Resin Flooring – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The following is a non-exhaustive list of questions and answered about resin flooring. If you have a more specific technical question, give us a call on 01633 250652 today or fill out our form.

If you can’t find the answer you are looking floor, please use our contact form at the bottom of the page and we will get back to you asap with your resin flooring query.

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1.Q. How do I know which resin is most appropriate for my floor & work area?

A. One of the benefits of a resin floor is the sheer diversity of systems available. Need a thick, heavy-duty system to withstand forklift truck traffic and chemical spills? No problem.

Need a quick installation with minimal curing times? No problem. We have a solution for you in both cases.

Our resin flooring systems are always created with the customer in mind. We work closely with leading manufacturers to ensure you have the best service available. Our assessment criteria are built around the following key questions:

• What industry or area of work are you in?
• Are there any hazards you’re hoping to reduce or eliminate?
• What is your timeframe?
• Do you have anything in mind?
• What flooring stressors is your floor likely to be exposed to?
• What is the existing status of your floor?
• What is your budget?

Once answered, these questions enable us to work with you and the right manufacturers to ensure you have the best system in place.

Note that the Resin Flooring Association (FeRFA) outline the types of resin flooring systems available. These are based on the industry guidelines for resin flooring categories and provide an excellent overview.

Types of resins used in flooring range from epoxies to polyurethanes, methyl methacrylates (MMA) and polyester-based glass fibre (GRP) linings.

In general, the thicker the resin floor, the more durable it is.

Any other questions regarding which resin flooring system will be most appropriate to your needs then call our technical team on 02921 900011.

2.Q. How long does a resin floor last?

A. In our experience and as any reputable manufacturer would tell you, the breakdown of a resin floor is accelerated by:

• Chemicals: acids, alkalis (e.g. 25% sodium hydroxide used in cGMP bioprocessing environments are a frequent cause of resin flooring breakdown. Chemical compatibility when selecting a resin floor is hugely important.
• Thermal: excessive heat can damage the structural integrity of the resin, causing it to crack and fracture.
• Physical: there are several causes of physical stress and breakdown

• Abrasive: constant, wear and tear will gradually wear down your floor, particularly if it involves traffic like forklift truck movements.

• Impact: heavy, direct and concentrated impact from equipment placement is a key reason for any damage to a flooring system. Ideally, it should be avoided, or a protective system should be used to protect it.

Lastly, a poorly fitted floor will not last. Degradation and breakdown are accelerated by poor installations – i.e. those which are installed on moist concrete, uneven or aggregated concrete or through the use of incorrect or low-quality ingredients.

Generally, high-quality systems should remain intact for 3 – 12 years, although this will vary depending on the resins, ingredients and thicknesses used. Initial signs of breakdown will be general wear and teat, although it’s important to remember that this happens with almost all floors and secondly, resin floors, unlike sheeted flooring systems are easy to repair and refurbish. Our technical team are more than happy to provide you with estimates and discuss the best system for your application.

3.Q. Will the floor get damaged if lorries and forklift trucks are used on it?

A. If the correct flooring system has been used, the customer can expect it to hold up to a full range of transportation vehicles, from lorries to forklift trucks. Resin floors are after all used to house aircraft!

4.Q. Will the demarcation lines wear away?

A. Eventually, yes, but they’re also cheap and easy to refurbish. The expected lifetime excess 5 years, but it is also dependent on what conditions to resin floor is exposed to.

5.Q. How long does it take for a resin floor in an industrial warehouse floor to be laid?

A. In our experience, general installation rates for a 3-man team are:

• Roll-on coatings: 500 square meters per day
• Screeds: 100 square meters per day

These can obviously be adjusted according to requirements; we can deploy more workers to meet customer deadlines.

The customer should also expect to account for material preparation time and the extent of any surface preparation and repairs required, which could reduce installation speed.

6.Q. What type of floor is best for chemical spills?

A. A hallmark of most resin floors is chemical resistance. In most cases, we would recommend epoxy or urethane-based resins over an MMA one. However, the precise system installed should be the subject of a consultation with the customer to ensure the full range of chemicals is covered.

At Strandek, our process involves an initial discussion to identify the chemicals likely to contact – and react with the floor. In most cases, this involves a compatibility assessment with the resin flooring types available and often a discussion with the manufacturers that we work with to ensure the best system is selected. We arrange bespoke chemicals testing when there is no data on the chemical in question.

For frequent spills and dampness, we’d recommend a thicker resin floor comprised of aggregates. The aggregates act as inert, low-cost fillers that enhance the mechanical strength of the floor whilst providing a barrier between it an and the underlying surface.

To deal with spillages, we would also recommend an anti-slip floor to maximise grip and prevent slips, whilst also incorporating strategy non-slip cover panels and demarcation lines where appropriate to segregate hazardous zones.

That said, we also recommend good house cleaning methods to protect your floor and ensure its maximum lifetime is obtained; a clean floor is a long-lasting floor.

7.Q. Would we have to empty our factory or warehouse for you to install a resin floor?

A. No. In most cases, we can work around existing projects and our team are able to work in scheduled, pre-planned manners. We can also offer solvent-free resins that have no odour and are safe for the adjacent workforce and the public. As always, any installation will come with a full Strandek risk assessment, method statement and COSHH form.

8.Q. How long does it take for the resin floor to dry (or cure) before we can walk on it?

A. Resin curing can typically range from 2 to 24 hours, depending on the ingredients used. Fast-curing resins like MMA (methyl methacrylate) can take 2 hours per coating, although they are not as durable, whereas epoxies can take up to 24 hours. Resin curing is accelerated by catalyst addition and temperature.

9. Q. How can I make my resin floor non-slip?

A. In most instances, the final resin coating is mixed with aggregated material immediately prior to application. The thickness of the final layer and the size of the non-slip aggregate is such that the latter protrudes through the resin yet remains secure and encapsulated. The size of the non-slip aggregate is proportional to the slip hazard; environments with high slip hazards (frequently wet, chemical or oil spillages and heavy-duty foot traffic) require thicker aggregate, those with lower slip hazards and milder foot traffic (e.g. swimming pools) require finer aggregates.

Its curing time is equivalent to stand alone resin and is applied in the same manner: pour on and disperse in a vertical and horizontal manner. We recommend using quartz particles for enhanced durability; they are mechanically strong and resist wear and tear, providing an excellent non-slip platform.

10.Q. Does Strandek install floors for domestic & residential customers?

A. Yes, we do, but we only install resin floors within garages and outer buildings (e.g. animal storage buildings). We do not install in living spaces such as kitchens and bathrooms, but we could recommend an installer if required.

11.Q. How much does a resin floor cost?

Typically, the cost of a new resin floor is dependent on a number of factors detailed below.

• Materials

This could range from a simple epoxy resin for thin layer systems to a polyurethane screed for thicker high-build systems. Screeds have a lower per-volume cost but higher overall cost than multi-layer coatings, but they are usually more expensive overall.

• Labour

Labour costs depend on the number workmen on site, as well as their skill level. Floor coatings require less skill and cheaper rates, yet more complex, heavy-duty screeds necessitate a more skilled worker.

• Surface preparation

The foundations of any resin floor are critical to its long-term success. A full assessment of the existing surface should reveal its condition and suitability for installing a resin floor. There are two scenarios we typically deal with:

New concrete: as mentioned earlier, recently laid concrete can interfere with resin adhesion – laying resin onto moist concrete will significantly reduce the lifetime of the floor. In such cases, the customer should account for concrete moisture assessment measurements and in where necessary additional dehydration.

Floor refurbishment: customers with older floors that have an existing flooring surface should account for the cost of removal. This could vary from tile removal to floor grinding to create a stronger, consistent surface amenable to resin floor coating.

Surface priming

Resin primers are an excellent way to increase concrete-resin adhesion – particularly on floors where concrete has been freshly laid and the moisture levels are a little high. Primers are generally thin layers of resin, so they are quite cost-effective and can be applied fairly quickly.

• Aggregated systems

Customers requiring more heavy duty flooring should expect higher material costs and in some instances, particularly where a more skilled application is required, higher material costs.

That said, most modern-day systems are designed to facilitate easier installations and in most instances, the aggregate is cheaper than the resin itself, so the overall cost is often cheaper per cubic meter.

• Finishing touches

Non-slip coatings

For many industrial environments, the presence of a non-slip surface is hugely desirable. When surfaces are constantly damp, prone to spills they act as a hazard to the customer’s workforce. The cost of a non-slip coating is relatively cheap, can be installed with the outer resin topcoat and presents a very effective deterrent to slips and trips.

Demarcation lines

Demarcation lines are used to create and isolate certain areas in a factory, processing plant or warehouse. Again, this cost is marginal relative to the overall cost of the flooring installation.

Contact a Resin Flooring Specialist

 

Contact a specialist

At Strandek, we’ve been working with resins since 1976. We have a highly skilled team with a full range of industry-recognised accreditations. If you’d like to find out more about how we can help you with your resin flooring project, give us a call on 01633 250652 today or fill out our online form.