Installing Coated Floors the Right Way and the First Time

coated floors

Repair of the floor in the accompanying photo required proper floor preparation before the installation of a new floor coating applied to specifications.

Repair of the floor in the accompanying photo required proper floor preparation before the installation of a new floor coating applied to specifications.

The quote “You never get a second chance to make a good first impression” is often attributed to Oscar Wilde, the 19 century playwright. The problem is . . . it’s also said to have come from George Bernard Shaw, Will Rogers, and a few others who just might have lifted the quote from . . . Mark Twain!

“Do it right the first time” is a similar quote, and according to women, explains why they are not as busy as men!  But this concept of doing it right the first time, is critically important in everything we do and we see this played out over and over again in the industrial flooring jobs we are called on to repair. Most of these flooring repair jobs are caused by cost cutting measures, or by installing inferior materials, or the lack of experience of the flooring installers contracted to do the work.

Since an industrial floor is exposed, not only to foot traffic and forklifts, but possibly water, extreme temperatures, and corrosive chemicals, that makes selecting the proper flooring for the facility a very important consideration. For floors exposed to water and/or chemicals, a floor coating of epoxy with a topcoat of urethane, or even vinyl ester, would be a good choice. But even with the right floor coating, the integrity and service life of it will be reduced if the floors are not properly prepared to begin the work.

epoxy floor failure

This unsightly floor has water damage, joint damage, and many areas where the epoxy has worn through leaving the floor no longer protected.

Installing a floor coating takes experience because there are things that can go wrong. A poured epoxy floor can have too much aggregate and not enough epoxy resin. This can lead to a floor that has voids and is easily penetrated by water and chemicals. An epoxy coating that is put on too thick or too thin affects the chemical reaction of the epoxy resin and hardener and that can lead to a floor that does not hold up to the wear and abuse on the floor. Add to these the lack of experience of the installer, or an installer that’s trying to cut corners, and you have a floor that will fail.

Good, qualified, and experienced floor coating installers, are aware of these potential problems and know they have only one chance to make a good first impression. They will do it right the first time.

Blackwell’s, Inc.

Specialized Industrial Cleaning, Concrete Coatings and Concrete Repair

www.blackwells-inc.com

LaGrange, GA

706-883-6239

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