What is the best floor coating? What are the types and properties of urethane sealers? Read on to find out why urethane is the best sealer for industrial and commercial floors.
Urethane floor coatings are the best topcoat option for industrial and commercial floors. Their proven resilience and durability work well to withstand machinery and staff strain. This article will look at the types of urethane floor coatings available and their properties to ease your selection process.
Keep reading to learn more.
Types of urethane floor coatings
Urethane floor coatings have three distinctions, each with properties that give them an edge over the others. These types are:
- Water-based urethane coatings
- Solvent based urethane coatings
- Moisture-cured urethane coatings
Water-based urethane coatings
Water-based urethane coatings such as Perdure U45 are a newer variation of the topcoat. The need for them emerged to combat the yellow hue oil-based urethane gives to floors. They have a milky appearance but are completely clear.
Water-based urethane is perfect if you want to maintain the original look of your sublayers. It is often used to give hardwood floors a glossy or matte finish without changing the colour of the wood.
A great selling point for urethane coatings is that they have almost no odor. They also dry very fast, and you can apply many coats in less than 24 hours. One problem is that it costs more than its oil-based counterpart, which makes it more expensive to install. Additionally, it is thin, thus requiring you to apply many coats.
Solvent-based urethane coatings
Solvent-based urethane coatings differ in consistency, odor, and color. These floor coatings provide an amber tint to floors, which is perfect if you like a warmer feel in a space. They are thicker than water-based urethane, so you need fewer coats to cover your space.
Because of their thickness, solvent-based urethane coatings dry slowly. These coatings need about five hours between each layer’s application and twelve hours after the last coat. Fortunately, you need fewer layers of urethane coating to achieve your desired results.
Moisture-cured urethane coatings
Unlike other types of urethane sealers, this type has only one component. These topcoats draw moisture from the atmosphere to cure. This factor means that the humidity available will affect the time it takes to dry.
They have the most robust resistance to strain and chemicals and are the most durable. Application of moisture-cured urethane requires experts because it has a high level of VOC and occupants have to vacate the space for up to two weeks.
Because of this, it is perfect for industrial settings where the pros of durability outweigh the cons of a longer curing time and a slightly more complicated application process.
Properties of urethane floor coatings
Understanding the characteristics of urethane coatings gives you insight into why they are best for industrial floors. Urethane floor overlays are:
Resistant to mechanical strain
Industrial floors see the most intense mechanical weights from equipment, vehicles, and workers. The ability of urethane coatings to withstand these weights makes them an excellent choice because they last a long without cracking.
Resistant to chemicals
Urethane floor coatings are praised for being resistant to chemical solutions. They hardly corrode, which is why they work perfectly for chemical plants and laboratories.
Easy to apply
Urethane coatings come mixed and ready to apply. The thin solution spreads quickly with minimal effort and can level itself. It dries up in 48 hours, so you do not have to halt regular operations for long after applying.
Water-resistant
The ability of urethane floor coatings to resist moisture makes them an excellent option for industries. Trapped moisture in floor sublayers weakens the floor and becomes a health hazard by harboring fungi such as mold.
Slip-resistant
Urethane floor coatings enhance the safety and stability of machines and personnel by resisting slips. It minimizes the occurrence of accidental skids that endanger the well-being of workers and the integrity of the equipment.
Non-toxic to humans
A great property of urethane coatings is that they are not toxic to occupants. After it dries and cures, this topcoat has no side effects or lingering odor making your space habitable.
Easy to customize
You can opt to have a variety of decorative designs made on urethane coatings. You can also infuse the topcoat with polyurethane pigment packs to match the aesthetic of any space, whether elegant or industrial.
Easy to maintain
Urethane floors are effortless to clean and maintain. Oils and dirt do not adhere to or stain this topcoat, allowing you to focus industrial efforts on more important tasks. They are perfect for commercial settings such as bakeries.
Urethane sealants give you the most peace of mind because they are easy to take care of and give you a lot in return. By promoting the safety of your industrial equipment and personnel, commercial activities are sure to run smoothly. By adding to your space’s aesthetic value, customers will certainly appreciate what the urethane coat does to your floors.
Contact us today to engage with experienced Duraamen consultants. We understand industrial flooring structures and recommend a suitable urethane sealer option for you. Visit our local and international offices for one-on-one consulting and take the first step in making your space productive and beautiful.
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