Epoxy Floors
We install epoxy, polyurethane and polyaspartic floors in
industrial, commercial, and institutional environments.
Antimicrobial coatings available for food and pharma.
Polished Concrete Floors
We install beautiful, durable polished concrete
floors in warehouses, factories, offices, and other institutions. VOC free and environmentally friendly.
Concrete Grinding
We can restore almost any concrete floor to a clean, like-new surface. Our concrete grinding service can remove VCT and carpet adhesives, paint, and other materials.
Industrial Grade
We install high performance epoxy floor systems that are designed for commercial and industrial environments. They provide a durable and easy to clean floor with good wear and chemical resistance. They are available in a range of standard colours plus custom colours to meet your aesthetic and brand requirements.
Standard epoxy floors meet most slip resistance requirements but non-slip additives are also available for low friction environments where liquids or lubricants may be present. We can help your company maintain a safe and productive work environment.
Floor Assessment
We provide a comprehensive assessment which includes evaluating the condition of the floor and determining the requirements of the business. A proper assessment is essential because it guides the processes and flooring selection.
The condition of the floor will determine the surface preparation, repairs and primer required. The business requirements determine which flooring system and top coat will be installed to ensure optimal performance and life.
Workmanship
We recognize that the quality of the workmanship is as important as the quality of the epoxy. We take surface preparation to the next level by using the heavy duty grinders and high performance diamond tools. This allows us to grind-out all minor surface damage, level modestly uneven control joints and achieve an excellent surface finish.
We fix concrete cracks and holes with high strength, non-shrinking hybrid materials that provide durable, long lasting repairs.
Control joints are recut with a diamond saw blade, vacuumed and then filled to a depth of 1-1.5” with a polyurea joint filler.
The concrete moisture, ambient temperature, humidity and dew point are measured to ensure that the epoxy is installed when conditions are suitable.
We use every available option to deliver the best possible floors.
What is Epoxy?
Epoxy is a thermoset plastic that is formed by a chemical reaction between a resin and a hardener. Epoxy is one of the most versatile thermosets and is used in a wide range of applications from adhesives to protective coatings. Epoxy is a popular material because of its toughness, strong adhesion and resistance to some chemicals.
What is an Epoxy Floor Coating?
Epoxy floor coatings are epoxies that are designed to be applied as a thin layer to the surface of concrete for protective or aesthetic purposes. There are different types of epoxy floor coatings, each designed for a specific application.
What are the benefits of an Epoxy Floor Coating?
Epoxy flooring provides a durable wear surface that completely seals off the concrete slab from liquids and other contaminants and provides some chemical resistance.
It also provides a new, homogenous surface that can dramatically improve the appearance of an old or rough concrete floor. Epoxy is available in a wide range of colours so it may be used to achieve a design aesthetic or to colour code specific areas of a factory or warehouse.
Where can Epoxy Flooring be Used?
Epoxy flooring can be used on almost any concrete floor once the proper surface preparation has been done. There are some exceptions like concrete floors that are heavily contaminated with chemicals or oil.
They are suitable for low to medium traffic factories, warehouses, retail stores, offices, and schools.
Epoxy Flooring System Installation
An epoxy floor installation requires a skilled crew to achieve a quality flooring system. All resinous flooring requires proper surface preparation, repair of cracks and holes, and joint filling with a flexible joint material. The concrete surface must be assessed by a professional so the correct epoxy primer is selected and a strong bond to the floor is achieved. Applying the appropriate top coat to handle the demands placed on the floor ensures durability and long life.
Innovative Epoxy Flooring Solutions
We are a professional epoxy flooring contractor that believes in providing a range of concrete floor coating options. The most innovative epoxy flooring solutions combine different resin coatings to create a superior system. An epoxy coating combined with a polyurethane or polyaspartic top coat substantially improves durability, chemical resistance and life.
We strive to craft the best epoxy flooring solution for our customer’s operations and budget. We assess every floor individually along with the customer’s requirements and create a flooring solution tailored to their needs.
How do You Maintain an Epoxy Floor?
An epoxy floor should be cleaned with a non-butyl, non-caustic cleaner with moderate to low foam and good cold water rinsability. An alkaline degreaser should be used for cleaning oil and grease. It’s generally recommended that you try a floor cleaner in an inconspicuous area before cleaning the whole floor to ensure it is not damaging the surface.
When using a walk-behind scrubber a soft brush or white pad should be used with a maximum head pressure of 50 lbs and run at low speed. More aggressive pads or higher head pressure will mar the floor and degrade the gloss.
Allow a new epoxy flooring installation 7 days to cure before scrubbing.
Can an Epoxy Floor be Repaired?
Yes, epoxy flooring can be repaired but the repaired area won’t match the original epoxy coating. Epoxy resin rapidly loses its colour and gloss so it will be almost impossible to match the existing floor. The repair will be functional and prevent other potential issues so it is worth repairing epoxy floors that are new or in good condition.
What is the Cost of an Epoxy Floor?
A general cost guideline for epoxy floors:
• Industrial floors $2.50 to $5.00 per square foot
• Commercial floors $2.50 to $6.50 per square foot
The cost of an epoxy floor will vary based on the following criteria:
• the size of the project
• the condition of the concrete floor
• if the area is an open space or multiple smaller spaces
• job site access, day/night, weekday/weekend, etc
• coating specifications
• the amount of repair work and joints to fill
• and more
Every concrete surface needs to be individually assessed to receive an accurate quote.
What are the Weaknesses of Epoxy Flooring?
Epoxy has several notable weaknesses:
First, it is susceptible to UV light which causes it to rapidly lose its color and gloss. Sunlight is the strongest source of UV light but it is present in all forms of artificial lighting. Environments with very bright lighting or direct sunlight should use an aliphatic epoxy or a polyurethane top coat to ensure good coating appearance and life.
Second, epoxy floors scuff and mark easily. Many types of traffic ranging from people to forklifts will cause scuffs and marks on epoxy. A polyaspartic or polyurethane top coat could help reduce scuffing but it will not eliminate the issue. It is one of the inherent disadvantages of a protective coating.
Third, epoxy coatings can be easily scratched and chipped. All surface coatings are susceptible to damage from an array of hard materials. Dropping a heavy object, dragging a pallet or large item can scratch or chip an epoxy floor. Once the floor is damaged liquids and other contaminants can get under the coating and contaminate the concrete.
Epoxy Coating Alternatives
There are situations where epoxy floor coatings are not the best option for a customer but a new flooring system is required. Polished concrete is the most common alternative to epoxy flooring because it provides an extremely durable, low maintenance, zero VOC, flooring system. The installation of polished concrete requires a substantial concrete grinding process which renews the concrete surface providing a like-new floor.
Polyurethane and polyaspartic are resinous flooring alternatives to epoxy when a higher quality floor is required. The life of an epoxy floor can be doubled in terms of durability and aesthetic appearance when adding a polyurethane or polyurethane top coat.
A polyaspartic is optimal when aesthetic appearance is the most important factor. It will retain vibrant colour and gloss long after epoxy has faded and yellowed. It will also resist scuffing and marking better than most coatings.
Polyurethane’s are the standard for durability in factories and warehouses. The provide higher abrasion resistance and overall durability than epoxy. They are also available in aliphatic versions which are non yellowing and UV stable.
What is the best garage floor coating?
The best garage floor coating is an epoxy primer with an aliphatic polyurethane top coat. It provides the best balance between cost and performance. Standard garage floor epoxy loses its colour and gloss quickly, yellows over time and chalks in sunlight. The polyurethane top coat provides a non yellowing, UV stable coating with substantially improved durability and chemical resistance.
The best garage floor coating for high-end applications would be an epoxy base coat with a polyaspartic top coat. This resinous flooring system would provide the best colour and gloss retention, UV stability, non yellowing with excellent durability and chemical resistance. Polyaspartic coatings also have a much faster return to service allowing vehicle traffic after 24 hours.
What is a Metallic Epoxy Floor Coating?
A metallic epoxy is a standard clear epoxy with a metallic pigment additive. A metallic epoxy floor is a three layer system with a coloured base coat, a clear mid coating with a metallic pigment and a clear top coat.
Metallic epoxy floors are used for decorative purposes and do not have improved performance characteristics.
Metallic polyaspartic floors are created the same way as the metallic epoxy system except polyaspartic is substituted for epoxy. They retain the improved performance characteristics of polyaspartic coatings with the decorative properties of metallic epoxy floors. A metallic polyaspartic floor should be used in situations with direct sunlight or when long term appearance is critical.
Epoxy or polyaspartic metallic floors are available in a wide range of looks to suit any design or style.
Call us for a free epoxy floor quote, (647) 544-4143.
Polished Concrete 1 Inc. is a concrete polishing and epoxy flooring contractor serving the greater Toronto area and Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Oakville, Burlington and more.