NorCal residents, businesses, and industrial establishments rely on more novel approaches when it comes to their flooring needs. And while there are a great variety of flooring solutions in the NorCal market today, nothing can beat the remarkable quality finish, strength, durability, and resilience of our Northern California epoxy floors.
A Look at our California Epoxy Flooring
While many individuals may have already heard of the word ‘epoxy paint’, there are still those who are quite clueless as to what ‘epoxy’ really is. Epoxy is a lot similar to your glue wherein polymer resins are combined with hardeners to give you a remarkably durable and extra-strong protective layer of your surfaces whether these are concrete, iron, aluminum, steel, or any other substance that you wish to coat. When the hardener and polymer resin react, they form a compound that integrates itself well into the structure where it is applied. It forms a stiff, formidable layer that is resistant to degradation, durable, and strong. Best of all, it bonds surprisingly well with the substrate to which it is applied.
As such, when somebody talks about epoxy flooring, one is essentially referring to a technique of applying multiple layers of polymer resin-hardener combinations. These layers have a minimum thickness of about two millimeters. While this may seem arbitrary at first, it is what differentiates epoxy flooring from epoxy floor coating. If the layers of polymer resin-hardener amount to less than 2 millimeters thick, it is only considered as an epoxy floor coating. However, if the thickness of this strong and durable layer is greater than 2 mm, then it can be rightfully called an epoxy floor.
It should be understood that the thicker the epoxy layer, the greater is the protection it provides for the underlying substrate.
Types of Epoxy Flooring For Our Northern California Clientele
Like everything else, there are different types of epoxy floors that are utilized by North California residents, businesses, and industrial establishments. Some of the more common types are the following.
Self-leveling Epoxy Floors
This type of epoxy floor is usually indicated in concrete floors that are cracked, damaged, or already very old to give them a relatively smoother, more durable, and a truly level texture. It has a shiny and almost-seamless finish and can come in various colors that should be appealing to homeowners and owners of commercial and industrial establishments. This is typically used in Northern California kitchens, showrooms, manufacturing facilities, athletic facilities, warehouses, and even commercial garages, among others.
Quartz-filled Epoxy Floors
For those who require a different appeal to their floors, there are always quartz-filled epoxy floors to consider. These combine the high-performance qualities of polymer resins with the aesthetics of quartz grains. Aside from its decorative value, this type of epoxy floor is also known for its slip-resistant and sanitary properties. They’re perfect for offices, locker rooms, showrooms, lobbies, cafeterias, school halls, restrooms, and many more.
Epoxy Mortar Floors
When it comes to the toughest, most durable type of epoxy floors, very few can ever come close to the performance of epoxy mortar floors. These are made of pure 100% solid epoxies that are embedded with either quartz or graded sand. This type of epoxy flooring is perfect for properties and structures that are constantly exposed to chemicals as well as those that may be subjected to a lot of impact forces. These are typically applied onto floors that have severe damage to strengthen the substrate before any additional epoxy floor coating or other types of epoxy flooring can be applied. Epoxy mortar floors are excellent for mechanical spaces, manufacturing plants, commercial kitchens, warehouses, garages, and restaurants.
Epoxy Flake Floors
Almost similar to quartz-filled epoxy floors, epoxy flake floors are not only known for their multi-hued, vibrant look but also for their slip-resistance because of the tiny grooves that they have. Colored flake materials are embedded into the epoxy to create a variety of styles, patterns, and textures that are highly customizable. It’s perfect for commercial kitchens, sports venues, locker rooms, clinics, and showrooms, among others.
Anti-static Epoxy Floors
Ideal for manufacturing facilities in the chemical, electronic, or pharmaceutical industry, anti-static epoxy floors contain conductive compounds that serve to accumulate static electricity in an effort to dissipate electrostatic discharges. These floors are important in properties that work with flammable liquids and gases or any other infrastructure that run the risk of the buildup of combustible dust.
Advantages of Epoxy Flooring
Epoxy flooring can provide the following advantages over other types of flooring solutions.
- The cost of installation is less expensive than other types since epoxy floors can be applied directly onto existing structures. That being said, it also helps reduce the time needed to create a floor that matches your needs.
- Epoxy floors are one of the most resistant flooring systems on the planet. From chemicals to mechanical, biological, UV radiation, and even to water, moisture, and heat, this type of flooring solution is virtually impervious to the different elements that typically affect floors.
- If maintained properly, epoxy floors are unbeatable when it comes to durability. They can last many decades with proper care.
- Epoxy floors protect the substrate upon which it rests. Whether it’s concrete or another substrate, epoxy floors can protect the underlying structure against damage, stains, moisture, and other imperfections.
- Many epoxy flooring products can be customized according to one’s flooring needs. Included in this customizability is the remarkable aesthetic finish that epoxies bring. They can be polished to an elegant shine that can make any home look more like a showroom.
- These flooring solutions are also very easy to clean and maintain. They don’t require much except for the occasional mopping to help retain the quality finish of the epoxy floor.
- Many epoxy floor solutions are slip- and skid-resistant. They provide a surface that will help prevent accidental falls that can result in injuries.
Northern Californians can always rely on epoxy flooring solutions to give them the kind of floor that is durable, easy to clean and maintain, aesthetically appealing, and very resistant against the elements.
Trench drains are always a good way to manage excess water on ground surfaces. And if you happen to live in Central California, you know that you’ll need such a system to work for you. Extreme Industrial Coatings is California’s premier epoxy flooring contractor.
