Facility floorings are one of the most vulnerable areas in any facility because of the constant exposure to different kinds of activities and applications. Many of these floorings receive a fair amount of damage that is either caused by natural elements, mechanical load, or constant traffic
High-trafficked floors, in particular, are problematic to maintain because of the steady stream of activities, people, and equipment using these floors everyday. Hotel lobbies or resort foyers, for instance, need to maintain a dirt-free and inviting look despite the constant foot traffic. Pool floors, on the other hand, are often exposed to water and need regular anti-microbial sanitizing. Public venues like sports stadiums need floors that are constantly free from larger amounts of dirt, oil, or food spills. Industrial floors are also subject to stresses caused by frequent loads such as fork lifts, trucks, and mechanical equipments.
The problem of maintaining high-trafficked areas is further compounded by the fact that some of these areas cannot be unavailable for long periods of time. They require quick and yet durable industrial floor coating products to provide repair and protection.
Industrial Floor Coating Applications
The range of applications that require industrial floor coating products vary from service industries like restaurants that need to maintain strict cleanliness and sanitation, to special venues like banquet halls that must cope with thousands of visitors regularly.
These applications require the highest-performing industrial floor coating products available. Scuffs, spills, and hard point impacts are some of the inevitable damages that can be repaired by industrial floor coating products.
In general, industrial floor coating products are meant to prevent dirt, bacteria and other contaminants from damaging floors. Such coatings should also provide resistance against exposure to water, oil and other water-based solutions. Industrial floor coating products should ideally be long-lasting, environment-friendly and easy to apply.
Solutions to Trafficked Area Problems
Depending on the type of flooring that needs to be repaired or maintained, the industrial floor coating that can be applied also varies.
For concrete floors that have damp-proof failure causing water infiltration, a rapid-set cement-based industrial coating product that ideally sets in less than 2-3 minutes can halt the spread of water, and an epoxy-modified polymer coating product can seal the area and withstand large amounts of hydrostatic pressure to endure heavy traffic.
Freshly-laid floorings sometimes run the risk of osmotic blistering. Industrial floor coating products need to be poured out in specified thickness to aid in curing, after which fine sand is broadcasted and within 2 days after application, finishing coats can be applied that are now resistant to osmotic blistering.
For freeze-thaw floorings, the problem of surface deterioration and lessening of slip resistance is inevitable. Floor holes are first repaired with fast-setting cement, and a primer is applied afterwards. A mixed coating is then spread out with a leveler before applying rollering to release trapped air. Slip resistance is achieved with an application of quartz sand. A sealing coat can enhance surface protection and longevity.
For high-trafficked floors that require only a short amount of time for repair work, like runways or hotel lobbies, a thorough cleaning to remove contaminants should be conducted, keeping water saturation from occurring. A fast-filling and fast-setting coating product is then applied for rapid return-to-service floorings.
