The Pros & Cons Of Epoxy Floor Coating

Building Construction 27.07.22
Floor coatings 2

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Weighing up the pros and cons of epoxy floor coating? Then this is the best blog for you. We’re going to take a close look at all of the benefits and drawbacks of this popular floor treatment.

As epoxy floor coating specialists, we have vast experience and there isn’t much that we haven’t dealt with or come across! So read on to see what we think makes it the ideal solution for many floors – and why it might not be for you…

What Is Epoxy Floor Coating?

Before we get to the good stuff, let’s first make sure you know what exactly epoxy floor coating is and what it’s commonly used for. 

In simple terms, epoxy is a type of resin floor system that hardens to create a solid coating, much like plastic. This coating bonds well to appropriate base layers, making it well suited to high-traffic areas.

Where Is Epoxy Floor Coating Best Used?

Industrial and commercial flooring benefits most from the durability that epoxy offers. The common floors that we treat are; 

  • Warehouses
  • Factories
  • Areas for machinery and vehicles
  • Walkways
  • Public buildings
  • Care homes
  • Showrooms

But this is not an extensive list – at GI Sykes, we have used epoxy floor coating in so many locations, we can’t list them all.

The Pros Of Epoxy Floor Coating

We’re not going to pretend that we’re not huge epoxy flooring fans – we even have it in our own facilities. But we do like to make sure we give an unbiased overview of the product so you’re more informed. We’re going to start with the key advantages of using epoxy coating on your floors.

Protection For Your Floor

While a little obvious, it’s the main reason people opt for epoxy as a floor coating. The thick layer of resin protects your floor like nothing else. 

Extremely Durable

There are different types of epoxy, and as with anything, the quality of the product plays a large part in its longevity. We only use trusted brands that deliver exceptional results and many of the epoxy floors we have applied are still going strong many years later. With the correct base, careful application and ongoing maintenance, your epoxy floor coating can last up to ten years.

Easily Applied

Epoxy flooring is one of the most convenient flooring solutions in terms of downtime for your property. Our team of professionals can quickly apply the coating and once it’s cured – you’re back in business.

No Skidding
Despite its glossy appearance epoxy floor coatings can reduce skidding if the right type is used – so fewer slips and trips!

Hygienic

One of epoxy resin’s superpowers is that it can be made to be antimicrobial. This makes it ideal for buildings that work with food, medical facilities or places where bacteria and germs need to be kept to a minimum. Even standard epoxy flooring offers a high level of hygiene and it’s non-porous and smooth, making it easy to keep clean.

Affordability

Epoxy floor coating is one of the most affordable flooring options on the market. Compared with alternative flooring choices, such as rubber, concrete or PVC, epoxy flooring is the best value.

Colour Options

You can even have your flooring coloured to match your company brand – epoxy floor coatings can be custom coloured if you are looking to reflect your brand or environment. Many businesses, particularly warehouse and industrial ones, colour code their flooring to denote areas of hazard or safety. Red flooring is ideal as an additional warning of hazards like moving vehicles, chemicals or other dangers, while green or blue work well for marking out walkways and safe zones.

 

The Cons Of Epoxy Floor Coating

With such a long list of benefits to epoxy flooring, you might be wondering what the disadvantages could possibly be! And although it is a shorter list, it’s important to know the drawbacks so you can make an informed decision for your building. 

Slippery When Wet
Ok, we know we said it’s anti-skid, but some epoxy coatings can be more slippery when they’re wet. If you know that your floor is going to be frequently wet, then you can take a couple of approaches. You can use a different floor covering in that area or, if you still want the benefits of epoxy, you can either have an additive mixed in, like grit, that creates a rough surface or we can use a specialist roller that leaves the surface textured.

Preparation Plays An Important Role
The durability and longevity of your flooring depend heavily on the quality and reliability of your base. Making sure that the floor that is being covered is clean, damage-free and prepared for the coating is one of the most important jobs. If damage is discovered or if the floor needs a deep clean to remove grease or oil, then this can extend the project. 

Maintenance Required

You can leave your epoxy floor coating to its own devices – but it’s not recommended. Ensure that your floor is regularly cleaned – but don’t reach for the Flash just yet. Epoxy flooring can build up a ‘haze’ over time when soap-based cleaners are used, there are specialist liquids you can buy to ensure your floor keeps its shine. A weekly vacuum and dust are also advised as this keeps grit to a minimum and prevents scratches and gouges. 

Hard To Remove

This is a big one to consider. If you think that you might want to remove your epoxy flooring in the future, then think carefully about having it installed in the first place. Epoxy floor coating is tricky to remove once applied and may even require a whole new floor!

Want To Know More About Epoxy Floor Coating?

So now you’ve heard the pros and cons. Hopefully, this has helped you come closer to deciding if an epoxy floor coating is right for your property, but if you’re still left with questions, then our team are more than happy to help. You can call 01384 891 341 or  click here to arrange a call-back.

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How To Choose A Good Industrial Paint Sprayer

Spraying Services 13.07.22
on-site spraying

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Industrial paint sprayer

Maybe you’re looking for an industrial paint sprayer service to refresh and update your commercial building. Or maybe you’re looking for industrial paint sprayer recommendations so you can DIY it. Either way, this blog will help you know what to look for to get a professional, seamless finish that will give your property a new lease of life. 

Industrial Paint Spraying – The Basics

What can an industrial paint sprayer offer you that a good old-fashioned paint brush and roller can’t? That’s something we get asked a lot here at GI Sykes. The pros to using a paint sprayer are fairly comprehensive – the coverage is beautifully even, the project moves quickly and in the hands of the right contractor your paint will last for years to come.

With that in mind, you might think that buying an industrial paint sprayer and painting your property yourself will save on costs. But it’s worth remembering that even if a job looks easy, it probably has its challenges! If you’re weighing up the pros and cons of hiring a commercial paint spraying contractor over attempting to do it yourself, read on to find out what makes a good industrial paint sprayer company. 

Experience

It goes without saying that the more times you do something, the better you are at it. So, with nearly 60 years in the construction trade under our belt, we’re pretty confident that our experience speaks for itself. Over the decades, we have spray painted hundreds of industrial buildings, shutters and plant machinery, restoring them to a pristine finish. 

Experience is one of the cornerstones of any ‘good’ contractor. Paintwork might seem trivial, but uneven, dripping paint is easily noticed and can devalue a company’s reputation – not to mention the hazard that poorly applied coatings present. Any gaps in your paint can allow corrosion and damage to occur, making the cost of repair far greater.

Skill

Alongside experience sits skill. While doing something often does improve your ability, having a skill at doing it is a whole new ball game. We’re not ashamed to say that we’re fussy at GI Sykes. We employ our contractors based on their experience, ability and skill. Every member of the team has excelled in their area of expertise, making us one of the most proficient contracting firms around. 

The skill involved as an industrial paint sprayer is pretty impressive. It’s not just a point-and-spray situation (although there’s satisfaction in covering a large blank wall!), because of the many types of spray painting services we provide, our team have to have a vast knowledge of how to treat different types of surfaces. For example, cladding spraying requires an understanding of the application of paint to a ridged or corrugated surface, and window spraying deals with all manner of materials from aluminium to uPVC to steel.

Quality

There is one thing you can be certain of with a professional industrial paint sprayer like us, and that’s quality. We’ve seen the results given by subpar paint sprayers or poor-quality materials. From the machines we use to the brands we work with, everything has been hand-selected for its durability and high-calibre finish.

We’re proud to work with market-leading paint manufacturers Giromax and Tor Coatings. Both invest heavily in product development, which has led to innovation in the industry. 

What Can Be Spray Painted?

Now you have an idea of what to look for in an industrial paint sprayer, let’s take a look at the kind of paint spraying projects that can be done. 

Cladding Spraying

Cladding spraying is one of the most commonly asked for projects. On every industrial or trading estate in every town throughout the UK lurks peeling, blistered and faded cladding. It’s one of those things that can go unnoticed for a while but once you see how ugly and unprofessional it looks – you can’t unsee it. If your cladding is in need of a little TLC, then cladding spraying is worth considering. It not only restores your building’s exterior to a flawless finish, but it also helps to protect it against the harmful effects of weathering.

 

Roller Shutter Spraying

Roller shutters are the Nightwatch of your building. You likely don’t see much of them, since the only time they’re in use is when you’re not there but they serve an important purpose – they secure your property. A rusty, corroded surface is weaker – not to mention less appealing to passers-by. 

Another issue with roller shutters, particularly those in busy areas, is vandalism. Shutters seem to be lovely, big canvases for aspiring Banksys – sadly the ‘artwork’ most people are left with costs money to resolve, rather than adding it!

Industrial paint spraying makes light work of covering up unwanted graffiti, and for persistent vandalism problems, we can also use anti-graffiti coatings that make it really easy to get rid of tags, drawings and other markings from your shutters.

Window Spraying

Window frames are a great way to add colour to an otherwise boring building – whether you reinforce your branding by using company colours or go for a trendy and smart colour like anthracite. With paint spraying, it’s a simple project that we can undertake in lightning-quick time.

Industrial paint sprayer

Plant Machinery

Respraying your plant machinery is a savvy way to extend its lifespan. The paint does more than just look nice, it protects the metal from corrosion and damage. So if your machinery seems a bit battered, take a closer look – you may notice rust and splintering of the metal. 

By recoating your machinery, you prevent it from becoming a much bigger repair job. Plus it looks smart too, which is a great benefit.

Ready To Talk Industrial Paint Spraying?

If you’re ready to tackle your industrial paint spraying yourself – we wish you the best of luck. If you would like to talk to the professionals about getting the job done right the first time, we’d love to hear from you. Our contractors cover the whole of the UK, so wherever you are, our experienced, skilled and professional industrial paint sprayers can help. Just visit gisykes.co.uk to book your free quotation.

 

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