A Guide to Flooring Coatings Systems - Explained
When it comes to both protecting and enhancing the look of floors, coatings play a crucial role. Whether it’s an industrial warehouse, a commercial space, or a residential garage, the right floor coating ensures safety, durability and your desired finish appearance.
The expert technical team at New Guard Coatings are always happy to help you on any flooring project – whether that is a quick lick of paint for a small area with just foot traffic, an industrial warehouse with forklifts, or a FeRFA approved resin system – we are here and happy to help, so you don’t have to spend time trying to work out your project’s requirements.
The below are the stages New Guard would typically go through with you to establish the best solution for your requirements.
1. Scope of Work
The scope of work outlines the key tasks involved in the flooring project. Each step is crucial to ensure the coating adheres properly and performs as expected.
These typically includes:
● Surface preparation – such as cleaning, grinding, or shot blasting. More than ever with floors, the preparation needs to be very thorough and can take longer to carry out that applying the coating.
● Repairing cracks and imperfections
● Priming the surface
● Applying the coating system – such as screed, primer, topcoat etc
● Curing and final inspection
2. Paint Types
There are several types of floor coatings, each with its own benefits:
● Epoxy – Durable and chemical-resistant, ideal for industrial and commercial spaces.
● Polyurethane – Flexible and resistant to abrasions, often used in high-traffic areas.
● Acrylic – Quick-drying and cost-effective, suitable for decorative applications.
● Alkyd – Quick-drying, economic and easy application for quick turnaround and light traffic.
3. Substrate
The type of floor surface (substrate) significantly impacts the coating selection. Common substrates include:
● Concrete – The most common substrate, requiring proper surface preparation.
● Wood – Needs additional sealing to prevent moisture damage.
● Metal – Requires specific primers to enhance adhesion.
● Tiles – Often require mechanical abrasion for coatings to bond properly.
4. Coating System
A complete coating system typically consists of multiple layers:
1. Primer, including screeds – Ensures strong adhesion to the substrate and can provide additional properties if required, such as preventing damp and moisture.
2. Base Coat – Provides the primary protection and durability depending on the type of paint selected. Protection also come from the fact this is often the thickness coat.
3. Topcoat – Adds UV colour stability, gloss and another other atheistic properties the asset owner desire. .
Depending on the client’s needs, additional layers such as anti-slip aggregates or decorative flakes can be incorporated.
5. System Benefits
Investing in a high-quality floor coating system offers several advantages:
● Durability – Protects against wear, chemicals, and impact.
● Aesthetic Appeal – Enhances the look of the space with different finishes and colors.
● Safety – Can include anti-slip properties to reduce accidents.
● Ease of Maintenance – Coated floors are easier to clean and maintain.
● Cost-Effectiveness – Reduces long-term repair and replacement costs.
No matter what your flooring requirements, New Guard Coatings will be happy to assist in selecting the right type of painting system to meet your needs. Contact our technical team.
