One of the most common questions an industrial flooring installer is asked is, “how long will my new floor last?” With such a wide range of epoxy resin and other floor systems available — each designed for a specific working environment, operation or facility — there’s rarely a single answer. The lifespan of a resin floor can range from as little as two years to fifteen or more, depending entirely on the environment it’s used in, the traffic in the area and the type of system installed.
The building owner’s own needs usually come into it too, because the right specification often depends on how long the floor needs to last. Shorter-term protection can make sense in a unit that’s only leased for a while, whereas other floors are installed with the clear intention of lasting a decade or more. In reality, though, it’s the working environment that ultimately determines the outcome.
Protecting the surface is the key to a long-lasting industrial floor. Longevity depends on the coating keeping a continuous bond with the floor beneath it, and that bond is easily undermined by dust, moisture, dirt or oil left behind during installation. A few things to look out for:
- Fresh concrete must be sufficiently cured and moisture-free to bond properly with the surface protection layer.
- Curing compounds should be avoided, as they can prevent proper adhesion between the floor and the protection layer.
If you’d like to know more about industrial flooring systems built to last, it’s worth talking to an experienced local contractor. North Wales specialists REME Flooring install epoxy and polyurethane resin systems across a wide range of industrial and commercial sites, and are happy to talk through what would suit your building.