7 Types of Industrial Floor Coatings

Optimal industrial floor coatings ensure a high rate of return, supplement productivity and efficiency within the space, and protect the longevity of your investments. Yet, selecting which type of industrial floor coating suits your application can prove challenging if you don’t know what’s available. The consequences of installing an inferior floor coating can also plague your business and your bottom line. 

The guide below introduces the advantages and disadvantages of seven distinct types of floor coatings designed for industrial use. Explore these options to determine which product type best suits your application. When you’re ready to move forward with your project, Westcoat delivers numerous high-quality flooring solutions for all industries to help our customers focus on what matters most.

The Importance of Low-Maintenance Industrial Floor Coatings

Low-maintenance industrial floor coatings benefit business owners by reducing the time, funds, and energy necessary for upkeep. Industrial floor coatings represent a significant business investment, but that shouldn’t come at the cost of sustainability. The best industrial floor coatings also minimize downtime to support higher productivity, comply with health and safety regulations, increase the longevity of the substrate beneath, and provide an aesthetically pleasing solution.

7 Industrial Floor Coatings for Your Project

Avoid trusting the fate of your business’ foundation to just any industrial floor coating. Partner with Westcoat and explore our industrial floor coating solutions to optimize the ground beneath you as you grow your business. 

1. Epoxy Systems

Comprised of epoxy resin and a hardening agent, epoxy resin is a popular economical industrial floor coating option that scores high marks for durability, versatility, and cleanability. It can be easily applied to concrete, wood, or steel after thoroughly preparing the substrate. Better yet, you can purchase epoxy coatings in various finishes and colors to suit your intended design. 

Westcoat offers multiple USDA-compliant epoxy coating systems that are as high-performing as they are aesthetically pleasing. In addition to bonding well with most substrates, our industrial floor coatings resist impacts, slips or skids, and chemicals while remaining low-maintenance. 

Our chemical-resistant Epoxy Slurry and Epoxy Mortar systems are designed for restaurants, kitchens, warehouses, manufacturing, and laboratories. Explore our Temper-Crete™ Self-Leveling (SL) System for a thermal shock and heat-resistant solution or the Thin Film Decorative System for a medium-build epoxy floor coating. If you’re looking for a more textured floor coating, the Double Broadcast Epoxy System (Dubro) and Tidalstone® Flooring System feature decorative aggregate to enhance the performance and feel of these industrial floor coating solutions.

2. Polyurethane Topcoats

Polyurethane industrial topcoats are a viable alternative topcoat for epoxy systems due to their anti-corrosive nature, flexibility, UV resistance, scuff and scratch resistance, and short curing time. Despite a slight price difference, polyurethane industrial floors are often easier to maintain than their epoxy counterparts. Westcoat’s SC-65 Water-Based (WB) Clear Polyurethane Sealer is a low-odor polyurethane topcoat option with an expedited return to service.

Westcoat’s EC-95G Gloss Polyurethane Topcoat incorporates chemical, abrasion, and UV resistance into its design. Ideal for outdoor and heavy-traffic areas, EC-95G can be sprayed, rolled, or brushed over most Westcoat epoxy floor coatings. This product is also Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) compliant.

3. Polyaspartic Topcoats and Coatings

A polyaspartic industrial floor coating resembles polyurethane coatings but is considered a hybrid material that’s ideal for maximum corrosion resistance. Formulated as a flooring system and topcoat, polyaspartic coatings take less time and labor to apply and benefit from low VOCs. 

In the competitive polyaspartic industrial floor coating market, Westcoat’s EC-102 Polyaspartic Topcoat minimizes downtime while offering numerous benefits during its service life. EC-102 is chemical, tire stain (plasticizer migration) resistant, UV-resistant, and complies with USDA and FDA regulations. Offered in fast cure, standard cure, and slow cure options EC-102 offers maximum project flexibility including fast-tracking projects when a quick return to service is critical. Economical in price, it can easily be paired with many Westcoat epoxies and urethane cement systems to create a high-sheen finish.

4. Acrylic Sealers and Coatings

Acrylic industrial floor coatings are affordable, short-term solutions that add minimal thickness to the floor substrate. Solvent-based acrylic coatings are ideal for external use, while water-based variants are preferred for indoor applications. Although acrylic floor coatings can provide some UV protection and slip resistance, they tend to degrade quickly as use increases. Westcoat’s SC-42 water-based acrylic sealer, SC-70 VOC-compliant solvenated acrylic, and SC-71 high VOC solvenated acrylic are great choices for sealing interior and exterior concrete surfaces to provide protection and dust-proofing qualities.

Polyurethane industrial floor coatings surpass their acrylic counterparts for a minimal investment increase. Westcoat products such as the EC-95G Polyurethane Topcoat Grind and Seal System offer increased protection with the long-term benefit of increased durability. Polyurethane floor coatings also require less maintenance to keep commerce flowing efficiently.

5. Urethane Cement Systems

Blending urethane’s elasticity and cement’s strength results in a urethane cement coating that’s as robust as it is flexible. Urethane cement industrial floor coatings incorporate modified urethane, cement, water, and aggregates to form a high-performance, minimal-cost coating designed to withstand heavy traffic, thermal shock, chemical spills, and impacts. Many urethane cement coatings also lack odor and VOCs but offer exceptional hygienic and antimicrobial properties. 

The Westcoat Temper-Crete™ Self-Leveling (SL) System is a high-build, medium-duty, seamless industrial floor coating designed for use on interior concrete. This product is USDA and FDA-compliant, and installation requires minor downtime. We also offer the Temper-Crete SLB, SLC, and SLQ systems which elevate the texture and decorative aesthetic options, and the Tempercrete Rake Trowel System for high build, heavy-duty applications to suit your industrial floor coating needs.

6. MMA (Methyl Methacrylate) Coatings

Methyl methacrylate (MMA) industrial floor coatings are a type of acrylic resin less common than epoxy and polyurethane. The main selling point of these “one-day” lab-created polymers is the minimal preparation required prior to application and the quick return to service they offer. However, such fast curing times require a swift and experienced installation expert and leave little room for error. 

In addition, MMA floor coatings require expensive chemical formulations. Flooring experts must abide by personal safety protocols when mixing and installing to avoid injury. An MMA coating’s ability to penetrate into the substrate also varies, which can lead to premature peeling or the need for a complete replacement. 

MMA industrial floor coatings come in a limited range of colors, which can fade when exposed to UV light. Repairing and maintaining MMA floors can also prove to be challenging and extensive. MMA coatings typically fail to provide sufficient sound-proofing qualities and can easily crack under heavy impacts.

7. Anti-Static (ESD) Coatings

Installing electrostatic discharge (ESD) industrial floor coatings can protect employees, heavy machinery, and high-dollar electronics from the static electricity that builds up due to the natural friction of our shoes against the floor. Although ESD footwear and wrist straps help discharge static into grounded workstations, enabling the floor coating to direct static through the floor offers additional application-specific benefits — conductive elements within the floor coating direct static to discharge harmlessly into the ground for a safer environment.

ESD industrial floor coatings are typically an application-specific solution that businesses seek out to comply with industry regulations. Manufacturers produce these distinct coatings to handle static discharge, not necessarily heavy impacts, machinery, or foot traffic. Installation can also cost more, given these industrial floor coatings must comply with strict requirements to ensure reliable performance.

Work With Westcoat to Protect Your Industrial Space

After 40 years of industry experience, Westcoat recognizes the immense value of selecting the best industrial floor coating for your upcoming project. We’ve developed innovative, durable floor coating solutions that integrate superior, high-performing materials and ensure optimal return to service post-installation. 

Our network of professional contractors, applicators, and distributors delivers a seamless experience to convert your investment into one of your company’s best assets. We also support a robust national network of representatives, Qualified Contractor Applicators (QCAs), and distributors available to provide custom-tailored guidance and decision-making support. 

Do you have questions about any of the industrial floor coating products or solutions listed here? Call us at 1-800-250-4519 to speak with a friendly and knowledgeable representative. 

Contact us today to explore how our solutions can fulfill your industrial needs.