A failed flooring system is the number one reason many of our customers turn to us for advice.
We’ve spoken to hundreds of facility managers who have spent time considering what type of flooring to use, making a decision on a new flooring system, and choosing the right time to install it.
After spending their time and effort on this process, it’s disappointing (and expensive) to see the flooring fail within a relatively short period. So why do floors fail—and what can facility managers do to ensure they don’t fall victim to a failed flooring system?
Install a floor without seams
Tiles and carpets all have seams, which are the weakest part of any flooring installation. Even if they are laid and prepared properly, the joints in the flooring are not fully waterproof, which allows moisture to seep through the layers and penetrate the substrate.
Once water ingresses under the flooring? That’s when the trouble starts. Your floor will become damp, causing bad odors, or it will begin to “bubble,” or lift, at the seams. Not only does this look unsightly but it can be a trip hazard or become a breeding ground for microorganisms that thrive in a damp, dark environment.
Everlast® Epoxy is different. Our flooring is pourable, which means there are no joints or seams to worry about—and there’s no place for nasty bacteria to grow. It’s fully waterproof and our trowelable flooring is designed to bond to drains, electrical conduits, gas lines, and plumbing pipes, which means that moisture cannot penetrate the floor and cause damage to the facilities underneath.
Avoid a rubberized floor bound with adhesives
At first glance, a rubberized floor seems like the ideal solution. It’s nonslip, seamless, and can be installed in a range of attractive colors—what’s not to love?
However, we’ve seen the results of many failed rubberized floors simply because rubber does not adhere well to concrete. Instead, it’s usually stuck to the floor with adhesives, and the seams are heat-welded together.
The glue is usually a plastic-based glue (similar to PVC) that, once exposed to fats or water, will start to lose its grip on the substrate. After a couple of years, continual heavy foot traffic and chemical, grease, or water spills will cause the rubber flooring to work loose and ultimately the adhesives to fail.
Interested in seeing high quality Epoxy flooring up close? Get our FREE sample pack today!
Minimize downtime with epoxy flooring
Another disadvantage of using adhesives to lay a commercial flooring system is the smell. Using adhesives creates an unpleasant odor, which means that your facility may have to be closed until the fumes are gone, which could mean downtime of up to two weeks.
If you are running a medical facility, can you really risk exposing vulnerable patients to adhesive fumes? With hospital beds at a premium due to the pandemic, now is not the time to be closing wards because of a failed floor.
Facility managers who chose epoxy flooring will benefit from the easy installation and no nasty fumes. Our flooring can be installed overnight and be ready for foot traffic the following morning, which means your facility can open its doors for business with no downtime.
For areas that need a replacement floor fast, the Everlast® Overnight Floor is a fast-curing version of Everlast® Epoxy floor that uses our unique one-step epoxy resin formula to ensure your floor is ready for foot traffic in just 6 hours.
Do your research into health and safety
In the search for a suitable flooring system, many facility managers will have researched methyl methacrylate (MMA). It is a dual-system polymer that seems like an ideal floor coating for commercial and industrial floors.
However, MMA requires good ventilation during installation because it emits dangerous fumes as the polymer hardens. The material is also highly flammable, so if it is laid in facilities that are exposed to high temperatures, the flooring will not be suitable for the job and will quickly need replacing.
Also, research from the World Health Organization has revealed that prolonged exposure to MMA runs the risk of chronic coughs and other health problems. If your staff is affected, it could mean they are unable to work or that you’ll have to replace the floor to ensure they can work in a safe environment.
Everlast® Epoxy flooring solutions for all facilities
We have a long-standing reputation for providing health-supporting, durable, and long-lasting flooring solutions where inferior floors have failed.
Contact us to discuss your flooring requirements and receive a free, no-obligation quote from our expert flooring specialists so that you can plan a new, hygienic, and long-lasting floor to replace your failed flooring system.
Interested in seeing high quality Epoxy flooring up close? Get our FREE sample pack today!