With over thirty years’ of combined experience in commercial and industrial resinous flooring solutions, Black Bear Coatings & Concrete is the go-to partner for brands, GCs, and businesses across the Northeast. We engineer the right flooring solutions for schools, hospitals, governmental buildings, warehouses, biomedical facilities, marijuana grow operations, and more.
For many projects, epoxy-based resinous coatings are a great all-around choice. Epoxy flooring is extremely durable, long-lasting, easy to maintain, and hygienic. An investment into epoxy flooring will pay off for years to come – and Black Bear will make it happen.
Epoxy Floor Coatings Create An Excellent Working Surface
Epoxy flooring is a resinous coating to be applied to a concrete slab, created by mixing two or three different layers. This is typically the resin, a reactant which allows it to cure, and potentially a top layer with additional properties such as an anti-microbial topping.
Epoxy flooring is also referred to as ‘poured epoxy’ or ‘self-leveling epoxy’ because the mixture is poured directly onto the prepared concrete, then spread around. As a liquid, it will self-level, creating a perfectly even edge-to-edge surface that conforms to the topography of any floor. There are no cracks or seams, just a single easy-to-clean resinous coat that protects your floor for years.
When properly maintained, an epoxy coating can easily last 10-20 years, or even longer. This makes epoxy flooring an excellent option for:
The Costs Of Resinous Epoxy Flooring Systems
A leader among the many commercial and industrial solutions, an epoxy floor system is also renowned for its affordability. While upfront costs may end up seeming slightly higher than other solutions, the lasting durability and integrity of the product far exceeds other systems and the benefits outweigh its competition.
Costs depend on a number of factors, including the square footage, type and blend of epoxy being used, and labor – both for preparing the space and for installing the epoxy. Professional installation is a must and requires expertise in this niche industry. Epoxy can formulated with numerous additives and can be tricky to manipulate and install if not well versed in the system.
Typical costs can range anywhere between $2 and $10 per square foot. Black Bear works with clients to understand the space, the uses, and the stressors that could impact the end product. It’s a methodology we refer to as “reverse-engineering” and from there, we determine the best solution for the best value.
Types Of Epoxy Floor Coatings
There’s more to epoxy than basic self-leveling systems. We offer numerous formulations, which are customized to fit your needs. Some of the most popular options include:
Epoxy mortar flooring – This combines the strongest epoxies with graded sand or other inert material, to create a floor which is particularly resistant to chemical spills.
Quartz-filled epoxy flooring – Quartz epoxy takes the strength of mortar flooring, while using quartz crystals that give it a highly attractive sparkly look – perfect for foyers and other public-facing spaces meant to impress.
Metallic flake epoxy flooring – These blends utilize metallic particles within the epoxy mix that, when spread, create mesmerizing swirls and patterns. This is another excellent choice when you want a floor which is functional and beautiful. They also tend to offer better grip than other types of epoxy.
Antimicrobial epoxy flooring – Epoxy naturally resists microbial infiltration, because it lacks any cracks or seams for contaminants to hide in. However, for biomedical, research, and food preparation facilities, extra additives or top layers can be added for even better resistance against contaminants.
Anti-static epoxy flooring – For facilities where static buildup and discharge are a concern, such as electronics production, the epoxy can be blended with a conductive material which captures and grounds electrical buildup. This is also an excellent choice for facilities with highly flammable materials or chemicals
In addition, epoxy can come in almost any color, and with numerous options in style appearance, so that it can match the overall look and feel of your operation.
No matter the flooring challenges your business faces, Black Bear has the materials and decades of experience to overcome them!
Cleaning And Maintaining An Epoxy Floor
Among the many benefits of resinous floor coatings, like epoxy, is how easy it can be to maintain. Because the surface is entirely seamless, cleaning is simple. In most cases, it can simply be hosed down, or cleaned with traditional methods such as mopping.
Likewise, because epoxy coatings are highly resistant against chemical spills, even potentially dangerous situations are easy to resolve. The chemicals won’t eat into the floor or become trapped in pores. They can be cleaned up in appropriate ways, without the floor becoming part of the problem.
Damage is unlikely to occur, as epoxy flooring solutions are extremely hard and durable. In the case a crack does form, in many cases, it can be patched with an application of more epoxy.
What You Should Know Before Selecting an Epoxy Floor Coating
Epoxy isn’t the only option, and Black Bear offers a variety of resinous flooring types to suit every need. There are some situations where epoxy isn’t appropriate, including:
If falling objects are likely. Epoxy is extremely strong against direct crushing force, but it’s somewhat brittle and can be cracked by heavy object drops.
If the floor will be in direct sunlight. Epoxy is UV-reactive and will lose color and luster if frequently exposed to sunlight.
If you need it installed quickly. Epoxy generally takes 48-72 hours to cure, so other options are called for if it’s a rush job.
If frequent spills or rain/snow exposure are likely. Epoxy offers excellent grip when dry but is very slippery when wet. There are ways to increase its surface traction, such as adding silica grains to the top layer, but other materials might be a better option.
If you foresee changing floors in the near future. The strength and durability of epoxy make it challenging to remove, often requiring the complete removal of the underlying concrete.
At Black Bear, we pride ourselves on communication and understanding our clients’ needs. We’ll work carefully with you to get a full picture of your business and operations, as well as surveying the space directly, before we make a final recommendation on flooring types.
We want to provide each client with a resinous flooring solution which will last for years – or decades – with minimal maintenance.
Black Bear Coatings & Concrete Always Delivers
By specializing in concrete and resinous concrete toppings such as epoxy floor coatings, we have experience and techniques which are rivaled by few others in the industry. We can help you:
The Black Bear team is ready to take on your commercial or industrial flooring needs regardless of how big, or small, the space. From parking to large warehouses and industrial facilities, we install the floors that keep your business, in business.
To get started, contact us for a free on-site consultation and quote.
Click for Commercial & Industrial Flooring Projects
Click for Home and Residential Flooring Projects
Common Uses
- Automobile Dealerships
- Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
- Laboratories
- Hospitals
- Bakeries
- Chemical Storage Areas
- Commercial Kitchens
- Processing Areas
Benefits
- High Durability
- Water Proof
- Low-Maintenance
- Installed with Little Downtime
- Chemical & Solvent Resistant