When winter comes around, it’s important that your warehouse’s concrete floors are ready to handle the change. However, this can be easier said than done if you don’t know the proper ways to winterize them. Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be complicated, and there are a couple of simple things that you can do to help protect your warehouse’s flooring.
Coating Your Concrete
Collins Concrete Coating’s commercial floor coatings can be exceptionally beneficial when it comes to protecting your floor during the winter, and they can have some additional benefits as well.
- Easy Cleaning: Concrete floors that aren’t coated can attract dust and dirt, making them harder to keep clean. This can be a problem during the winter, as most places tend to accumulate more dust during the winter due to the dry warm air. Commercial floor coatings help keep floors cleaner by preventing dust and dirt from adhering to the surface, making it much easier to keep clean.
- Protection from Wear: Commercial floor coatings also have the added benefit of helping to prevent wear. This can help ensure that it can last for years without needing repair and it will keep your warehouse looking better. Wear can increase on uncoated floors during winter due to wet boots and salt, which can wreak havoc on uncoated concrete. Fortunately, coatings help repel these elements and keep them in better condition all winter long.
- Reflecting Light: Commercial floor coatings can also create a shinier surface that is capable of reflecting more light. This can increase visibility in your warehouse, which can be important during the winter as the days grow shorter. This added visibility can also improve safety and reduce the need for adding additional lighting.
The three benefits are definitely something to consider if your warehouse currently has uncoated concrete floors, and you may want to invest in a coating before winter hits.
Commercial Floor Coating Options
When considering commercial floor coatings, it’s also important to understand the different types that you can choose from. Different coatings can have different benefits, and some may be better for your warehouse than others.
- Epoxy Coatings: Epoxy floor coatings are made from epoxy resin and a polyamine hardener. When combined, they form a hard plastic coating that bonds well with concrete. This type of coating is known for its durability, resistance to impact, and overall hardness. It is commonly used in industrial facilities and warehouses because of this, and because it is resistant to traffic wear and chemicals such as oils, cleaners, and bleach.
- Polyurethane Coatings: This type of coating is softer and more elastic than epoxy, and it is created using polymers. Although the end result can look similar to epoxy, it isn’t used as often in industrial settings and instead can be found in places with more pedestrian traffic. That said, one advantage of this coating is that it only takes about a day to cure, as opposed to epoxy, which can take up to seven days. It is also more sensitive to moisture, making it less ideal for humid areas.
- Polyaspartic Coatings: This coating consists of a resin and a hardener, and it works well as a topcoat. This allows it to achieve a finish with a single coating, whereas epoxy and polyurethane take about two. Ideal for places with heavy foot traffic, this coating is usually found in places such as airports, hospitals, or shopping centers. For warehouses that don’t use heavy machinery such as forklifts, this can be an option to consider.
- Acrylic Coatings: This type of flooring is a solid middle ground between the others, although they aren’t as durable as epoxy or polyurethane. They may also require more buffing to keep their shine or additional coatings in the future. That said, they have good UV protection, along with slip and water resistance. They can also cure in as little as an hour, reducing downtime and allowing you to use your warehouse sooner.
Which Coating is Best for You?
When it comes to choosing the best commercial flooring coatings for your warehouse, you’ll want to consider the type of wear and traffic that is most common. For warehouses that use forklifts and other heavy equipment, epoxy can be one of the best options. However, if your warehouse sees more foot traffic, polyurethane or polyasparticcan be something to consider instead.
Coating your warehouse’s concrete floors can be one of the best ways to prepare it for winter, and it can also ensure that your floor lasts longer without needing repair or replacement. If your floors aren’t currently coated, consider having them done before winter sets in so that your floors can be as prepared as possible for the change in seasons. Contact Collins Concrete Coating today for more information on proper commercial floor coating.
