The Best Concrete Flooring Options for a Manufacturing Facility

When it comes to choosing the type of flooring to install in your business, the options seem overwhelming. That's why we're here to help guide you. The best concrete flooring options for a manufacturing facility withstand extreme wear and tear, exposure to corrosive materials and harsh chemicals, and the test of time. These factors are why you must choose the proper concrete flooring for your manufacturing facility.

Investing in a high-quality polished concrete flooring system or an epoxy floor is a big decision. In addition to the initial cost, you must consider the potential downtime a flooring project requires and the anticipated longevity of the floor itself. At Creative Maintenance Solutions, we understand this, and that's why we want to walk you through the process from start to finish. 

Concrete Flooring for a Manufacturing Facility

Ultimately, there are only a few factors you need to consider when selecting the concrete flooring for a manufacturing facility: the type of facility, the type of products used in the facility, how long you expect the flooring to last, the durability of the concrete system, how the floor looks, and the final cost of the flooring project. Let's start by discussing the different types of manufacturing facilities and the flooring requirements for each.

Wet Manufacturing Facilities - These manufacturing facilities require a flooring system that can get wet due to the products used. The flooring surface needs to tolerate standing water and small puddles. Although polished concrete can repel water, it is not the optimal choice for a business with a steady moisture presence on the floor. Epoxy concrete floors are the best choice for areas that experience high dampness, standing water, or chemical spills. Epoxy acts as a sealant, preventing the dampness from water, chemicals, and moisture from seeping into the porous concrete below. This, in turn, prevents stains on your flooring. For areas encountering wetness, it's imperative to keep the floor slip-resistant. Epoxy floor coatings defend against slips and falls.

Dry Manufacturing Facilities: While epoxy floor coverings are beneficial in wet manufacturing, polished concrete floors work well in dry spaces. Polished concrete can bear minimal fluid on its surface. However, it is not designed to hold a consistent existence of water. Polished concrete works well in other commercial and industrial settings such as showrooms, stores, and warehouses, partially due to its strength and durability. Polished concrete is aesthetically pleasing but also extremely functional and long-lasting.

Now that you have a brief idea of the best concrete flooring options for a manufacturing facility let's get into some specifics! We want you to have as much information as necessary to allow you to make an informed flooring decision!

Epoxy floor coatings also referred to as resinous, are exceptionally durable, sustainable, and decorative. Most epoxy floors are highly customizable to fit your specific needs. Epoxy flooring consists of a two-part system. The first part of resinous floor coatings combines polymer resins and hardeners, very similar to epoxy glue. These substances, when correctly mixed, react to each other, creating a chemical bond between the compound and the floor beneath. For flooring installations that require chemically resistant or, as stated earlier, water resistance, epoxy flooring is your best choice.

Maintaining your Epoxy Floor

When applied to a concrete floor, the epoxy floor coating compound creates a seamless flooring option. Because of this seamless flooring, the concrete substrate remains protected from liquid, moisture, dirt, and debris. This means they are easily maintained. The standard cleaning of epoxy flooring consists of daily sweeping and routine mopping with a non-abrasive, general-purpose cleaning solution using a standard mop or walk-behind scrubber. Waxing and buffing are not required. On average, epoxy flooring typically lasts many with the proper installation and maintenance.

Durability

One of the main reasons epoxy flooring is the best concrete flooring option for a manufacturing facility is its unparalleled strength and durability. The floor needs to bear the work environment, including foot traffic, forklift traffic, and vehicle traffic. And it needs to handle the loads on those vehicles. Epoxy flooring withstands the daily injury from equipment and substances alike. The manufacturing process exposes manufacturing floors to abrasions and chips; epoxy floor coatings minimize the potential damage.

Aesthetics

Epoxy floor coatings have unlimited aesthetic potential from the gloss level to the texture and the color to design. Line striping is often used as a safety precaution, outlining walkways, differentiating work zones, and indicating traffic lanes. Decorative quartz and vinyl flake are just examples of additives that enhance the appearance of your epoxy floor.

Resurfacing

Resurfacing an existing concrete floor hides and corrects imperfections. Unsealed or painted concrete gives way to chips, cracks, peels, and pitting. Natural wear and tear combined with age and aggressive use contribute to the dilapidation of untreated concrete floors. Installing an epoxy floor covering over a flawed concrete substrate creates a smooth, high-functioning surface. Resurfacing gives you a working floor, allows you to maintain the original look, and costs less than a new floor.

Polished concrete flooring comes from a grind and polish process that uses penetrating densifiers that densify, polish, and seal the concrete floor. This sustainable flooring system meets many green standards because of its low-odor, non-toxic sealants and densifiers. In addition to having a professional look, polished concrete is easily maintained and notably durable.

Maintaining your Polished Concrete

Polished floors require less maintenance than regular concrete flooring. It needs a thorough sweeping daily and a weekly scrubbing. This helps keep harsh debris and dirt off your floor, leaving it shiny and looking new. While polished concrete may require reburnishing to restore its gloss, this only happens about every ten years.

Durability

Choosing the best concrete flooring option for a manufacturing facility means considering the amount of traffic your floors see on any given day. If small vehicles, forklifts, or heavy machinery drive across your floor, it's no issue for polished concrete. Polished concrete's durability also withstands surface issues like tread marks and stains. Polished concrete floors resist chips and scratches, making them almost unbreakable.

Aesthetics

Polished concrete finishes come in various gloss levels and color stain options. One popular look comes from polishing down the concrete to reveal the aggregate below, creating a one-of-a-kind look.

The Breakdown

If you're still undecided about the best concrete flooring for a manufacturing facility, take a look at the breakdown below. We've listed the benefits of both polished concrete and epoxy flooring and will happily answer any of your questions!