Considerations for choosing to floor for industrial spaces are usually very different than for other building types.

Because industrial flooring is exposed to high amounts of wear-and-tear, it needs to be sturdy enough to handle forklift weight and heavy traffic. Additionally, it needs to resist impacts (such as dropped tools) and compression (from squatting or kneeling). It has to be waterproof too; chemicals used in the manufacturing process can sometimes drip or spill onto floors. And because often these liquids are flammable, floors also need to have a certain level of resistance against fire.

For this reason, many factories have their own unique floor systems designed specifically for them with a combination of anti-fatigue and impact resistance properties that is optimized for specific work activities.

Some of the top choices of flooring for industrial properties are the following:

Epoxy Flooring

Epoxy is one of the most popular choices for industrial floor coatings in particular because it’s an ideal option for both indoor and outdoor spaces. It’s very durable, resistant to chemicals and impact; it can be used practically anywhere — from garages and workshops to warehouses and loading docks. Epoxies can be applied in a wide range of thicknesses (0.125″ – 8″), and the application method is flexible too: One-part or two-part (catalyst required), roller, squeegee, spray, brush, etc.

And because epoxy has excellent adhesion properties, it is suitable for both concrete floors and properly prepared metal ones (steel wool works well) that require a good bonding surface due to poor surface preparation.

Epoxy coating are available in “conventional” or UV-cured, and the latter has interesting properties: It can be applied over other (preferably) epoxy-based coating and cures without heat — it emits a strong, visible light to accelerate the chemical reaction required for polymerization. This means that you can use one colour throughout the entire floor without having different layers of material with different colours showing through. You will save time and money because only one (UV) coating is needed instead of two (base + top).

Urethane Flooring

This is another popular choice of flooring for warehouses, factories and other industrial facilities. It offers a high degree of chemical resistance, durability and impact resistance — attributes that help it outperform some other materials in the field. DuPont™ Ardox® HP-2032 polyurethane paint is one of the most used coatings for this type of environment because of its superior performance and flexibility: This two-component urethane can be applied at low temperatures (-15°C) without any loss of adhesion or gloss retention (even when applied over oily surfaces). And like epoxy coatings, urethanes are available in UV options too.

Wood Flooring

While wood doesn’t provide as much protection against chemicals or water as the other options mentioned here, it is still a popular choice for many different applications: For example, wooden floors can be found in food processing and storage facilities to provide an additional layer of insulation.

To prevent warping or rotting, make sure you use “water-resistant” (and preferably also dehumidifying) wood such as Ipe (pronounced ee-pay). This type of flooring is extremely durable and resistant against scratches and chemical spills that may drip from machinery. It has excellent dimensional stability — meaning that even if humidity levels change frequently, its dimensions won’t change significantly.

Slip Resistant Flooring

If you work in a commercial facility like an office building, healthcare center or school where staff and/or visitors are at risk of slipping on wet floors, it is essential that your commercial flooring is slip-resistant. One of the most common types of coating used for this purpose is epoxy; however, there are other options like polyurea coatings (very durable), stone resin coatings (eco-friendly too) and epoxy-polyurethane blends. Slip resistance can also be achieved with textured surfaces painted with urethane paints.

Concrete Polishing

In some cases, concrete floors aren’t covered to protect them from spills or environmental elements because they are already treated with a special floor coating. Polishing concrete is a time-consuming process that begins by breaking up the top layer of concrete with a jackhammer and washing it down with water to remove any loose material. The next step is grinding the surface smooth, followed by deep cleaning and application of a sealer. After this treatment, you will have a beautiful, highly polished floor that’s resistant to both scratches and stains.

Key Takeaways

The best Industrial flooring is commonly chosen based on the nature of operations being done in the space. This means that not flooring can be considered more superior than the rest, it is more dependent on the type of chemicals being used in the space, or how much traffic it will receive. Concrete polishing also increases the value of flooring by adding a layer of protection and making them easier to clean. Among all these materials, here are some that stand out:

  • Epoxy Floor Coating
  • Urethane Floor Coating
  • Wood Flooring
  • Slip-Resistant Flooring
  • Concrete Polishing

Each material serves its purpose when it comes to industrial flooring. It is important to consult with experts before choosing what works for your operations best! Consultation can be done with professionals in this field either through office visits or web-based meetings where they can give recommendations based on their assessment.