Resin Flooring Paint Guidance Ireland

Residential, commercial, and industrial floor coating protection

A floor coating works in two ways: it protects the substrate from the damage that comes with daily use, while providing a versatile and customisable surface suited to any environment. Resin flooring has been the protective floor coating of choice now for decades; whether polyurethane floor, the newer forms of polyurea and polyaspartic, or just epoxy floor, Ireland has a resin floor coating to suit any project’s needs. From thin protective layers over existing floors to thicker complete flooring systems, floor coating is the high performance option for residential, commercial, and industrial settings.

In this article we look at the resin floor coating technologies from epoxy paint to polyaspartic and how to choose and apply the best coating for your needs. We also list applicators and suppliers across Ireland.

Top benefits of resin coating – PU to epoxy

The main resin floor coating technologies are epoxy paint, polyurethane paint, polyurea coating, and polyaspartic. The most common commercial and industrial floor coatings for concrete on the market are polyurethane and epoxy based resin floor coatings. All of these coatings are polymeric, they form crosslinks as they cure which means they are strong, durable, hard, and incredibly resilient. As well as these properties, they also have other benefits:

1. Promotes hygiene: The seamless layer prevents spread and growth of mould, bacteria and fungi.
2. Waterproof and chemical resistant: All these coatings resist water and chemicals, preventing stains and corrosion.
3. Decorative: Available in nearly all RAL colours and in finishes from ultra matt to high gloss.
4. Functional additives: It is possible make floors anti slip or fire retardant by using the right additives.
5. Abrasion and impact resistant: Can bear mechanical loads, impacts and light to heavy foot traffic.

There is an issue for Irish customers with polyurethane and epoxy floor paint. Ireland is a moisture-laden country, and both polyurethane and epoxy are moisture sensitive at application. For a coating less sensitive to moisture, polyaspartic or polyurea may be the solution. These coatings are all capable of being applied over a range of substrates – even for epoxy resin flooring. Ireland may be damp and cold, but there are coating solution for any needs your project may have.

How to choose the right floor coating for your needs

As every environment is different, it is crucial to choose a floor coating that matches the requirements of your specific location. Industrial floor coatings need to bear heavy loads, and commercial floor coating systems should feel fine to walk on. A few of the most important factors to consider – downtime during installation, hygiene requirements, presence of chemicals, and people or machines using the floor.

So how do you choose which coating is right for you project? We have outlined some of the requirements of different environments and end uses below, with the floor coating solution for each one.

1. Mechanical and chemical resistance

Suitable coating: Epoxy floor coating, polyurethane coating, polyurea, and polyaspartic

For mechanical and chemical resistance, all of the resin coating technologies are suitable. Epoxy and polyurethane are less hard-wearing than polyurea and polyaspartic, and the complicated spray process required for polyurea means that for residential, commercial, and industrial applications, the other three are more popular. For garages polyaspartic is gaining popularity as it doesn’t suffer the hot wheel pick up that epoxy sometimes does. However, epoxy is still by far the go to floor coating.
Possible applications: Industrial floors, warehouses, parking garages, workspaces, factories and as warehouse floor paint

2. Shortest downtime

Suitable coating: Polyurea and polyaspartic
Polyurea and polyaspartic have the benefit of being rapid curing. From application to traffic-ready takes mere hours, reducing downtime and the associated costs. Polyaspartic is easier to apply (it is available as a poured resin flooring), and polyurea requires a spray application combined with heat.
Possible applications: Garages, warehouses, industrial settings

3. High hygiene requirements

Suitable coating: HACCP approved floor coating – epoxy and polyurethane
Floor coatings with an internationally recognised HACCP certificate contribute to a hygienic, antibacterial environment; these coatings make sure that fungi and bacteria do not have a chance to attach to and grow on the floor. The HACCP floors are also highly resistant to contaminants and aggressive cleaning chemicals. These coatings are particularly important for food preparation areas and food businesses. HACCP floors can be commercial or industrial floor coatings which are easy to clean and include an antimicrobial additive.
Possible applications: food and dairy industry, hospitals, canteens, catering establishments, swimming pools and health centres, as well as epoxy kitchen floor and residential flooring applications

Polyurethane floor paint provides a softer walking experience.

4. A comfortable walking experience

Suitable coating: Polyurethane (PU) floor coating
Polyurethane coatings are more flexible than epoxies, which makes them softer and more pleasant to walk on. These coatings are also known for their decorative properties; not only are they available in many colours but they also provide a high gloss finish. These are the most common commercial floor coating systems as they are also easy to clean and abrasion resistant – important in spaces with a high level of foot traffic like shopping centres and museums.
Possible applications: museums, showrooms, public places, retail stores, offices or in the living room

5. Decorative resin protection for wooden floors

Suitable coating: Polyurethane or epoxy varnish
A varnish is a combination of drying oils, a resin, and a solvent, and the resins most common for wood floor coatings are polyurethane and epoxy. Polyurethane is by far the wood finish of choice as it is durable, hard, and versatile – just the protection wood needs. As wooden floors are not common for industrial settings, wood floor coatings are mostly applied in residential and commercial buildings. Polyurethane is also UV resistant, unlike epoxy, so it is more appropriate for exterior finishes.
Possible applications: residential and commercial interiors, terraces, decking

Give your floor coating special qualities with the top coat

Floor coatings can be tailored to specific conditions and needs based on additives. For example, a coating can be made hygienic through antimicrobial additives (usually silver or organic additives) which actively work to prevent the growth of microbes. Industrial floor coatings often require anti static or non slip properties so a non slip aggregate is included into the coating system (often rubber particulates). Non slip flooring is particularly helpful in the wet Irish climate. Epoxy floor paint is particularly suited to use in these types of flooring systems.

Calculating the cost of commercial and industrial floor paint

The following 5 factors influence the price of floor coating:

1. Price per m² goes down as the project size increases: Small surfaces are usually relatively expensive to coat.
2. Coating type: Epoxy is generally cheaper than polyurethane, and both are cheaper than polyurea and polyaspartic.
3. Substrate preparation: Some surfaces, such as concrete, require intensive pre-cleaning and surface preparation.
4. Moisture content on the surface: The moisture content of the substrate may not exceed 3% for optimum results.
5. Quality will out: Do not fall for a cheap deal that will only end in failure – always check the quality of the materials.

Resin floor painting contractors Ireland

In a country as damp as Ireland, concrete and wood flooring need all the protection they can get. Whether you need to update a cold room with a hygienic HACCP coating, a parking garage with a fast-curing coating, a commercial space with soft polyurethane flooring, or simple epoxy resin flooring, Ireland has floor coating contractors who can provide the services you are after. Below is a table outlining a few of the coating companies that operate in resin coating, including epoxy floor.

If you need epoxy flooring or have a floor coating project and are looking for advice, we are here to help! In collaboration with our coating partners, we will find the coating solution for your needs. Simply use the button below this article and tell us a little about your project so we can begin to determine the best material for your project. Our quotation service is 100% free, so why not contact us today!