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Commercial garages put up with nearly constant vehicle traffic, the movement of heavy machinery, oil and fuel spills, and dropped metal parts that can easily damage an inadequate flooring system. No one wants to be repairing and replacing their commercial garage flooring frequently due to damage caused by daily wear-and-tear, so investing in the right type of flooring from the start will pay off in the long run. No single flooring system is right for every facility, so it is important to review the various garage flooring options and choose the option that will best meet your facility’s unique needs.
The vast majority of commercial garage floors are installed over a concrete slab base. Concrete is relatively strong and able to withstand a fair amount of abuse, but unfinished concrete will quickly crack, stain, and deteriorate when exposed to the harsh conditions of a commercial garage. Many options exist to enhance the lifespan and function of garage flooring systems, and they can be broken down into four main categories:
FloroTallic is featured in this drive-up area, which includes a whimsical floor graphic, by Preferred Ft. Wayne of IN.
Precision installation of Florock High Performance Garage Flooring by FloorCare USA of WI.
When considering long-lasting flooring solutions for a commercial garage, epoxy floor coatings and epoxy paints are by far the most popular. And though similar-sounding, the two are actually quite different. Epoxy paint essentially consists of a small to moderate amount of epoxy solids suspended in water or blended with standard latex paint. It is installed very similarly to house paint, leaving a very thin finish as it dries. Epoxy floor paint is relatively simple to install and it offers a degree of protection when compared to bare concrete. However, any benefits of epoxy floor paint will be very short-lived in a commercial garage setting, as they generally not industrial-grade formulations, but rather are intended for simply DIY homeowner projects.
In contrast, epoxy floor coating systems offer significantly more protection for commercial garage floors than even the best epoxy paints. True epoxy floor coatings rely on a chemical reaction between two or more components that are combined at the time of installation. Rather than simply drying through the evaporation of moisture as paint does, epoxy floor coatings cure through a chemical process that creates a hard, durable surface. In addition, floor coating systems are installed over properly prepared concrete, which today involves either shot-blasting or diamond grinding the slab surface.
The coating systems can be comprised of a primer, mid-coats and topcoats, plus additional slip-inhibiting, strengthening, safety or decorative elements. System thicknesses can range from 20 mils to ¼” or more. And while epoxy is the most common resin used in floor coating systems, urethane, polyaspartic and vinyl ester resins are increasingly used. Although more technical to install, epoxy and other resinous floor coatings offer far superior protection and strength.
In addition to durability, there are several more factors to consider when selecting a commercial garage flooring system. These factors include:
A&B of IN expertly installed FloroWear 7100 in this repair shop, providing the high abrasion resistance needed.
Beyond the highly functional features for commercial garage flooring, epoxy and other resinous floor coatings can provide great aesthetics and can include a variety of decorative and visual effects. Many commercial garages favor a single, solid color that makes it easy to locate dropped tools and parts, but epoxy and resinous coatings can also be installed with textured color combinations consisting of differently colored chips, metallic finishes, wow-factor graphics and other stunning decorative options.
Decorative flooring, like FloroChip with a high performance topcoat, has a place in commercial garages, too.
We know that every minute spent installing a new flooring system is a minute that your garage isn’t open for business. Fortunately, epoxy floor coatings don’t require much downtime to install – quick curing options are even available that are completely cured within an hour.
Proper installation of commercial garage epoxy or other resinous flooring is a several-step process that involves multiple layers. Here’s the rundown:
A skilled power trowelling installation of Florock FloroBuild by the experts at CIC of GA.
For best results, all the above steps should be included in your floor coating installation.
Properly installing a commercial-grade garage floor coating is a highly technical process that requires precision and care. An experienced, factory-approved professional can best install your epoxy or other resinous flooring system, so be sure to find a contractor you can trust to get the job done right – the first time. At Florock, we manufacture a complete line of industry-leading flooring options, installed by our network of highly-skilled specialists. Regional Florock technical representatives are available throughout the Americas, UK and other locations around the world — contact us to learn more.