INDUSTRIAL RESINS can help minimise these challenges by creating surfaces that are easier to clean and maintain.
A floor with an aggressive texture may improve slip resistance in wet areas but make cleaning more challenging. An ultrasmooth finish may look appealing but fail to provide the necessary grip in consistently wet environments.
Successful specification is about striking the right balance between safety, hygiene, and operational requirements.
What traffic and impact must the floor withstand?
Before selecting a flooring system, it ' s important to understand how the space will function every day:
• Will it be exposed to pedestrian traffic, pallet jacks, forklifts, steel-wheeled equipment, or heavy machinery?
• Are products likely to be dropped?
• Will the floor be subjected to concentrated point loads?
These answers will help determine which system can provide reliable longterm performance.
What service life does the client expect?
Upfront cost often receives the most attention when flooring options are evaluated. However, installation cost tells only part of the story.
A less expensive flooring system may appear attractive at the outset, yet its need for frequent repairs, recoating, or replacement, the long-term cost can quickly exceed that of a more durable alternative.
Successful specification is about striking the balance between safety, hygiene, and operational requirements.
Is the client developing a facility that may be repurposed within five years, or are they investing in a manufacturing plant expected to operate for several decades? The answer will influence the appropriate flooring solution.
How competent is the installer?
The successful performance of a resin flooring system depends heavily on substrate preparation, moisture testing, environmental conditions, installation techniques, and quality control procedures. Many flooring failures that are initially blamed on the product can be traced to installation-related issues.
Moisture is a classic example. A concrete slab may appear dry on the surface, but still contain excessive moisture below. If the floor is installed without proper moisture testing, issues such as blistering or delamination may develop months later.
In these cases, even a high-quality flooring system may fail because the substrate was not properly assessed before installation. Working with trained and experienced applicators helps ensure that the selected system performs as intended.
Successful flooring selection starts with understanding how the space will be used and the conditions the floor will face. By asking the right questions early in the design process, specifiers can reduce costly mistakes, improve facility performance, and help ensure the floor remains an asset long after project handover.
Need assistance with your next flooring specification?
Technical Finishes can assist with developing a flooring specification tailored to the demands of your project.
Contact a Technical Finishes branch near you: Gauteng: + 27( 0) 11 822 7242 KwaZulu-Natal: + 27( 0) 31 705 7733 Eastern Cape: + 27( 0) 41 451 3944 Western Cape: + 27( 0) 21 535 4455 Information: www. technicalfinishes. com
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