How we ensure your epoxy flooring stands the test of time
Grant Wigney, Owner of National Waterproofing and Industrial Flooring:The commercial flooring melbourne experts.
Having spent time planning which is the best type of commercial or industrial epoxy flooring for your Melbourne business environment, our aftercare service begins before we start work on your premises. We want to ensure that your epoxy flooring stands the test of time so that you reap the benefits and this starts with checking the condition of the substrate or surface that will be underneath the new industrial flooring.
Checking the substrate
If our customer wants us to install an epoxy coating over an existing industrial flooring then there are a few points on our checklist that we ensure we cover before starting any work. For buildings that are in use or have been used for the food and beverage sector or the car industry, there will more than likely be some form of contamination on the floor due to previous use. Before attempting to install a new floor coating all the grease, oil, dirt and other contaminants have to be properly removed, otherwise the epoxy resin will not bond properly and this can lead to future problems.
If there is a weak substrate, such as a poor quality of cement screen or concrete base and epoxy flooring is laid on top, then over time the floor will show signs of cracks and damage. The difficulty in this case is not with the epoxy resin, because it is much stronger than the substrate or base, but with the cement which can start to detach itself. We also ensure the compatibility of the substrate with the epoxy resin used, for example if you try to install an epoxy floor over a wooden base it will crack, as wood is flexible and the resin cannot follow the wood as it expands over time.
Floor preparation and environmental conditions
Our team are very experienced in working under a range of conditions and we know that preparation is key to ensuring your flooring will last and perform as you expect. We ensure that the surface area is fully prepared prior to installing the epoxy flooring, which means ensuring it is dry, clean and free of dust and dirt. The surface should also be shot-blasted or ground using a diamond floor grinder prior to applying the right sort of primer. Many people tend to assume that the resin in epoxy floors makes it stick to the base or substrate but this is not always the case. If the floor is going to be subject to a lot of hard wear and tear, then we know that the use of the right primer will ensure proper bonding with the epoxy coating.
One of the other reasons why an epoxy floor will fail and not stand up to constant use and heavy duty wear, is down to the environmental conditions at the time of installation. If there is a lot of moisture or humidity in the immediate atmosphere, the base is not completely dry, or if there could be a leak or drip, or humidity coming up through the floor, then there will be a problem. Epoxy does not bond well with humidity so we work with our clients to ensure this is not the case.
Maintenance and aftercare
We ensure that our team of flooring experts carry out the best possible job for your organisation because we understand the nature of the industries that require hard-wearing epoxy flooring. Once installed, there are a few points that we recommend to clients to help keep their flooring in top condition:
* Keep on top of minor spills by wiping them up with a soft cloth or paper towel.
* Heavy soiling of the floor can be treated by sweeping away any debris and mopping the floor with a hard foam mop, hot water and cleaning detergent.
* Routine maintenance is best achieved using a commercial dust mop or soft bristle brush.
* Avoid cleaners that contain acids or soap-based cleaners if possible; the soap based ones can leave a surface layer that will over time detract from the shine and also can become quite slippery.
* To maintain a high gloss finish we would recommend the application of a high grade polish. This polish can also act as a sacrificial coat to protect the epoxy coating.
Otherwise, a properly installed epoxy floor will provide you with a safe, sturdy and hard working surface for years to come.