CPC Floor Coatings Blog

Jeremy Gillespie

Jeremy Gillespie is the President of Carolina Painting Company, which has been serving industries in the Southeast since 1968.

Recent Posts

Practical Flooring for University Laboratories

Posted by Jeremy Gillespie on Dec 13, 2017 8:10:00 AM

If you’re a facilities manager for a university science building, chances are you’ve had some challenges maintaining the laboratory floors. Not only do they take abuse from spilled chemicals and harsh cleaners as regular laboratories do, but they also have to withstand high levels of foot traffic from students constantly on the move.

You need to find a flooring option that’s durable, sanitary, and able to withstand chemical spills—and, if possible, one that doesn’t have to be replaced year after year!

One of your best bets is probably to go for a professional-grade floor coating—a specialty epoxy, a urethane, or a combination of the two.

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Topics: Urethane Coatings, Epoxy Coatings

Benefits of Broadcast Quartz Floors

Posted by Jeremy Gillespie on Dec 6, 2017 8:57:00 AM

Looking for a way to prevent slip-and-fall accidents at your manufacturing plant or warehouse? Or do you want decorative—but functional—flooring for your retail outlet or healthcare facility?

Here’s why a broadcast quartz floor may be right for you.

What is broadcast quartz flooring?

After an epoxy floor coating is applied to the prepared concrete floor, the installation crew scatters crushed quartz onto the still-wet surface. When the epoxy hardens, the quartz sets into the floor and becomes a permanent fixture. A clear topcoat may later be applied.

The crushed quartz may resemble simple sand, for the most utilitarian applications, or it may be a specially blended colored quartz. Occasionally other minerals, such as mica, are added for a unique look.

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Topics: Work Safety, Industrial Floor Coatings, Epoxy Coatings

Make the Most of Your Year-end Maintenance Budget: 5 Reasons to Invest in Your Floors

Posted by Jeremy Gillespie on Nov 29, 2017 7:14:00 AM

Are you an industrial facilities manager approaching the end of your company’s fiscal year? Do you need to use up an expiring maintenance budget, but don’t want to fall into the trap of wasting money on low-value projects?

If your facility doesn’t currently have pressing or high-priority repair needs, now’s the time to invest in preventative maintenance. If your building has a concrete floor, this is a great place to focus on.

Here are five reasons investing in concrete polishing or an industrial floor coating now can pay dividends in the year to come:

1. The right treatment can proactively protect your floor from long-term damage

Concrete is a remarkably durable building material, but it’s not indestructible. As it ages, concrete is prone to cracking, spalling, staining, and shedding. Treating your floors for the first time or replacing an old coating can go a long way in protecting the underlying structure.

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Topics: Work Safety, Industrial Floor Coatings, Concrete Polishing

Cost-Effective and Durable Flooring for Retail Spaces

Posted by Jeremy Gillespie on Oct 10, 2017 12:30:00 PM

Looking to upgrade your existing retail space, or opening up a brand-new store? Chances are you’ll want to include flooring that will stand up to day-to-day abuse—without breaking the bank, if possible.

If you want to get away from easy-to-stain carpet, easy-to-crack tile, or easy-to-damage vinyl, consider starting from the bare bones of your space: your existing concrete slab.

Making use of the underlying concrete is a cost-effective way to improve your retail space flooring without spending a fortune. Here are a few ways that you can dress up your concrete for a durable, long-lasting retail flooring solution:

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Topics: Urethane Coatings, Epoxy Coatings, Concrete Polishing

Breathing New Life into Old Floors for Regional Development

Posted by Jeremy Gillespie on Sep 20, 2017 4:21:27 PM

Over the past several years, our area has experienced a good deal of economic growth, even while other parts of the nation were recovering from the Recession.

At times, the demand and opportunity for new businesses has outpaced the availability of new commercial properties, so some savvy economic developers have turned to re-purposing existing buildings, such as abandoned mills and factories. Re-using sturdy historic buildings is often more financially feasible—and more responsible—than tearing them down and building new ones.

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Topics: Surface Preparation, Epoxy Coatings, Concrete Polishing

Practical Floor Solutions for Farm Machinery Sheds

Posted by Jeremy Gillespie on Sep 20, 2017 8:00:00 AM

Your farming equipment represents a significant investment, and you want to protect each piece in order to get the most out of it. This is why it’s important to build a sturdy machinery shed to protect your equipment from the elements and from theft.

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Topics: Urethane Coatings, Epoxy Coatings, Concrete Polishing

Economic Flooring Options for Schools

Posted by Jeremy Gillespie on Sep 6, 2017 1:28:04 PM

If you’re in charge of maintaining a school building, you want to make sure you provide a cheerful, safe, and sanitary environment where children can learn—but you also know how tough kids can be on the facilities day in and day out!

Floors can be especially difficult to keep in good repair. Whether it’s because of tracked dirt, scuffing shoes, or even accidentally dropped items, it’s easy for floors to start looking chipped and worn.

If you need to renovate part or all of your facility, chances are you’re looking for a durable solution for lobbies, hallways, and other common areas—preferably one that’s easy to clean and doesn’t trap allergens.

Here are three economic flooring options that may be a good fit for you:

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Topics: Urethane Coatings, Epoxy Coatings, Concrete Polishing

Pros and Cons of Staining Concrete

Posted by Jeremy Gillespie on Aug 2, 2017 9:30:00 AM

Considering a concrete stain for your store, clinic, or customer lobby? Here are several things to consider before investing in the staining process:

Pros of concrete staining

  • It increases the aesthetic value of your floor. Concrete stain comes in a variety of shades, including neutrals, pastels, and deep tones. Experienced contractors can add visual effects such as marbling, swirls, waves, or stenciled designs. Staining can be simply a subtle upgrade from a plain gray concrete floor, or it can become the attention-grabbing focal point of your facility’s decor.
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Topics: Concrete Polishing

Refinishing Options for Older Concrete Floors

Posted by Jeremy Gillespie on Jul 19, 2017 4:38:54 PM

If you’re remodeling an existing facility or renovating an older building, chances are you have a concrete floor in need of refinishing. Perhaps it’s badly stained or cracked, or maybe it’s just lackluster and needs an upgrade to fit into your company’s updated look.

Instead of covering the concrete with carpeting or expensive hardwood, consider refinishing the concrete itself for a cost-effective and fashionable effect. Below are several methods for beautifying your existing concrete floor:

Filling joints and cracks

Before you do any other work, the first step is to repair any damage to the floor. Cracks, pits, and areas of spalling should be filled in and/or sealed to prevent further damage. Existing concrete joints should be examined and, if needed, be filled in with a flexible filler. These steps will extend the longevity of your floor and may help reduce worker fatigue and wear on vehicles.

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Topics: Industrial Floor Coatings, Urethane Coatings, Epoxy Coatings, Concrete Polishing

The Importance of Hiring Experienced Epoxy Flooring Contractors

Posted by Jeremy Gillespie on Jul 12, 2017 8:04:00 AM

There are a myriad of reasons to consider an epoxy floor coating for your industrial or commercial facility—including superior durability, ease of sanitation, and pleasing aesthetics. While epoxy’s long life makes it a cost-effective flooring solution, it does include some initial upfront cost.

You may be tempted to save some money by installing the epoxy coating yourself, or hiring unqualified help to install it for you. After all, there are plenty of do-it-yourself kits designed for home garages—why not try to DIY it on a larger scale?

As it turns out, applying an epoxy floor coating is not an easy process as it may initially seem, and a seemingly simple mistake could undermine your entire investment.  

Here’s why it pays to hire an experienced epoxy flooring contractor:

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Topics: Epoxy Coatings