?

Regardless of the curing agent, epoxies have several advantages. Epoxy flooring prevents bacterial development by eliminating possible hideouts for germs. The smooth finish makes cleaning epoxy floors easier than other seamed flooring systems. Another significant advantage of epoxy flooring is that it is slip-resistant. The resin creates a textured surface, even when mixed with a high-gloss finish. This prevents slips and falls, making it an excellent choice for commercial kitchens, hospitals, and other places where water or oil might be present.

Epoxy coatings, on the other hand, outperform other floor coverings in situations where static electricity needs to be avoided. The epoxy dissipates static in this application. Epoxy is nonstick when dry; however, when wet it can become slippery. Additives may be added to the liquid floor to give it some texture and slip resistance.

When compared to polyamide flooring, epoxy resins with polyamine offer more resistance against heat, corrosion caused by micro-contact, and chemicals. Epoxies with polyamine are also useful as window coverings.

How Epoxy Coating Applications are Needed?

Epoxy coatings have a variety of uses. They are used in industries where extreme foot traffic is expected, such as hospitals, schools and casinos.  They are also used on boats and in marine environments, since they are durable and resistant to scratches. Epoxy coatings can be applied to almost any type of flooring, including concrete, wood, tile and linoleum, making them ideal for many places.

These coatings have some disadvantages. The amount of attention required for safe installation is one of them. Epoxy coatings, like all chemicals, can cause health problems and long-term exposure to them may make you susceptible. Appropriate chemical handling techniques, including ventilation, personal protection equipment, and careful application procedures, are required to protect themselves and others.

Another disadvantage of epoxy coatings is that they require a high level of expertise for installation. Although two-part epoxy coatings are available in do-it-yourself kits, these are not recommended for first-time users. Improperly mixed epoxy can result in an uneven finish, bubbling, and other problems. You should hire a professional epoxy installer if you are not confident in your ability to follow the instructions correctly.

Epoxy is still a relatively new material, and while it is popular, mixing is required, each layer must fully dry before another can be put on top of it, moisture from the flooring may seep through the epoxy, and it can be damaged by UV exposure. These are not issues for many organizations that use epoxy floors; however, it is something to be aware of before making a decision.

2. All About Polyaspartic Coatings

Alternative to a slow-drying epoxy is polyaspartic coating, which dries fast enough to allow for multiple layers in a single day. Polyaspartic coatings are a two-part system that is mixed and applied like epoxy. The main difference between the two finishes is that polyaspartic contains polyurea, which gives it its quick-drying properties. Its drying speed becomes particularly beneficial when working on projects with a tight deadline. However, this finish has several advantages of its own, as well as characteristics that make it ideal for specific applications.

Now, a polyaspartic coating with no primer can be used in a single coat. Facility managers may replace floor coverings more quickly thanks to the addition of a fast-drying option that does not require a primer coat when applied to metal. The new polyaspartic coating maintains the corrosion and weathering resistance standards set by the coating that it replaces. The abrasion resistance of the new coating is similar to that of an epoxy-polyamide system, but it can be applied in a thinner coat.

What Exactly Are Polyaspartic Coatings?

When steel beams and girders were exposed to weather, the polyaspartic covering was utilized to protect them from corrosion. It still has this use today, in addition to creating high-gloss, fast-drying flooring in a variety of building types. This finish is produced by combining aliphatic polyurea with other chemicals, resulting in a strong, hard-wearing material.

Polyaspartic coatings are most commonly applied in industrial and commercial settings where there is a need for a flooring finish that will withstand heavy traffic and usage. This type of coating is also resistant to chemicals, making it ideal for areas that are subject to spills.

What Are the Advantages of Polyaspartic Coating?

Polyaspartic coatings are a lower-emitting VOC alternative. This feature makes it a more ecologically beneficial choice because less pollutants enter the air while it is being applied. Even if the coating releases significantly fewer pollutants than other technologies, such as paint or shellac, a polyaspartic coating dries quickly - in hours rather than days - so the opportunities for VOCs to enter the air are greatly reduced.

This material is also flexible, so it can be used on a variety of surfaces. Polyaspartic coatings can be applied to metal, wood, concrete, and other substrates. They are also available in a range of colors, allowing for a high degree of customization.

In addition to the benefits mentioned above, polyaspartic coatings also have a number of advantageous characteristics, including:- Good abrasion resistance- High resistance to chemicals and staining- Impact resistant- UV stable- Fast drying time- Can be applied in a thin coat

How Many Polyaspartic Coating Applications Are Needed?

This flooring solution is suitable for areas with harsh conditions and high-gloss, owing to its resistance to corrosion and high gloss. Its adaptability and impact resistance make it ideal for warehouse floors as well as other concrete surfaces. It may also be used on exposed metal beams and girders in the outside environment to keep them protected from the elements.

3. All About Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) Coatings

Methyl methacrylate, MMA, and resins all dry rapidly and have a long-lasting durability. MMA coatings are superior for disinfection and fast drying time because of their characteristics. For those in a rush, MMA might be the flooring system of choice.

What Exactly are MMA Coatings?

MMA is a common ingredient in the manufacture of resins and Plexiglas, which is a strong yet transparent plastic made from it. When methyl methacrylate is utilized as a cover, it enables concrete to defy water. This surface may be an acceptable alternative in facilities with frequently wet floors. While the EPA considers MMA to be carcinogenic to humans, it is not easily absorbed through the skin.

MMA is a respiratory irritant. Because MMA damages the lungs, eyes, and skin, those who install MMA resins or floor coatings should use protective equipment and have experience. When MMA is applied, although it is non-toxic to long-term health, the odor is strong enough to cause dizziness and sickness in some individuals.

Benefits of MMA Coatings?

MMA coatings cure rapidly, typically in an hour or less. MMA is one of the most rapid-drying, long-lasting resins available when it comes to floor coating in areas with a restricted time frame. Methyl methacrylate also resists staining and solvent damage, as well as salt, fat, alkali, and natural oils - making it ideal for use in industrial kitchens.

How Many Applications of MMA are Needed?

MMA is a versatile, water-repellent and seamless material that is frequently utilized as an industrial protective coating in pharmaceutical plants, food or beverage processing facilities, and storage areas. MMA coatings are used in supermarkets that need long-lasting, hard-to-clean flooring. In these businesses, preventing microbial development is critical. It is mandated by the FDA that floors in these types of establishments be able to withstand regular cleaning with harsh chemicals.

4. All About Urethane Cement as a Flooring Material

When the time is short, fast-drying floor coverings are ideal. Slow-drying materials may be preferable in some cases because they increase working time and ensure a clean application. Urethane cement floors, like epoxies, take longer to work. These flooring systems combine concrete with urethane for enhanced performance. While single-part urethanes are famous for their speed, they have some drawbacks.

What Exactly Are Urethane Cement Floors?

Urethane is a popular floor covering material, but adding Portland cement and sand to the urethane improves many of the features. The flooring can be as thick as a quarter-inch and will last longer than other types of urethane when coated with cement. It is commonly used in areas where vehicles are parked because it can withstand the weight and traffic.

What Are the Advantages of Urethane Cement Flooring?

There are several advantages to urethane floor tiles over epoxy ones, including the fact that they don't decolorize, create vapor or blister. The layer serves as a great sealant by combining cement into the urethane. This surface shields the flooring from chemical deterioration and allows for application at lower temperatures.

Urethane cement can be used to replace the primer on a floor, either with or without an epoxy top coat. Even if there is no moisture barrier in the mix, water cannot rise through the foundation floor due to Portland cement in the combination. This long-lasting flooring resists microbial development while also preventing thermal shock on the surface. Creating a urethane cement floor is a two-part process that begins with the installation of a base coat. A topcoat is then added for extra protection and durability.

One or two coats of grout coating are usually required to keep the sand in place. When working in a cold environment, the number of flooring choices is severely restricted by the lower temperatures, which prevent proper drying, but urethane cement floors can be installed at colder temperatures than other options. This temperature range for application implies that refrigerated trucks can be loaded and unloaded without damaging the floor.

How Many Applications of Urethane Cement Flooring Are Needed?

With its exceptional resistance, urethane cement flooring is used in commercial and industrial settings across a wide range of sectors. Food processing facilities, drink manufacturers, commercial kitchens, and pharmaceutical companies can all make use of this flooring since it has antimicrobial properties. This flooring's low curing temperature makes it one of the few choices for use in areas where refrigerated goods are handled.

Cold rooms and walk-in freezers are two examples of places that often have urethane cement flooring because the installation can be completed quickly without having to wait for the room to warm up to an appropriate temperature. Urethane cement is also commonly used in bathrooms, showers, and saunas because of its slip-resistant and waterproof qualities.

5. All About Aliphatic Urethane Coatings

Other coatings, like polyurethanes, are frequently used alone to build the flooring system, but epoxies are frequently combined with aliphatic urethane. Aliphatic urethane is another urethane coating that's commonly used in industrial and commercial flooring systems as a topcoat. This top layer is highly glossy and clear, which gives the floor a wet look. It also provides resistance to yellowing, making it an ideal material for use in facilities that receive a lot of natural light.

What Exactly Are Aliphatic Urethane Coatings?

Aliphatic urethane is a clear, hard resin that's frequently used as a topcoat in flooring systems. In a flooring system, aliphatic urethane is not used alone. It's frequently employed as a topcoat to cure epoxy blisters and lack of durability in outdoor applications. The performance and life span of the flooring system are improved when aliphatic urethane is added on top of epoxy.

What Are the Advantages of Aliphatic Urethane Coating?

Aliphatic urethane sealants protect the epoxy beneath them by sealing floors against water and chemical penetration. This topcoat increases the UV and weather resistance of the flooring, making it a more popular choice for outdoor uses.

Aliphatic urethane is also used in a variety of applications. Other advantages of this topcoating method are improved wear and chemical resistance, greater toughness and flexibility. Unlike other flooring alternatives, aliphatic urethane may be mixed with concrete or epoxy to form a cohesive bond. As a surface sealant or as a topcoat, this flooring material is an excellent way to protect your investment and extend the life of your floors.

How Many Applications of Aliphatic Urethane Coatings Are Needed?

Aliphatic urethane is used in a variety of

industries, including airports and manufacturing. This topcoat's greater wear against traffic and scratches make it ideal for warehouses and high-foot-traffic areas such as warehouses and public places like malls and airports. Industrial buildings that handle liquids or have chemical spills should utilize a chemically resistant flooring such as aliphatic urethane.

Aliphatic urethane coatings can be applied in a single layer or in multiple layers, depending on the needs of the project. This type of topcoat is also available in a variety of colors, so it can be matched to the look of the epoxy flooring beneath it. This floor coating is not only UV and heat resistant, but it's also suitable for outdoor uses. This topcoat's applications extend far beyond those limits, too. Many other business and industrial spaces that need the protective and durable qualities of this substance can utilize it in their commercial floor coating programs.

Here's where to look for a resin flooring solution.

We are a flooring business with over 30 years of expertise in commercial and industrial flooring. Because of our cost-effective methods, useful solutions, and professional workmanship, we have been able to stay in operation for so long. Get an idea of what kind of new flooring system might benefit your facility by looking at how we can improve it.