CPC Floor Coatings Blog

If you’re looking for an economical way to upgrade the concrete flooring in your restaurant, hospital, customer lobby or manufacturing plant, you may want to consider getting your floor polished to an attractive shine. Polishing concrete actually increases the floor’s hardness, is relatively easy to maintain, and can be enhanced with colors in addition to the glossy texture.

But does the smooth surface of polished concrete make it slippery for you employees or customers? Generally, no. But there are definitely some cases in which you don’t want to use it. 

Polished concrete is NOT slippery when dry

Though the process of polishing compresses the surface of the concrete by pushing the molecules closer together, the end product is still slightly porous. When kept clean, polished concrete has about as much grip as regular concrete, and provides better foot traction than marble or even some linoleum surfaces.  

Whether you’re building a brand-new facility or renovating your current one, you don’t want to overlook the importance of flooring that will stand up to your industry’s day-to-day operations and keep employees safe. There aren’t many simple one-size-fits-all solutions out there, especially if your facility does specialized work. So how do you determine what kind of floor coating or flooring system you need to be looking for?

Here are three steps that will get you started on finding the right flooring fit:

Once you’ve decided on the right floor coating solution for your facility and have it professionally applied, you’ll want to keep it in top shape for a long time to come. Whether you’ve chosen to go with polished concrete, an epoxy or urethane coating, or a specialized solution, a little precaution will go a long way in extending the longevity of your floors and keeping them looking their best.

Here are five ways to protect your flooring investment:

As the owner of a veterinary clinic, you know how important it is that your facility stays clean, sanitary and welcoming for your clients. But you also know how much damage dogs and cats can do to your floors in the day-to-day business of keeping them well.

One easy solution is to use an epoxy floor coating in your clinic and waiting room. Epoxy coating is applied directly to the concrete and offers the following benefits:

The primary problem, when it comes to unpolished concrete flooring, is the high profile of its surface (IE, the average size between its hills and valleys). While this difference is largely microscropic, the presence of pin holes and valleys can lead to accumulation of dust and long-term problems with maintenance.

The second problem with unpolished concrete flooring? Its lack of aesthetics and dull, monotonous gray color. Polished concrete flooring not only adds to aesthetics and employee morale, it also provides other benefits, too. Let us explain.

While concrete floors are relatively easy to care for compared to other types of flooring, they do require routine attention. How much maintenance your floor will need largely depends on the amount of traffic it receives, facility operations, and whether or not you are providing maintenance on a regular basis.

How much maintenance your concrete flooring requires will vary, not just based on the size of your facility, but also your industry and what sorts of traffic your floor is subject to.

The process of polishing a concrete floor increases the concrete’s density and durability, helping it withstand more wear and tear. That being said, polished concrete floors are not invincible, and they can sustain damage over time. Here are some of the common causes of damage and their remedies:

Damage due to cleaners

To keep your facility’s floors performing at their best, you need to implement weekly cleaning, even if there are no visible stains or dust buildup.

However, one common cause of damage to polished concrete flooring is the use of harsh, unapproved detergents or soaps being used to clean it. 

So you’re thinking about investing in an epoxy floor coating for your industrial or commercial facility. You want to make the most of your time and money, and you certainly don’t want to have to repeat the process again in just a year or two.

While chemical corrosion is an important concern for facility managers and company owners, the risk isn't jsut an aesthetic one.

While corrosion may ruin the look of a flooring system, making it seem dated or run-down even in brand new facilities, what corrosion will really damage is the durability and performance of the floor itself.

We believe that the best offense is a good defense. The best way to protect your business from corrosion is to choose the best contractor and floor coating system right from the start.

Working within a chemical environment often involves a greater attention-to-detail. Corrosion or contamination of even generally benign chemicals can cause worry or panic in employees, managers, and even in the public. The best way to protect your business, the environment, and employees when running a facility that works often with dangerous chemicals? Focus on safety from the ground up.