CPC Floor Coatings Blog

Concrete is a remarkably durable building material, but it’s not damage-proof. Not only is it subject to cracking as it cures, untreated concrete can be affected by vehicle traffic, corrosive chemicals, and freezing water.

If you have a concrete surface, whether exterior or interior, there’s a good chance you’ll need to get it treated with some sort of sealant or coating. But which is best for your situation—a concrete sealer, or something stronger such as an epoxy or urethane?

The answer depends mostly on where the concrete is located and what it’s primarily used for.

We know how important environmental control is for data centers—from carefully regulated air temperatures and humidity levels to two-roof systems to prevent the possibility of leaks onto sensitive equipment. Whether you’re building a new facility or transforming an outdated data center to meet today’s standards, you’ll want to invest in flooring that helps control the environment and protects equipment.

If your facility has concrete flooring, installing an epoxy coating is an economical option that offers several major benefits:

If you’re looking to outfit a new commercial space—or upgrade an old one—your choice of flooring will be a major part of your initial expense.

But the initial cost isn’t the only thing to consider: if you choose a flooring type that’s not durable enough to stand up to customer traffic, repair and replacements will become an operational cost you’ll have to factor in every few years.

Carpet, hardwood, vinyl, and tile may be fine for department stores or areas that don’t have constant foot traffic. However, these flooring types are all susceptible to high levels of wear and damage in high-traffic areas. If you’re expecting a high volume of shoppers (or are directing all traffic along just a few major thoroughfares), you’ll probably want something that will stand up better.

If you’re looking for the most durable commercial flooring available (and would like to save money at the same time), consider starting with your concrete slab and applying one of these attractive finishes:

Are you looking to build a new beverage processing plant, or need help to remediate flooring issues in an existing building?

Whether you’re running a small craft brewery, a coffee roasting operation, or a large-scale production plant for bottled drinks, the process you use likely has many stages. It’s possible you’ll need more than a one-size-fits-all flooring solution.

Here’s a quick overview of different types of flooring to consider for different parts of your facility.

Without a doubt, concrete is able to withstand the elements on its own—after all, it’s been used to build skyscrapers, interstate bridges, and even ancient Roman temples that still stand today! However, outdoor concrete surfaces—especially those used for pedestrian or vehicle traffic—can be stained or damaged by everyday use. In areas that regularly experience cold and wet winters, the freeze-thaw cycle can widen cracks and create areas of spalling.

If your facility has an outdoor concrete surface that you’d like to keep attractive and pedestrian-safe, you’ll find several options for protective coatings. Below we’ve overviewed several of the most common options, ranked from the least to most protection.

Whether your laboratory is used to conduct biomedical research, test product safety, or pioneer new technologies, you want to keep everyone connected with your lab safe. One often-overlooked aspect of laboratory safety is the floor itself.

Not only should your floor help prevent accidents such as trips and falls, it should also be easy to keep sanitary.

While the exact flooring solution for your facility will depend on your field, there are several common factors to consider when choosing flooring for your laboratory:

Whether your crew is building a new industrial or retail facility, or if you’re constructing homes with slab foundations, you know the difficulties of getting concrete to cure properly. It can be a time-consuming process, especially when you’re dealing with extreme temperatures, precipitation, or even excessive wind.

Unfortunately, excessive moisture rising from new concrete—as part of the curing process or because of excessive moisture from beneath the foundation—can cause a host of problems in a completed structure.

Looking to save energy costs for your manufacturing plant, warehouse, or other industrial facility? In addition to investing in energy-efficient equipment and evaluating when lights and equipment safely may be shut off, you may also want to consider the finish on your floor.

A high-quality floor coating will not only protect your floor from damage and staining, but it can also help reduce the energy you need to light your facility—that is, if it has a high Light Reflectance Value, or LRV.

The term LRV is commonly used to refer to wall paint, but your facility’s floors can also make an impact on the brightness of your interior space.

Here’s how your floor’s LRV can maximize the effectiveness of your facility’s lighting.

If your facility deals with sensitive electronic equipment—either manufactured circuit boards or other products, or sensitive computers that store important data—the last thing you want is a stray electrical charge to cause permanent damage. Likewise, if you work with flammable materials, a single spark can put your employees at risk of danger.

This is where an electrostatic dissipative (ESD) floor coating can save the day. Here’s a basic overview of how ESD floor coatings work.

Why static charges build

We’re all familiar with static shocks in every day life. Whether we’re walking across a carpet in thick socks or just feeling the side effect of dry winter weather, we may even be able to feel the charge building up before releasing in a sudden, stinging shock.

When two surfaces are in contact—in this case, your feet and the floor, electrons may pass from one to another. When they separate—that is, when you step away—the electron imbalance remains, and your body becomes slightly negatively charged.  This charge builds up with each subsequent step until nature eventually finds a way to equalize it—usually via a shock when you touch another item, such as a doorknob, that’s positively charged.

If you manage a manufacturing plant or warehouse, you know that employee accidents can cost your company dearly—both in terms of monetary loss and the lost time and opportunity for your workers.

According to the US Department of Labor, here’s what worker compensation costs look like for 2017:

• Georgia: more than 3,500 workers injured at a cost of more than $275,000,000
• North Carolina: more than 1,200 workers injured at a cost of about $81,000,000
• South Carolina: more than 7,000 workers injured at a cost of about $800,000,000
• Tennessee: more than 17,000 workers injured at a cost of more than $2,400,000,000.

Unfortunately, there are aspects of the industrial workplace that bring with them inherent risks—for example, powerful manufacturing equipment, the necessity for repetitive tasks, and human workers who are prone to error.

However, other workplace accidents and injuries are preventable.