PSC Flooring is proud to be one of the country’s leading industrial flooring contractors. We specialise in a range of protective surface solutions – including epoxy resin floor installations. We have decades of experience under our belts when it comes to epoxy. Therefore, if you need advice on industrial flooring, you can count on us. Whether you are looking for facts around resin flooring, or you want to know whether to choose garage floor paint or epoxy, we can provide you with all the knowledge you need.
Is your paint peeling off the concrete floor?
We often get enquiries from companies and individuals who have been using “DIY floor paint”. Almost always they find themselves faced with a very unattractive peeling patchy floor surface.
“I followed the instructions exactly and it still peeled up within 12 months”
Whilst at PSC Flooring, we understand that every company needs to make their budget go as far as possible. We also understand that value for money is imperative. If you apply the right or wrong product to an unprepared/incorrectly prepared floor, it can be disastrous. Alongside this, it can end up being a complete waste of time and money. So, although a DIY paint job may seem economical, actually, in the long run, it can be an expensive one.
Why do “DIY Floor Paints” peel?
The main reason DIY floor paint peels up is usually poor surface preparation. As with any job, there are 3 key tips, Preparation, Preparation and Preparation!
To be honest though, if you do not know what the surface should look like when the preparation work is done, the results are unlikely to be great. At PSC, as experienced epoxy contractors, we have a team of skilled floor layers on hand. Our team understands all the different factors involved in preparation of the floor. Therefore, we will ensure your epoxy resin floor is completed to the highest possible standards.
Epoxy preparation
As we have already said, preparation is key in order to achieve a perfect epoxy floor:
- A clean and porous surface – In order for the “floor paint” to bond with the substrate, you should clean the surface free of contaminants. There could be things such as oil, grease, lubricants or organic acids. The surface needs to be open enough to allow the applied substance to bond with the existing floor.
- Moisture – Floor paint shouldn’t allow moisture to enter the floor. However, if there is any moisture already in the floor then the hydrostatic pressure created from trapped water vapor can create enough force to lift the coating right off the surface.
- Excess laitance – Laitance is a weaker top layer of cement that forms when the concrete floor is laid. Usually it has a milkier appearance and sometimes a crazed look to it. If the floor creates dust, then this is also a sign of excess laitance. Applying any coating to a concrete floor with excess laitance creates a weak mechanical bond. This can eventually cause it to peel up in the future.
Resin flooring contractors
But how is the average DIY installer to know any of this? If you are not an expert in this field and you don’t know what the surface should look like when it is prepared correctly, then it really is a gamble whether or not your floor coating is going to peel or not. When we assess and prepare a floor for a coating system, our team uses professional equipment. We will carefully assess and prepare the floor and will always recommend an expert opinion of the ideal process and products to use.
Epoxy Resin Floor Vs “DIY Floor paint”
Essentially at first glance, there is no difference between the two products themselves. On the tin the DIY products will usually state “Ideal for concrete and wood floors and provide a hard wearing, protective finish that is tough and durable – resistant to mild chemicals and designed to withstand spillage and repeated cleaning.”
However, there are differences in the product. Professional resin systems are:
- Thicker- a DIY version floor paint system is 60-70microns per coat vs 250-300microns per coat with a professional system.
- Glossy – Professional epoxy resin finish is far glossier and more appealing – visually it bounces the light
- No flaking or peeling – If professionally prepared correctly then the surface will not flake or peel
- Epoxy resin floor is suitable for heavy vehicle traffic and is more hard wearing because it is essentially thicker.
Why do PSC choose Resdev Pumatect high build epoxy resin?
Resdev branded Pumatect High Build Coating is a roller applied colour floor epoxy coating system. The epoxy resin technology gives it good abrasion and chemical resistance. Additionally, it is available in a wide range of epoxy gloss colours. The Resdev Pumatect product is a self-priming floor covering. The first coat acts as a primer coat while the second coat acts as the floor finish. So, in the cases where no damp is found a DPM (Damp Proof Membrane) is not needed.
Resdev Pumatect is perfect for car workshop flooring and MOT centres. You can use it in all areas including staff kitchen facilities, toilets and washrooms and chemical storage areas. An industry favourite, this product is widely chosen for its hardwearing nature and aesthetically pleasing finish. It is suitable for a wide range of industries including the Pharmaceutical, Food & Drink, Automotive, Engineering, and Warehousing and Electronics Industries.
Contact us today
If you are interested in finding out more about PSC Flooring’s professional epoxy resin floor solutions, or any other industrial floor coatings, head to our website today. Alternatively, you can call 01562 702047 to speak to a member of our helpful and friendly team.
We can arrange a free site survey at your business and advise you on the most effective epoxy resin floor coating for your working environment. At PSC Flooring, we are professional epoxy resin flooring contractors, therefore you can be sure you will find your best flooring solution with us.
If you have found this blog helpful, you may wish to read our previous blog on Garage Floor Preparation.