Epoxy Flooring Popular Among Industrial Property Users
Epoxy floor coating is possibly one of the more popular type of industrial flooring options around Singapore thanks to its nice shine, easy-to-maintain characteristics and durability.
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of epoxy flooring which may be able to help you with your fitting out considerations.
Pros
Affordable & Reasonable
When compared to other flooring options, the cost of epoxy floors is considered affordable. It is also one of the more attractively priced options that you may find in the market. Due to its reasonable price, many industrial users choose to go with this option as it is easy on the pockets.
Resistance & Durability
Epoxy floors are high resistance flooring. They are resistant to oil, fluid, cleansers, bacteria, germs, heat, water etc and can also withstand certain type of chemical spills. Due to its resistance to oil and fluid, it is usually a popular choice for car or automotive workshops and showrooms in Singapore. Epoxy flooring can last for a long time if applied and maintained correctly.
Protective & Easy Maintenance
Epoxy coating protects the concrete beneath it from moisture, grease and cracks. Its smooth and even surfaces also make it easy when it comes to cleaning and maintenance. Since it does not attract dust easily, the cleaning up process is usually a breeze.
Appearance
Epoxy floors when done properly will result in a nice and shiny floor for your industrial space. Epoxy is also available in a wide range of colors and can help enhance the appearance of the unit or give your unit a better corporate image especially if you are expecting regular meet ups with your clients.
Cons
Removal
Once the epoxy is applied to concrete, removal can be extremely labor-intensive and could be costly as it involves tedious and hard work to remove.
Slippery
Epoxy floors are relatively slip resistant but can also be slippery when wet, which can be dangerous for staff working in the premises. Be sure to dry off puddles of water to maintain a safe working environment. Epoxy is not recommended in open spaces or places (i.e open land or yards) that are likely to be exposed to rain as rainwater would make the place slippery and dangerous.
Wear and Tear
For industrial spaces such as warehouse or factory units, especially where loading and unloading is frequent, wear and tear is bound to happen over time. To ensure that your flooring is constantly in good shape, you may have to re-apply new coat of epoxy when there are cracks or peeling are visible. In the long term, if these are not rectified, it may lead to longer crack lines or larger portion of the coating being peeled off.
Should you Consider Epoxy Flooring?
One point to note is that epoxy paint when installed, can be extremely difficult to remove. If you are buying an industrial warehouse or factory for your company’s own operations or for long term use it will be perfectly fine.
However, if you are planning for short term use (i.e if you are renting for per project basis for 6 months to 1 year lease), you may want to reconsider applying epoxy paint to the flooring as it may be difficult to remove during reinstatement at the end of the lease when you have outgrown the premises.
Epoxy is a tough and permanent adhesive used on various types of surfaces. Once it hardens, removing it can be difficult and time consuming. You may remove epoxy by getting it back to its liquid state or gel-like state. This makes it easier to scrape the epoxy layer off from the surface.
Removing epoxy is possible, but can be tedious and requires patience. Stains may also be left behind during the removal or reinstatement process.
If you are planning to remove it on your own using chemicals, be sure to properly ventilate the place and keep your skin properly and adequately covered. Avoid any direct contact with the chemicals or the dissolved epoxy paint.
It may be necessary to repeat the entire process a couple of times before all the epoxy paint comes off the concrete.
When in doubt, it may be the best idea to consult a experienced contractor for advice.