Industrial flooring for durability and appeal.
Combat the destructive forces on industrial floors and keep them looking great with help from Painters USA.
Combat the destructive forces on industrial floors and keep them looking great with help from Painters USA.
Table of Contents
Business expects a lot from industrial floors:
- Foot traffic, vehicle traffic, heavy equipment, packed shelves, 24 / 7 production schedules, temperature swings.
- Functional duties like guiding traffic, marking work areas, identifying potential hazards.
For all these reasons and any others, add Painters USA to your short list of contractors for industrial flooring services. We guarantee our floors will last, no matter what they come up against, and we provide nationwide coverage and capabilities for all your industrial flooring needs. Ask us about floor upkeep and refinishing as part of your routine maintenance.
What is Industrial Flooring?
Industrial flooring is flooring tough enough to withstand chemicals, machinery, and other characteristics associated with industrial businesses. It’s found in factories, warehouses, refineries, utility plants, and other structures involved in heavy-duty operations.
Different types of industrial flooring
Concrete
Concrete is extremely durable and economical, which is why it’s the base for most industrial flooring systems. Combined with epoxy or polyurethane, it makes for a nearly indestructible floor along with functions like reducing contamination from mold or bacteria. Plus, concrete doesn’t have to be all boring, dull, and gray—options like staining and polishing add brightness and design options to the mix.
Epoxy
Epoxy flooring is also known as resinous or polymer flooring as it’s a two-part mixture of resin and hardener that generally goes over a concrete substrate, though it can be used with some other flooring materials. The chemicals react together, bond to the substrate, and form a hard plastic surface that is easy to clean, especially when paired with epoxy cove bases.
Urethane and Polyurethane
Although the terms urethane and polyurethane are often used interchangeably, the chemical makeup is different. Polyurethane is composed of multiple urethane units joined by a chemical reaction called polymerization.
Urethane flooring is seamless and durable, especially against chemical spills. It can be poured directly on top of concrete, and is thermal shock resistant. Polyurethane is a popular choice for industrial flooring because it’s scratch-resistant and waterproof, protecting the floor from moisture, bacteria, and temperature fluctuation. Polyurethane is used as a topcoat and can be combined with epoxy to create a floor that is virtually impenetrable.
Surface cleaning and preparation
No matter what flooring materials are chosen, thorough surface preparation and repairs are a requirement for creating a clean, smooth surface. This ensures a tight bond for strong coating adhesion, lasting durability, and warranty protection. During the entire process, the industrial flooring crews of Painters USA are diligent about details, from set-up until the work is completed to your satisfaction.
Functional coatings and markings
Did you know that the right industrial flooring contractor can help with regulatory compliance? Whether it’s OSHA workplace safety recommendations or USDA and FDA food safety regulations or third party audits within your supply chain, Painters USA can help you face inspections and audits with greater confidence.
Ask us about specialty coatings to reduce slip and fall hazards or resist mold and bacterial growth. We can paint floor markings to guide foot and vehicular traffic, communicate potential safety hazards, and other functions. Regulatory compliance also helps maintain the value of your industrial properties.
Painters USA will play our part in helping you make the grade, even under scrutiny by the most demanding inspectors and auditors.
Industrial flooring capabilities
Painters USA offers a comprehensive menu of industrial flooring services, most everything except installation of tile or carpet—though we can remove them as part of your job requirements.
Safety first and always
While some industrial flooring contractors pay lip service to safety, Painters USA gives it a high priority. Safety is always top of mind—our National Safety Director makes sure of it.
Painters USA follows OSHA guidelines and recommendations for safety training:
- Supervisors have completed OSHA 30 training (Construction version), which is 30 hours of workplace safety instruction by authorized trainers.
- Team members are either hired with an OSHA 10 card or receive the 10 hours of workplace safety instruction from us.
OSHA training covers general worksite safety, common hazards, and other topics on preventing and avoiding workplace incidents. Slips and falls are common incidents, so we give them extra attention as we work at your facility. Plus we can help you prevent them from happening long after we’re gone, with non-skid flooring systems and coatings.
Other advantages delivered by Painters USA
- Scheduling flexibility around your preferences, including evenings, weekends, and holidays if needed.
- Diverse industrial experience that includes multiple sectors like manufacturing, mining, refining, and agriculture.
- National account coverage for convenience and consistency across multiple sites.
- Certified by WBENC as a woman-owned business.
Established in 1976, Painters USA has worked with thousands of customers in a wide range of industries. Our decades of experience, consistent growth, and high customer satisfaction scores speak for themselves.
Frequently asked questions about industrial flooring
How do industrial floors differ from commercial floors?
The primary difference is that industrial flooring is almost exclusively concerned with durability, functionality, and performance. Those traits also matter in commercial flooring, along with aesthetics and visual appeal, which leads to more flooring variety, like use of carpet and high-end materials like marble.
What are the most common flooring types in industrial buildings?
Concrete is far and away the most common industrial flooring material today because it is economical, very durable, and able to withstand constant pressure. Concrete floors may be suspended or on grade, and the surface can be polished, ground and sealed, or given an industrial coating like epoxy.
We do find some wood flooring installations that are still in service, as they are considered more comfortable, quieter, and warmer than concrete. We also see some steel flooring, especially galvanized steel grating used most often for slip-resistant stairs, work platforms, and walkways.
What are the most important considerations for evaluating industrial flooring options?
- Type and amount of traffic, including people and industrial vehicles like forklifts.
- Intended use and applicable regulations from agencies like OSHA, USDA and FDA.
- Budget considerations, including ongoing costs for cleaning, repair, and maintenance.
- Environmental considerations like temperature extremes and moisture.
What matters a great deal is proper installation, surface prep, and finishing with the right coatings and treatments to reduce maintenance requirements and resist damage caused by traffic, corrosion, moisture, and other forces specific to the industrial setting.
Some of our happy clients
Flooring
“The staff arrived on time, were very courteous, clean, neat in their work and finished on time. Very happy customer!”
Railroad Property Manager
Round Rock, TX
“Fabulous crew. Kept me updated and always on time. Very clean and neat.”
Steel Corporation
DeKalb County, IL
“Done very quickly and nice work! I will be having them bid on more work for me.”
Architect
Indianapolis, IN
“I would have them back in a heartbeat. Very professional team & very clean work.”
Heavy Equipment Manufacturing Shift Supervisor
Elgin, IL
“Foreman was very accommodating to our needs – he went above & beyond to please us.”
Metal Manufacturing Plant Superintendent
Aurora, IL
“I commend you on the politeness, professional appearance, & conduct of your foremen & crews.”
Manufacturing Plant Manager
St. Charles, IL
“I do not know how it could have gone any better!”
Laboratory Supervisor
Battle Creek, MI
“Team showed up on time, cleaned up everyday, & worked long hours on multiple days to get the work done on time.”
Ethanol Plant Manager
Burlington, IA
Remember Painters USA for industrial flooring services
With Painters USA, you get unparalleled experience and knowledge of industrial flooring materials and functionality. We look at all environmental conditions like heat, cold, moisture, and production demands to recommend the best flooring paint and coating systems.